A combined Bachelor of Science/Doctor of Optometry (B.S./O.D.) program between the University of Hartford and the New England College of Optometry (NECO) provides a rare opportunity for students with career goals in optometry. The accelerated program typically allows for the completion of the B.S./O.D. degrees in a seven-year period. The B.S./O.D. program is for the academically outstanding student with a strong motivation toward the optometric profession. Initial study at the University of Hartford allows the student to complete the general education and basic science requirements for the health sciences degree, and the prerequisites necessary for professional study. The B.S. degree is awarded by the University of Hartford following the successful completion of the first year of graduate study.
The Doctor of Optometry program requires four years of combined academic and clinical training leading to the O.D., which is a prerequisite for licensure eligibility in the United States. The New England College of Optometry, located in Boston, provides students with an accredited, four-year, professional optometry curriculum.
The New England College of Optometry is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc. (NEASC) and the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE) of the American Optometric Association (a member of the Council of Post-Secondary Accreditation).
Admission Requirements
The combined program is for the academically outstanding student with a strong, realistic motivation toward the optometric profession. Applicants must excel academically and may be interviewed by representatives from both institutions. Up to five students are accepted annually by the New England College of Optometry. Students admitted into the program are expected to maintain a 3.4 overall minimum grade point average during their matriculation at the University of Hartford, with a minimum grade of C in all required courses. Final admission to the New England College of Optometry is contingent upon successful completion of required program course work, satisfactory Optometry Admission Test (OAT) scores, the recommendation of the University of Hartford’s Premedical Professions Advisory Committee, and completion of a satisfactory interview with NECO admissions officials.
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