Texas Tech University

Pre-Optometry

The Profession

Doctors of Optometry (ODs) are the primary health care professionals for the eye. Optometrists examine, diagnose, treat, and manage diseases, injuries, and disorders of the visual system, the eye, and associated structures. They also identify related systemic conditions affecting the eye. ODs diagnose and treat, prescribe medications, perform certain surgical procedures, provide vision therapy and low vision rehabilitation, and assist patients with spectacle and contact lenses. They counsel patients regarding surgical and non-surgical options to meet their visual needs, and in cases involving surgery they provide both pre-operative and post-operative consultation and care.

Being Pre-Optometry

Pre-Optometry is an academic designation at Texas Tech University; it is not a degree-granting major. As Pre-Optometry students prepare to apply to optometry school, they have the option to major in any area they choose as long as they take the prerequisite courses required to enter optometry school along with the courses necessary to complete that degree at Texas Tech University.

Regardless of which degree-granting major a Pre-Optometry student chooses at Texas Tech, they will always have a PPHC Advisor on their team. If you have any questions whatsoever about being Pre-PT, contact your assigned PPHC Advisor today!

University of Houston College of Optometry

Below are the prerequisite courses for University of Houston College of Optometry:

COURSE NAME Texas Tech University Texas Common Course Numbering System
GENERAL CHEMISTRY I and LAB CHEM 1307/1107 CHEM 1311, 1111, 1411
GENERAL CHEMISTRY II and LAB CHEM 1308/1108 CHEM 1312, 1112, 1412, 1414
ORGANIC CHEMISTRY I and LAB CHEM 3305/3105  
MOLECULAR BIOCHEMISTRY CHEM 3310  
BIOLOGY I and LAB BIOL 1403 BIOL 1406, 1106, 1306
BIOLOGY II and LAB BIOL 1404 BIOL 1407, 1107, 1307
MICROBIOLOGY and LAB MBIO 3401  
PHYSICS I and LAB PHYS 1403 PHYS 1401, 1101, 1301
PHYSICS II and LAB PHYS 1404 PHYS 1402, 1102, 1302
CALCULUS MATH 1451 MATH 2413, 2417, 2513
STATISTICAL METHODS MATH 2300 MATH 1352, 1442, 2342, 2442
PSYCHOLOGY PSY 1300 PSYC 2301
8 Semester Hours of Upper Division Biology-Human Related Lecture and Lab ZOOL 3405 & 4409   

University of the Incarnate Word Rosenberg School of Optometry

Prerequisite courses for University of the Incarnate Word Rosenberg School of Optometry:

COURSE NAME Texas Tech University Texas Common Course Numbering System
GENERAL CHEMISTRY I and LAB CHEM 1307/1107 CHEM 1311, 1111, 1411
GENERAL CHEMISTRY II and LAB CHEM 1308/1108 CHEM 1312, 1112, 1412, 1414
ORGANIC CHEMISTRY I and LAB CHEM 3305/3105  
BIOCHEMISTRY or MOLECULAR BIOLOGY CHEM 3310 or BIOL 4320  
BIOLOGY I and LAB BIOL 1403 BIOL 1406, 1106, 1306
BIOLOGY II and LAB BIOL 1404 BIOL 1407, 1107, 1307
MICROBIOLOGY and LAB MBIO 3401  
PHYSICS I and LAB PHYS 1403 PHYS 1401, 1101, 1301
PHYSICS II and LAB PHYS 1404 PHYS 1402, 1102, 1302
CALCULUS MATH 1451 MATH 2413, 2417, 2513
STATISTICAL METHODS MATH 2300 MATH 1342, 1442, 2342, 2442
PSYCHOLOGY PSY 1300 PSYC 2301
ENGLISH I ENGL 1301 ENGL 1301
ENGLISH II ENGL 1302 ENGL 1302

Required if applying without a Bachelor's Degree:

COURSE NAME Texas Tech University Texas Common Course Numbering System
Humanities (6 hours) May include US History, Foreign Languages, Literature, or Arts  
Behavior and Social Sciences (6 hours) May include Sociology, Psychology, Political Science, History, Anthropology, Geography, Economics, or Communications  

Strongly Recommended Courses:

COURSE NAME Texas Tech University Texas Common Course Numbering System
ADVANCED ANATOMY ZOOL 3405  
ADVANCED PHYSIOLOGY ZOOL 4409  
ETHICS PHIL 2320 PHIL 2306

Frequently check with the programs to which you plan to apply prerequisites and/or application procedures can change.

Success Roadmap

PPHC Advisors have created a year-by-year PDF guide to being Pre-Optometry.

Optometry Programs

To learn more about professional degree programs in optometry both in Texas and elsewhere, please visit the Accreditation Council for Optometric Education (ACOE) directory here.

Application Information and Other Related Websites