Mar 29, 2024  
2018-2019 Graduate Catalog 
    
2018-2019 Graduate Catalog [Not Current Academic Year. Consult with Your Academic Advisor for Your Catalog Year]

Optometry, OD / Physiological Optics, MS


College of Optometry  > Optometry, OD / Physiological Optics, MS, Dual Degree

A dual OD/MS program is available for enrolled optometry students who wish to pursue a Master’s of Science (MS) degree in Physiological Optics/Vision Science concurrently with the doctor of optometry (OD) degree.

Admission Requirements


  • OD students may apply for the OD/MS program in the Fall of the second academic year for admission in the Spring of their second year.
  • The applicant must have a history of research with a faculty mentor. The prior research generally was done during the Summer between the first and second year of the OD program, in a federally- or college-funded summer research training program for OD students.

Degree Requirements


The dual OD/MS program requires:

  • the entire Optometry, OD  program curriculum.
  • the MS curriculum, which is a total of 30.0 Credit Hours of coursework and research hours.
    • 12.0 Credit Hours of OPTO 6000-level science courses may be used for the MS portion of the dual degree
  • a written thesis based on original research.
    • The student’s thesis committee must consist of a minimum of three faculty members,
      • one member may be external to the program, from academia or industry, and is approved by the graduate program.
      • at least two of which are from within the graduate program;
    • The research project can be an extension of the research carried out in the summer research program.
    • The student must write and defend a thesis proposal and the thesis
  • Graduate program coursework and research hours with the prefix PHOP are supported by the College of Optometry.
  • Research hours (practicum) and independent study (tutorial) are offered on an “as needed” basis to meet the individual needs of students.

  • The student must enroll in PHOP 7399 - Thesis Writing Credit Hours: 3.0

Elective Courses


As needed to strengthen student’s education and/or skill in a particular research area.

Example: