Optometry Accelerated Scholars OD

Major: Optometry
Degree Awarded: Doctor of Optometry (OD)
Calendar Type: Semester
Minimum Required Credits: 165.0
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 51.1701
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 29-1401

About the Program

The Accelerated Scholars Program at Drexel University Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) is an opportunity for highly motivated and well-qualified applicants to earn a Doctor of Optometry degree designed specifically with them in mind. This program provides students the opportunity to complete all of the degree requirements in an accredited 36-month, year-round, campus-based program.

Each year, an entering class begins in early July, and students enrolled in the Accelerated Scholars Program earn the same credit equivalency as that of students in the Traditional Program.

The structured patient care experiences and small student-to-faculty ratio of this accelerated program provides close faculty mentorship as students develop the critical thinking and clinical competencies necessary for optometric practitioners. To enhance this learning experience, the student cohort is immersed in patient care from the very start of the program.

The Accelerated Scholars Program recognizes and develops individual student learning styles and leadership skills. Academically talented and motivated applicants are carefully screened and accepted based on qualifications, history of academic performance, and desired career path.

Additional Information

For more information please contact the Admissions Office at salus_admissions@drexel.edu.

Admission Requirements

Application Processing and Review

Pennsylvania College of Optometry accepts applications only through the Optometry Centralized Application Service (OptomCAS).

The processing of applications by OptomCAS begins end of June, one year prior to the year of desired enrollment. Applications must be submitted on or before May 1 of the year of desired enrollment.

• Student application reviews begin when an application is verified by OptomCAS.
• Interviews are scheduled and initiated, beginning in September.
• Candidates meeting the requirements are admitted on a rolling basis until class capacity is reached

It is to an applicant’s advantage to apply as early as possible to ensure priority consideration for admission.

Criteria

The Accelerated Scholars Program at Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) offers an alternate opportunity for highly qualified and highly motivated students with a recommended cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher and an OAT academic average score of 330 or higher.*

The Scholars Program is designed for those applicants with exceptional personal and professional motivation, exceptional academic qualifications and strong leadership skills.

The Scholars Program educational model draws from the unique features currently used in the four-year degree program. The unique curriculum emphasizes guided independent learning in conjunction with lecture/lab instruction, small group learning, and case based learning, as well as online/web-enhanced instruction. Individual student learning styles and leadership skills will be emphasized.

Students enrolled in the program will accumulate the credit equivalency of students enrolled in our traditional four-year program.

The program is designed so that a Scholars cohort will not exceed 20 students. The cohort size ensures a small student-to-faculty ratio, an integral part of the Scholars Program.

The length of this professional program is equivalent to four academic years. With a maximized, 36 month academic calendar, a Scholars Program cohort will begin July each entering year.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Program

*While the OAT is strongly encouraged, applicants have the option to take the General GRE (Graduate Record Exam), MCAT (Medical College Admission Test), or DAT (Dental Admission Test)in lieu of taking the OAT. Scores in the 60% or higher are highly recommended in each section of the chosen admission exam.

TO BE CONSIDERED, AN APPLICANT MUST:

Please note: Admissions requirements have changed for the 2026-27 application cycle.

It is recommended that applicants with less than a 3.5 (B+) grade point average should consult the Office of Admissions prior to applying.

• Submit a properly completed application to the Optometry Centralized Application Service (OptomCAS) at www.optomcas.org. Detailed instructions regarding the completion of the application and the essay are provided on the OptomCAS website.
• Review the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO) Functional Guidelines here. 
• Complete a minimum of 90 semester hours or 135 quarter hours of credit from an accredited undergraduate college or university, along with admissions prerequisites (listed below) at the college level with a grade of ‘C-’ or better.
• Submit official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended (or currently attending) directly to OptomCAS. Prerequisite courses must be completed prior to starting the program, not prior to application.
• Arrange to take the Optometry Admissions Test (OAT) prior to June 1 of the desired entering year; taking the OAT between July and December of the application process is highly recommended.
  • An OAT Academic Average score of 330 or higher is recommended. Academic Average and Total Science scores below 320 are less competitive.
  • The admission exam must be taken within three years, prior to the start of the OptomCAS application cycle to which you are applying. Score reports past three years will not be considered. For example, if you are applying for the 2025-26 application cycle, you must have taken the exam on or after June 30, 2022.
  • While the OAT is strongly encouraged, applicants have the option to take the General GRE (Graduate Record Exam), the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test), or the DAT (Dental Admission Test) in lieu of taking the OAT. Scores in the 60% or higher are highly recommended in each section of the chosen admission exam.
  • If an applicant has taken the OAT as well as a previous or subsequent alternate exam, an OAT score will be given preference over any alternate exam.
  • The admission exam must be taken within three years, prior to the start of the OptomCAS application cycle to which you are applying. Score reports past three years will not be considered. For example, if you are applying for the 2026-27 application cycle, you must have taken the OAT or approved substitute on or after June 25, 2023.
• Three letters of evaluation are required and should be forwarded directly to OptomCAS. Any three of the following options will be accepted in order to fulfill the letter requirement:
  • A Pre-Professional Committee letter of evaluation (consult with your college/university pre-professional advisor regarding the policy for providing letters of recommendation for pre-professional applicants).
    • One committee letter will fulfill the entire letter requirement.
  • Letter from a teaching faculty member who has taught you in a course (science teaching faculty letter is strongly recommended).
  • Letter from your pre-professional or faculty advisor.
  • Letter from practicing optometrist for whom you have shadowed or worked.
  • Letter from a healthcare professional or work supervisor who is able to assess your qualifications for professional education and future career in optometry.
  • Additional letters outside of the above options will enhance the file but will not fulfill our required letters of evaluation.
• A minimum of 100 hours of patient care interaction within a healthcare profession is required (may be volunteer or paid). It is highly recommended to have direct patient interactions in an optometry or ophthalmology setting, which may include roles such as scribe, optometric/ophthalmic technician, or optician. Hours achieved through shadowing or observation are accepted, but considered less competitive. Office support or clerical work does not fulfill this requirement.
• ​International Students, please review the drop down section below for any additional requirements needed.
• ​​​​​​All credentials submitted on behalf of an applicant become a part of that applicant’s file with the University and cannot be returned.
• If accepted, an applicant must complete the University’s compliance program and meet University compliance requirements upon matriculation.
  • Pre-matriculation health standards include a criminal background check, child abuse clearance, any health clearances, fingerprinting and drug screening. Immunization requirements are in compliance with state regulations and CDC recommendations for healthcare providers.

Students are responsible for all fees associated with these clearance protocols. Students will be responsible for uploading their required documentation via CastleBranch, an online-tracking system, and monitoring their compliance records to ensure that all information remains current and accurate. Clinical sites which require such clearances may deny a student’s participation in a clinical experience based on the results of these clearances. Students must also provide proof of health insurance prior to the start of the program.

Prerequisites

An applicant must have completed a minimum of 90 semester hours or 135 quarter hours of credit from an accredited undergraduate college or university. These credits must include the pre-optometry courses listed below completed with a 'C-' or better.

An applicant need not have completed all prerequisites prior to filing an application but must be able to complete all outstanding prerequisites prior to enrolling.

Prerequisite credits completed ten or more years prior to the anticipated entrance date will be reviewed for approval on an individual basis.

Please note: Prerequisites for the Scholars Program have changed for the 2026-27 application cycle.

• General Biology or Zoology (with labs) - one year
• General Chemistry (with labs) - one year
• Organic Chemistry (with labs) - one year or
  • ½ year Organic Chemistry plus ½ year of either Biochemistry or Molecular Biology (lab highly recommended)
• General Physics (with labs) - one year
• Microbiology or Bacteriology (lecture only) - ½ year
• Anatomy or Physiology - ½ year
  • separate Anatomy and Physiology courses or combined courses are acceptable; labs are highly recommended.
• English Composition or English Literature - one year
• Mathematics - one year
  • ( ½ year Calculus fulfills math requirement; however, one year Calculus highly recommended)
• Psychology - ½ year
• Statistics (Math, Biology or Psychology) - ½ year

While not required, we highly encourage additional upper level science coursework in such areas as Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Genetics, Histology, and Experimental and Physiological Psychology. 

Technology Requirements

Pennsylvania College of Optometry has requested that students utilize a device(s) that meet certain technical capabilities for use throughout the duration of the program. These devices are required to ensure each student’s ability to access educational websites/databases/software during the didactic and clinical year. For example, students will need a device for testing, to access evidence-based websites, Blackboard for course access, e-books and designated course materials during the didactic and clinical year. Students are responsible for the maintenance of their personal devices.

Details on specific Computer Requirements (PDF).

International Students and Practitioners

International Transcripts

For applicants who have attended foreign and French-Canadian schools, the following is required:

• A course-by-course credential review from an accredited agency (such as World Education Services), which evidences all post-secondary studies completed. Please consult agency’s web site for requirements to complete the evaluation.
• An official evaluation may be sent from the agency directly to OptomCAS.
  • Instructions for submitting a foreign credential evaluation.

English Language Proficiency

Fluency in written and spoken English is essential for success in a University academic program as well as to help ensure patient/client/student safety and/or effective communication with members of a healthcare or education team.

Official results from the TOEFL iBT, TOEFL Essentials, IELTS or Duolingo examination are required of all non-native English speakers. One of these approved exams must be taken within two years prior to the start date of the entering class to which an applicant seeks admission.

While we recommend that applicants submit TOEFL iBT, TOEFL Essentials, IELTS or Duolingo, exceptions will be considered for foreign applicants who meet one of the following criteria*:

1. 1. successfully completed a degree or diploma held from an accredited, post-secondary institution where the coursework was entirely in English, and provide evidence that it was conducted in English; or
2. 2. successfully completed, and provide evidence of, an approved English language learner’s program

*Note: All exemption materials and other appeals are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and subject to the admission committee’s final discretion. Should any exceptions not be accepted toward the English language requirement, the Office of Admissions will inform the applicant of an alternative to fulfill it.

Admissions Selection Process

For more information regarding the admissions selection, interview and matriculation process, please refer to the Drexel website.

Degree Requirements

Sample Plan of Study

Program Goals

Goal 1: Recruit, develop, and retain highly qualified and diverse faculty best-suited to deliver the curriculum.

Objectives: 

• 1.1 Conduct faculty salary and FTE analysis by department to align with the needs of our optimal, sustainable traditional class size. 
• 1.2 Develop and maintain faculty leaders in academic and programmatic assessment. 
• 1.3 Increase faculty awareness of educational pedagogy, innovative teaching options, and technological resources. 
• 1.4 Support and promote lifelong learning and growth opportunities that cultivate leadership, discovery, and scholarly activity. 
• 1.5 Assess and identify needs for basic science and clinical research faculty support and recruitment. 
• 1.6 Strengthen faculty recruitment by expanding the basic science and clinical faculty applicant pool and refine the committee process through the use of documented best practices in the recruitment of faculty with a) diverse backgrounds and b) content knowledge and skills c) clinical expertise.

Goal 2: Implement and assess a progressive curriculum that prepares students to provide state of the art optometric care.
Objectives: 

• 2.1 Engage Curriculum Committee members including Chair, Sub-Committee Chairs, and Committee Members, in continued curriculum review processes. 
• 2.2 Initiate curriculum mapping to identify gaps, redundancies, and areas of potential expanded instruction.
• 2.3 Revise and implement curricular modifications according to evaluation of assessment results.
• 2.4 Continue and strengthen innovative educational TLS resources for increasing efficiency in student learning and assessment.  

Goal 3: Develop an enrollment management plan for PCO programs (traditional, scholars, APOD).
Objectives:

• 3.1 Establish an optimum, sustainable class size for the PCO didactic and clinical program.
• 3.2 Evaluate the recruitment model for the Accelerated Scholars Program and determine strategies to increase the number of qualified candidates completing applications.
• 3.3 Develop a sustainable model for implementing and assessing the Advanced Placement Optometry Degree (APOD) program.

 
Goal 4: Strengthen student learning outcome assessment strategies, analyses, and appropriate interventions for the Traditional, Accelerated Scholars, and Advanced Placement in Optometry Degree programs.
Objectives:

• 4.1 Assess the scope and quality of the didactic educational experience. 
• 4.2 Assess the scope and quality of the on-campus clinical educational experience. 
• 4.3 Assess the scope and quality of the off-site externship program experience.
• 4.4 Assess scope and quality of the Advanced Studies experience.

 
Goal 5: Develop graduates who are life-long learners trained to practice full scope optometry with a diverse patient base and in a variety of healthcare settings.
Objectives:

• 5.1 Provide students with diverse clinical experiences during their internship and externship.
• 5.2 Implement laser/minor surgical curricular content and build a lasers suite within PCO.
• 5.3 Improve first time pass rate for all parts of NBEO testing.

 
Goal 6: Maintain full accreditation by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (Next self-study 2024/2025).
Objectives:

• 6.1 Identify Self-Study Committee including Co-Chairs, Standard Chair’s, Committee Members, and University contacts. 
• 6.2 Engage faculty in the self-study process. 
• 6.3 Develop a self-study document in preparation for 2024/2025 ACOE Accreditation site visit that includes analysis, assessment, and implementation of processes.

Goal 7: Develop innovative models for optometric education that reflect the changing healthcare and educational landscape. 
Objectives:

• 7.1 Identify areas of strength and opportunity relative to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the didactic and clinical environments.
• 7.2 Provide support for external environmental issues as they impact students’ education. (examples: should address things such as climate change, pandemic/epidemic disease, social issues, political unrest, election results, etc.) 
• 7.3 Provide students and faculty with functional, current technologies.

 
Goal 8: Coordinate with other Elkins Park programs (i.e., OT, AuD) to develop and implement models for interprofessional collaborative care.
Objectives:

• 8.1 Encourage active participation in IPE healthcare events.
• 8.2 Increase faculty awareness, understanding, and use of services provided at other on-campus clinics.         
• 8.3 Increase faculty participation in interprofessional scholarship.
  • Increase the number of IPE/IPC scholarly works.