Planning for an application to optometryschool is both essential and critical - it is a decision that will take years of preparation. Future applicants will need to take both academic and experiential timelines into consideration well in advance to properly prepare for an application cycle. Below, you will find resources specific to pre-optometry timelines to assist in your plans.

 

Suggested Academic Timelines:

 

First Year

Fall	Spring
Chemical Structure & Properties with Lab CHEM 160/161	Chemical Reactivity I with Lab CHEM 180/181
Intro Biology I with Lab BIOL 101/111	Intro Biology II with lab BIOL 102/112

*MATH 131 (or 161) is a pre-requisite for CHEM 260/261. If you plan on taking CHEM 260/261 by Spring Semester of Second Year, you will need to complete this pre-requisite beforehand.

 

Second Year

Fall	Spring
Chemical Reactivity II with Lab CHEM 240/241	Quanititative Methods in Chemistry with Lab* CHEM 260/261
Cell Biology or Genetics BIOL 251/BIOL 282	Cell Biology or Genetics BIOL 251/BIOL 282

 

Third Year

Fall	Spring
Biochemistry* CHEM 361	Microbiology* BIOL 302
Physics I with Lab PHYS 111/111L	Physics II with Lab PHYS 112/112L

 

Fourth Year

Fall	Spring
Human Anatomy & Physiology I* BIOL 242	Human Anatomy & Physiology II* BIOL 243
Science Electives*	Science Electives*

*Chemistry and biology sequences differ between schools. It is important to take note of both your required courses for the schools you are interested in applying to as well as knowing Loyola's pre-requisites for those courses. Schedule an appointment with a pre-health advisor if you need assistance scheduling required courses. 

**Other common courses required by OT schools can include (but are not limited to): psychology, sociology, economics, calculus, statistics.

***From Chemistry Department Website: “Starting in Fall 2023 all students will begin the Chemistry sequence in CHEM 160+161 (replacing CHEM 101+111).  Students who began the Chemistry sequence in CHEM 101+111 prior to Fall 2023 may continue in the older course sequence, as long as they make progress in the sequence each consecutive semester, but may switch to the updated sequence as the older courses are replaced.  Students should consult with their Academic Advisor(s) as listed in LOCUS for degree requirements and options.” 

NOTE: While some schools may not specifically list courses like cell biology, genetics, or biochemistry as requied coursework, it is critical that applicants have experiences in these subjects as they are large portions of the MCAT exam. 

For school-specific prerequisites and demographic information on applicants/matriculants at optometry schools, explore this site.