Pre-Optometry Program

Explore the Pre-Optometry program

Imagine yourself giving a child or adult their first pair of glasses, able to see things clearly for the first time. And as an eye doctor, or optometrist, you aided them on their path to finally have clear vision. The field of optometry is a challenging yet rewarding career in medicine. You’ll be examining patients’ eye health, fitting them for glasses or contacts, perhaps performing surgery for permanent clear vision.

You can start your path to becoming an optometrist at Wayne State, majoring in Biology or Chemistry and taking courses in science and math. After receiving your undergraduate degree, you’ll be ready to move on to graduate work at a professional optometry school and earn your O.D.

Local optometry schools
There are no optometry schools in the states of Nebraska, Iowa, or South Dakota. For a list of optometry schools in the U.S., visit the American Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry website.

View program courses Download program fact sheet (PDF)

Prepare for your future

Your undergraduate path to becoming an optometrist

Honors Program

Honors students complete an independent research project, usually spanning their junior and senior years. Your research can take you just about anywhere - in the lab or library, in the community, or in the U.S. or abroad! Honors work can also be very practical. Prospective employers and graduate admissions committees often look carefully at an undergraduate record for evidence of extra initiative and genuine intellectual strength.

Learn more about the Honors Program

Pre-Optometry internships and job shadowing

Our outstanding Career Services Office is available to help you find internship and job shadow opportunities.

Topics covered in the Pre-Optometry program

Human anatomy and organ systems
Physiological process of the human body
Biological systems and structures
Biochemistry with emphasis on structure, function, and metabolism
Molecular genetics and the use of molecular technology
Chemical processes and reactions
Use of modern lab equipment and instruments in chemistry

This 4-year timeline serves as a guide to help you plan for applying to optometry schools.

Freshman year

Meet with your Pre-Optometry program advisor to create a personalized plan and discuss what you'd like to accomplish during your summers (i.e. working, job shadowing, internship, or research). Your advisor and the WSC Career Services Office will help you achieve your goals.
Join the Health Science Club at WSC to engage in health-related activities and participate in networking events.
Begin researching optometry schools and learn about their admission requirements. Be mindful of prerequisite course and GPA requirements, location, costs, program reputation, and entrance exams score requirements.
Study and practice for the Optometry Admission Test (OAT)

Sophomore year

Continue researching optometry schools and their prerequisite course and GPA requirements, location, costs, program reputation, and entrance exams score requirements. Inquire with the professional school for any specific questions and guidance.
Investigate summer health opportunities with your advisor and WSC Career Services Office.
Study and practice for the Optometry Admission Test (OAT)

Junior year

Fall semester

Investigate where you can take the OAT and register to take it in the spring.

Spring semester

Take the official Optometry Admission Test (OAT) exam.

Senior year

Fall semester

Ask people if they would be willing to provide a letter of recommendation. Letters of recommendation are statements from professors, supervisors, or other professionals that detail your academic abilities, interpersonal skills, and character. Professional schools typically require 2-4 letters and will sometimes ask that some be from professors. Check with each school to which you plan to apply for the number and type of letters they require, when those letters are due, and the process for how letters of recommendation are to be submitted.
Work on essays - Your personal statement or essay is an opportunity to expand upon unique experiences and events and adds a personal dimension to your application. Work with professors or advisors to have your statement reviewed.

Spring semester

Start the application process. All optometry schools participate in OptomCAS, a centralized application service. This allows you to submit one application and send it to multiple programs.
Complete the application process. Applications are accepted beginning the August or September of the year prior to your anticipated enrollment in optometry school.
- Schools and/or centralized applications services may have application deadlines. There is often a processing time after you submit.
- Some schools may also require a secondary application for their program. This application deadline will be after you submit your centralized application. Each school you apply to will let you know what steps you need to complete after you submit your centralized application.
Interview with optometry schools if required for the application process. Make sure to practice by doing a mock interview.
Make admissions decisions - Admissions committees will review your application to decide on your admission to their program.

Graduates of the Pre-Optometry program work in their field or continue their studies using the skills they learned while at Wayne State College. Each year, optometry schools welcome WSC graduates into their organizations.

Recent grads are pursuing their O.D. degrees at the following medical schools:

Midwestern University – College of Optometry (Glendale, Ariz.)
University of Missouri-St. Louis - College of Optometry (St. Louis, Miss.)

Career possibilities

Optometrist (private or group practice)
Optometry associate
Ophthalmologist
Optician
Orthoptist
Optometry educator
Pharma consultant

job or grad school placement rate
within six months of graduation
Data based on most recent
employment outcomes survey

Cost of attendance

Most Affordable College in Nebraska

- College Affordability Guide, 2024

Wayne State is considered the most affordable four-year college or university in Nebraska. With same rates for in- and out-of-state students, our tuition guarantee, and our generous scholarship packages, it is clear to see how WSC earned the title. In fact, the average remaining annual cost of attendance for 2024-25 is $2,268 for undergraduate students after financial aid and scholarships.

Pre-Optometry Program of Study

The following majors are recommended for students planning to attend optometry school. Additional electives may be recommended. Participation in the Pre-Optometry program at WSC does not guarantee acceptance to a school of medicine.

Biology (B.A. or B.S.) - Our Biology program lays the groundwork needed or students entering medical school and provides plenty of time in our biology and research labs.

Chemical Sciences (B.A. or B.S.) - The Chemical Sciences degree program will prepare you for careers in medicine, pharmacy, research, and other clinical or laboratory settings.

Health Sciences (B.A. or B.S.) - The Health Sciences major offers a solid foundation in biology and chemistry, and emphasizes how these fields relate to careers in health and medicine.

Sample courses for Pre-Optometry students

Students may be advised to take the following courses while pursuing one of the recommended majors. Please consult with your advisor to draft a final plan of study, and be sure to check with your intended medical school to make sure you're meeting all prerequisite course requirements.

Credits: 4
Description: Study of the anatomic structure of the human organism. The 11 organ systems of the human and representative quadrupeds will be examined in detail with lecture, dissection, and other laboratory exercises. Dissection is required of all students taking this course. An understanding of human anatomy is beneficial for students that will ultimately enroll in advanced courses of cell biology, histology, comparative vertebrate embryology and anatomy, and parasitology. Having training in human anatomy is also beneficial for students interested in health-related and biomedical careers. 3 hours lecture, 3 hours lab. Class fee of $30 required.
Prerequisite: BIO 110 Biology Concepts
Credits: 4
Description: A study of the mechanisms of inheritance, the molecular basis of gene action and the use of molecular techniques and molecular technology in biomedical, agricultural, and industrial research. The lab component of this course focuses on hands-on use of molecular equipment and technologies used in graduate and industrial molecular based research. (3 hours lecture, 3 hours lab) $30 class fee required.
Prerequisites: C- or better in BIO 110 Biology Concepts and CHE 106 General Chemistry I
Credits: 3
Description: Study of the structure and function of cells and tissues of the human organism. Light microscopy and digital histology slides of human and other vertebrate organs and tissues will be studied. Tissue morphology and histo-pathology will be discussed along with relevant clinical considerations. An understanding of human anatomy would be beneficial to students taking this course. Histology is highly recommended for students interested in health-related, biomedical, and biological careers.

Prerequisite: BIO 110 Biology Concepts

Class fee: $30

Notes: 3 hours lecture and lab combined
Credits: 4
Description: A study of the fundamental physiological processes of the human body. Functions of the 11 organ systems will be studied. (3 hours lecture and one 3-hour lab) $30 class fee required.
Prerequisite: BIO 220 Human Anatomy and CHE 106 General Chemistry I
Credits: 4
Description: Topics of study detail the structure and physiology of microorganisms including mechanisms of pathogenesis. Beneficial aspects of microorganisms are also discussed with regard to both the human body and the environment. Lab techniques include microbial identification, enumeration procedures and student designed research.

Prerequisites: A “C-” or better in BIO 110, and CHE 106.

Class fee: $30

Notes: 3 hours lecture, 3 hours lab
Credits: 4
Description: This course is designed to allow students to learn the fundamental aspects of organic chemistry. Among the topics covered will be structure determination, bonding, stereochemistry, and spectroscopy. Also included are the structure and reactivity of alkenes, alkynes, alkyl halides, and alcohols. The laboratory work will introduce the equipment and techniques of chemistry, which relate to the material discussed in the lecture. The experiments will develop organic laboratory techniques for product formation, isolation, purification, and identification. 3 hours of lecture and 3 hours of laboratory. Class fee of $20 required.
Prerequisite: C- or better in CHE 107
Credits: 4
Description: This is a continuation of CHE 314. Among the topics covered will be electrophilic substitution, alcohols, aromatic chemistry, ethers, epoxides, and carbonyl chemistry-including nucleophilic substitution, carboxylic acids, alpha-substitution, and condensation reactions. The laboratory work introduces the equipment and techniques of organic chemistry, which relate to the material discussed in the lecture. The experiments will develop synthetic methods for product formation, isolation, purification, and identification. 3 hours of lecture and 3 hours of laboratory. Class fee of $20 required.
Prerequisite: C- or better in CHE 107
Credits: 4
Description: Study of proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, and carbohydrates with emphasis on their structure, function, and metabolism. (3 hours of lecture and 3 hours of laboratory) $20 class fee required.
Prerequisite: C- or better in CHE 208 Introductory Organic Chemistry or CHE 315 Organic Chemistry II
Credits: 4
Description: A second semester calculus-based general physics course intended primarily for scientists, pre-engineers, computer and math majors, and advanced health professional students. Topics include electricity, magnetism, optics, and modern physics. PHY 322 Physics Laboratory II concurrent enrollment by advisement.
Prerequisite: PHY 301 University Physics I
Credits: 3
Description: An upper-level course in modern optics. Topics include the electromagnetic nature of light, Huygen’s principle, interference, diffraction, polarization, dispersion, absorption, and scattering.

Prerequisite: 1 year of Physics.