Joint Biology/Optometry Program with SUNY State College of Optometry

The following program outline is for the students who plan to apply to the joint program with SUNY State College of Optometry. This program is available only to those admitted as freshmen; transfer students are ineligible. This program requires that students complete three years (90 credits) of study at The University at Albany with a major in Biology, BS degree. Students attend SUNY-Optometry for the fourth year of study, (and pay SUNY-Optometry tuition), beginning the first year of their 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. Students in this program should take the Optometry Admission Test (OAT) during the third year at the University at Albany. Students should prepare their pre-health file for evaluation by the Pre-Health Committee for the spring semester of their sophomore year.

The following course sequence is suggested for the Biology major. Students should work with their academic advisors to complete all general education requirements in 3 years:

Fall Semester - Year 1	Spring Semester - Year 1
ABIO 130 3 credits ACHM 120 + 124 (lab) 4 credits APHY 105+106 (lab) 4 credits WCI or General Education Requirements (3-6) credits Total 14-17 credits	ABIO 131 3 credits ACHM 121 + 125 (lab) 4 credits APHY 108 + 109 (lab) 4 credits WCI or General Education Requirements (3-6) credits Total 14-17 credits
Fall Semester - Year 2	Spring Semester - Year 2
ABIO 212Y or ABIO 217 3 or 4 credits ABIO 201 (1 credit) ACHM 220 + 222 (lab) 4 credits AMAT 112 4 credits APSY 101 3 credits Total 15-16 credits	ABIO 212Y or ABIO 217 3 or 4 credits ABIO 202 (1 credit) ACHM 221 + 223 (lab) 4 credits AMAT 108 3 credits General Education Requirement 3 credits Total 14-15 credits
Fall Semester - Year 3	Spring Semester - Year 3
ABIO 330 3 credits* ABIO 300 or above elective 3 or 4 credits* AENG (literature) 3 credits General Education Requirement 3-6 credits Total 15/17 credits	ABIO 300 or above elective 3 or 4 credits* ABIO 300 or above elective 3 or 4 credits* General Education Requirement 3 credits General Education Requirement or elective 3 credits Total 15/17 credits

*Very Important Notes:  The Biology electives MUST be 300-400-level courses in Biology, which are designated as courses which count toward the Biology Major.  The following courses, which will be taken during the first year at SUNY Optometry, must not be used as Biology electives:  ABIO 303, 325, 341, 342, 365, 406, 410, and 411.

Ninety (90) credits of coursework MUST be completed on the UAlbany campus.
Therefore, if a student wishes to use pre-freshman credit, he/she must take other credits at UAlbany in order to have the total number of credits completed here equal 90 credits.  The Biology department requires students to take the General Biology courses here, rather than retaining credit for Advanced Placement in Biology.  Summer coursework completed between the first and second year, or between the second and third year at the University at Albany is acceptable for this program.

Because the number of general education courses a student is required to fulfill is dependent upon New York Regents Exam grades, a student may have to take summer school courses in order to complete all the general education requirements before transferring to SUNY-Optometry.

Fourth Year at SUNY Optometry

SUNY Optometry Courses	University at Albany Equivalents
General Histology Physiology and Biochemistry I Physiology and Biochemistry II Geometric Optics I Gross Anatomy I Neuroscience I Geometric Optics II Gross Anatomy II Neuroscience II Physical Optics Total	ABIO 406 (4 credits) ABIO 410/411 (5 credits) ABIO 365 (3 credits) APHY 010 (2 credits) ABIO 303 (3 credits) ABIO 342 (2 credits) APHY 010 (2 credits) ABIO 325 (4 credits) ABIO 341 (3 credits) APHY 010 (2 credits) 30 credits

 

APPLICATION:
The selection of joint degree students will be based on written application materials, academic progress, and a personal interview. A minimum of a 3.3 grade point average on a scale of a 4.0 on undergraduate courses completed at the time of application is required.

The applicant should complete a pre-health file by the first Monday January of the sophomore year so that a pre-health advisory committee interview and evaluation can be completed.  For further details, please consult the Pre-Health Advisor.

GPA required for the Biology BS degree:
A minimum of a 2.0 grade point average is required for all courses, including those within the major. Credit with the grade of "D" may be used to fulfill the requirements of the combined major and minor in Biology (BS) only if balanced at the same institution by credit with grades of "A" or "B" earned within the combined major and minor.

Contact:  The University at Albany, Pre-Health Advisor: prehealth@albany.edu