Pre-Optometry

There are two main types of eye doctors. Opthalmologists provide total eye care and are physicians. They offer vision services, including eye exams; medical eye care for conditions such as iritis, chemical burns, glaucoma, and detached or torn retinas, etc. They perform surgical eye care, diagnose and treat eye conditions related to other diseases such as diabetes or arthritis.

Optometrists provide vision and eye care services, but are not physicians. They perform eye exams, treat conditions such as nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism; prescribe and fit eyeglasses and contact lenses, diagnose eye conditions and prescribe medications for certain eye conditions (in some states).

First Year Advisor

CSET Advising Center

Office: 125 Trafton Center
Phone: 507-389-1521
Email: csetadvising@mnsu.edu

Faculty Advisor

Mike Lusch, Ph. D.
Office: 343 Ford Hall
Phone: 507-389-2906
Email: michael.lusch@mnsu.edu

The following courses satisfy requirements for admission to most colleges and schools of optometry. By the end of their first year at Minnesota State Mankato, however, students should check the specific requirements of the college or school of optometry they plan to attend to ascertain exactly what is required for admission. Completion of a bachelor's degree may be needed to be admitted to optometry schools and colleges.

BIOL 220 - Human Anatomy (4)
BIOL 270 - Microbiology (4)
BIOL 330 - Principles of Human Physiology (4)
CHEM 201 - General Chemistry I (5)
CHEM 202 - General Chemistry II (5)
CHEM 322 - Organic Chemistry I (5)
CHEM 323 - Supplemental Organic Functional Group Chemistry (1)
CHEM 360 - Principles of Biochemistry (4)
ENG 101 - Composition (4)
ENG 271W - Technical Communication (writing intensive) (4)
MATH 112 - College Algebra (4) and
MATH 113 - Trigonometry (3) or
MATH 115 - Precalculus Mathematics (4)
MATH 121 - Calculus I (4)
PHYS 211 - Principles of Physics I (4)
PHYS 212 - Principles of Physics II (4)
PSYC 101 - Intrduction to Psychological Science (4)
STAT 154 - Elementary Statistics (3)