Degrees and Requirements
Pre-Optometry (Salus University)
A major in Optometry is meant to prepare students for a career as an optometrist. As health-care practitioners, optometrists engage in an examination process of the eye; as well as, diagnosing, treating, and managing diseases of the visual system affecting the eye. In addition, optometrists prescribe spectacle and contact lenses in order to correct refractive errors.
The La Roche University/ Salus University Doctor of Optometry program is a seven-year program, culminating in a Doctor of Optometry (OD) degree from Salus. Salus’ Doctor of Optometry program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE) of the American Optometric Association (AOA).
REQUIREMENTS FOR PRE-OPTOMETRY (PHASE 1):
• Complete the Pre-Optometry curriculum at La Roche, which must consist of a minimum of 90 semester hours of undergraduate education including the required prerequisites
• Maintain a GPA of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale.
• Submit a completed application to the Optometry Centralized Application Service (OptomCAS), including satisfactory scores results of the Optometry Admissions Test (OAT) and required letters of evaluation.
• Shadow a practicing optometrist(s) in order to be familiar with the role of the optometrist as a member of the healthcare team.
REQUIREMENTS FOR PROFESSIONAL PHASE 2 (SALUS UNIVERSITY):
• For consideration for admission into the Doctor of Optometry Program at Salus, a student must successfully complete Phase I as described above.
• Students must then apply to the Doctor of Optometry Program by following the application procedures described on the Salus University website no later than December 1st of the intended entering year. These admissions procedures include completion of a successful on-campus interview.
• Salus will reserve four (4) seats in each class of the Doctor of Optometry Program for La Roche students who have successfully completed Phase I of the Program and the Phase II application process. If there are more than four (4) such qualified La Roche students, the remaining La Roche students will be considered for admission along with all other applicants.
Students accepted into the Professional Phase complete four years of full-time study at Salus University. Upon successful completion of the fourth year, students will be awarded either a Bachelor of Arts degree in Health Science or a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from La Roche University depending on their declared major.
REQUIREMENTS: The following coursework is required:
• 56 credits of Phase 1 courses
• Must have completed a minimum of 90 credits prescribed by their LRC program prior to articulation
Summary of Requirements
Phase I Component: 56 Credits (Select BIOL1015/L OR BIOL2025/L)
BIOL1003
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PREREQUISITES:
Concurrent: BIOL1005
BIOL1004
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BIOL1003 & BIOL1005, Concurrent: BIOL1006
BIOL1005
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coreg: BIOL1003
BIOL1006
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BIOL1015
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Concurrent: BIOL1015L
BIOL1015L
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BIOL2025
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PREREQUISITES:
BIOL1004 & BIOL1006
BIOL2025L
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CHEM1001
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Concurrent: CHEM1003
CHEM1002
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Concurrent: CHEM1004
CHEM1003
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CHEM1004
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CHEM2015
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CHEM1002 concurrent: CHEM2015L
CHEM2015L
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CHEM2016
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CHEM2015 concurrent: CHEM2016L
CHEM2016L
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ENGL1011
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ENGL1012
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MATH1032
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MATH1033
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MATH1040
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PHYS1032
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PREREQUISITES:
MATH1032, Coreq: PHYS1032L
PHYS1032L
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PHYS1033
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PREREQUISITES:
PHYS1032, Coreq: PHYS1033L
PHYS1033L
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PSYC1021
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