This combined program sponsored by the State College of Optometry, State University of New York, and the University at Albany, provides students an opportunity to earn a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in biology and a Doctor of Optometry (D.O.) in seven years. Participating students will matriculate at the University at Albany for three years and begin their Optometry studies in year four of the program. Students will be awarded the B.S. degree after completion of their requirements at the end of the fourth year. At the end of the seventh year and completion of all program requirements, students will be awarded the D.O. degree.

Students interested in making application to this program shall submit the necessary materials to the Pre-Health adviser in the University's Advisement Services Center by the stated deadline in the middle of the spring semester of the freshman or sophomore year (transfer students are ineligible). Selection will be based on written application materials, academic progress, and a personal interview. A minimum of a 3.2 grade point average on a scale of 4.0 in undergraduate courses completed at the time of application is required.

Students will complete three years (90 credits) of study at the University at Albany with a major in biology for a B.S. degree. Students attend SUNY-Optometry (New York, NY) for the fourth year of study (and pay SUNY-Optometry tuition), beginning the first year of the professional program. With the completion of the fourth year of study, the University at Albany will accept as transfer credits twenty-four credits of biology and six credits of physics electives, for a total of 30 credits. Students in this program should take the Optometry Admission Test (OAT) in October or February of the third year at the University at Albany.

A minimum of 90 credits must be taken at the University at Albany. Summer course work completed the first and second year or between the second and third year at the University at Albany is acceptable for this program.

The following courses are required: A Bio 110, 111Z, 212Y, 16 credits of biology electives* (of which twelve credits must be the 300 or 400 level); A Chm 120, 121, 124, 125, 220, 221, 222, 223; A Mat 112, 108; A Phy 105, 106, 108, 109; and A Psy 101. In addition to the General Education Program requirements, students are required to enroll in ten credits of electives.

*The biology electives MUST be 300-400 level courses in biology which are designated as courses which count towards the biology major. The following courses will not be used as biology electives: A Bio 303, 325, 341, 342, 365, 406, 410, and 411.

Department of Biological Sciences University at Albany, State University of New York 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12222 Phone: (518) 442-4300; Fax: (518) 442-4767 Questions or comments can be e-mailed to the Department Office