Confirm your interest in optometry, prepare academically and develop the necessary skills and experience.
Academic Pre-Requisites
Identify School Pre-Requisites and the UC San Diego classes you can take to meet them. This is a general guideline. Please check individual schools for their specific pre-requisites:
Biology (BILD 1, 2, 3) + 4 unit upper division Bio lab
General Chemistry (Chem 6ABC) + lab (Chem 7L)
Organic Chemistry (40ABC)
Biochemistry (one from BIBC 100,102, CHEM 114A, 114B)
Anatomy + lab (take at Extension or community college)
Human Physiology (BILD 26, BIPN 100, or BIPN 102) + lab (BIPN 105)
Microbiology (BIMM 120) + lab (BIMM 121)
Psychology
English Composition
Statistics (Math 11, Psych 60,etc.)
Experience
Talk to, shadow or volunteer with an optometrist
Find optometrists through your network of family and friends