Optometric Curriculum Overview
The distinctive features of PCO's optometric curriculum include: a promotion of interdisciplinary integration of basic and clinical courses using a "module" approach; the immediate introduction of clinical concepts and skills during the first term of the first year, the expedited entry into patient care experiences; and a significantly expanded clinical training program. During the first 2½ years, students will spend less time in traditional classroom and laboratory settings so that they can experience more independent, case-based, small group activities. In addition, students have new and early involvement in a variety of community-based patient care settings. In this innovative curriculum model, all course work is completed in 2 1/2 years, thereby allowing for 1 1/2 years of off-campus externships in a variety of private practice, hospital and group practice settings.
The core curriculum incorporates five major themes
2. An Exceptional Clinical Training Sequence
| Molecular
and Cellular Processes (Module 1) |
Integrative Organ Systems and Disease (Module 2) |
Integrative
Ocular and Systemic Disease (Module 3) |
Clinical Externships (Module 8) |
Clinical Externships (Module 8) |
| Integrative Neuro Visual Sciences (Module 4) | ||||
| Optometric Principles and Management of Vision Problems (Module 5) | ||||
| Principles and Practice of Optometric Medicine (Module 6) | ||||
| Clinical Problem Solving (Module 7) | ||||
| Electives and Scholarship (Module 9) | ||||
The academic year is divided into three sessions:
- Fall Session (September — December);
- Spring Session (January — May);
- Summer Session (June — August)
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