JAMES J. McGIVERN, Ph.D., Director of the Pre-Professional Phase

Aims and Objectives

This is an accelerated program in optometry presented in cooperation with the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO). The program is designed to assist young men and women who wish to enter the profession of optometry. Students in the program are encouraged to enter the practice of optometry in underserved areas of Pennsylvania. Following three years of preoptometry studies at Gannon, students in the accelerated program in optometry will be evaluated and will make application to the Pennsylvania College of Optometry and pursue the four years of the optometry curriculum at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry. At the end of the first year of study at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry, upon application to Gannon, students in the program will receive a bachelor's degree (in Health Sciences or other degree program for which requirements have been met) from Gannon University. The degree of Doctor of Optometry will be awarded to students who complete the four year course of study at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry. One quarter of the student's final year of study will be spent in "clerkships" (in institutional settings) and "preceptorships" (in office settings) in Northwestern Pennsylvania.

Admissions Requirements

* Completion of four years of science courses at the high school level. Three of these science courses must be Biology, Chemistry, and Physics.
* No grade lower than a "C" in any high school science course.
* Completion of four years of math courses at the high school level.
* Minimum SAT score of 1050.
* Minimum cumulative high school grade point average of 3.0 out of 4.0.
* Class rank in the top 25%
Eligibility for admission to the Pennsylvania College of Optometry requires:
1. Satisfactory completion of the following course of study at Gannon.

Recommended Accelerated Veterinary Curriculum (97-100 credits):
(Numerals in front of courses indicate credits)

FIRST YEAR
Semester l			Semester ll
4 Biology/BIOL 122,123 4 Chemistry/CHEM 111,112 3 College Composition/LENG 111 3 Mathematics/MATH 112 or 140 3 Hist of West & World/LHST 111 17 Credits			4 Biology/BIOL 124,125 4 Chemistry/CHEM 114,115 3 Crit Analysis & Comp/LENG 112 3 Mathematics/MATH 140 or 213 3 Sacred Scripture/LTHE 121 17 Credits

SECOND YEAR
Semester lll		Semester lV
4 Chemistry/CHEM 221,222 4 Physics/PHYS 105,106 or PHYS 111, 112 3 Introduction to Philosophy/LPHI 231 3 Literature Series/LENG 3 Social Science Elective   17 Credits		4 Chemistry/CHEM 224,225 4 Physics/PHYS 108,109 3 Philosophy II Series/LPHI 3 Theology II Series/LTHE 3 Elective     17 Credits

THIRD YEAR
Semester V		Semester Vl
3 Theology/Phil III Series/LTHE or LPHI 3 Elective 3 Statistics/PSYC 211 or MATH 213 4 Biology/BIOOL 331, 332 3 Fine Art Series 16 Credits		3 Senior Seminar/LBST 383 3 Psychology 4 Biology/BIOL 368,369 or BIOL 365, 366 5 Electives   15 Credits

2. Nomination by the joint Pennsylvania College of Optometry-Gannon University Selection Committee. Student candidates qualified for entrance into the first professional year of optometry shall be presented to the Pennsylvania College of Optometry for admission. 

 

 

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