Programs

Overview

Premed Pathway: Optometry (BS/OD; MCPHS)

This professional pathway allows students to earn a combined BS and Doctor of Optometry from MCPHS.

Program Highlights

• Faculty mentors with years of expertise in both teaching and advising pre-health professions students
• A strong peer support network of pre-health students, including a Premedical Society and Minority Association of Health Professions Students Chapter 
• Committee letter and interview support for students applying to professional school; courses and resources that are custom designed for professional school entrance exams and application preparation
• Research fellowships, clinical internships, and volunteer and shadowing opportunities in the Longwood Medical area and Greater Boston

Program Details

Premed Pathway: Optometry (BS/OD; MCPHS University-Worcester)

Students accepted into the combined, straight-through, seven-year bachelor of science/doctor of optometry program earn a bachelor of science degree from MCPHS University-Boston and a doctor of optometry degree (OD) from MCPHS University-Worcester. This seven-year program includes three years of study at MCPHS University-Boston and four years at MCPHS University-Worcester. Priority admission is given to those students who have started in the Premedical & Health Studies BS at MCPHS University-Boston.

This is a unique educational opportunity for the highly motivated, academically outstanding student with a professional goal of a career in optometry.

The program prepares students for study in the field of optometry with all of the required liberal arts and basic science courses during the three years spent at MCPHS University-Boston. The four years at MCPHS University-Worcester provide course work needed for the student to complete the bachelor's degree, as well as the professional education required for the doctoral degree in optometry. The bachelor of science degree is awarded after successful completion of the first year at MCPHS University-Worcester.

The program allows the student to focus on career objectives as an undergraduate while secondarily reducing the academic and financial stresses commonly associated with pre-professional and professional education.

Final admission to MCPHS University-Worcester is contingent upon successful completion of the first three years in the BS program at MCPHS University-Boston (achieving a GPA of 3.0 or better), satisfactory Optometry Admissions Test scores (averaging 330 or better, with no score below 300), evidence of a commitment to the optometry profession, and the recommendation of MCPHS University-Boston faculty. Students are required to submit a full OptomCAS application to MCPHS University-Worcester prior to the deadline for the admission cycle of their expected year of entry into the professional program. Final admission decisions are made by the MCPHS University-Worcester Optometry faculty.

Premed Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I keep my scholarships after I transition into the professional phase of the Premedical and Health Studies Professional Pathways?

A: Yes, provided the professional phase is taught here at MCPHS University and you must maintain the minimum GPA requirement of the scholarship.

Q: If I decide not to pursue the Professional Pathways, what can I do with a Bachelor of Science in Premedical & Health Studies?

A: You can go on to do research, work in a lab, or go to school to teach. By adding a minor, your B.S. in Premedical & Health Studies becomes a very flexible degree.

Q: Does the College provide research opportunities to Premedical & Health Studies students?

A: MCPHS University has a SURF program, Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF), which affords research opportunities with our own faculty to qualified students. In addition, there are many opportunities in the area hospitals and research facilities, some of which are Harvard Affiliates.

Curriculum

Students complete the first three years of the curriculum at MCPHS University-Boston. The first year of professional courses at MCPHS University-Worcester are accepted as transfer credits to complete the remaining year four requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree at MCPHS University-Boston.

Year I-fall

Year I-spring

If LIB 120 is completed in Year I Spring, then you will have the following Year II schedule.

Year II-fall

Year II-spring

If LIB 133 Is completed in Year I Spring, then you will have the following Year II schedule.

Year II-fall

Year II-spring

Year III-fall

*Third year BEH requirement: students take BEH 250 Health Psychology, BEH 405 Mind/Body Medicine, or BEH 450 Behavioral Health.

Year III-spring

Accreditation

Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS) is chartered by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and is authorized to grant undergraduate and graduate degrees in the health sciences and related fields. MCPHS is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), Inc. through its Commission on Institutions of Higher Education. 

Advisory Committee

The Pre-Health Professions Advisory Committee exists to support students who are seeking admission to medical school or other health professional schools. When it is determined that a committee letter is warranted, the committee composes an evaluative letter that incorporates the student's reference letters, academic credentials, community service and extracurricular activities, research accomplishments, and other relevant personal data. The Committee may also coordinate mock interviews for students who are completing secondary applications.

The Committee members pursue liaison or working relationships with medical and professional school representatives and admissions committees. They attend national or regional meetings of the National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions (NAAHP) and share pertinent materials and knowledge acquired at these meetings with colleagues and students. The Committee also periodically reviews and updates the Premedical and Health Studies degree program requirements, embedded minor concentrations, and affiliated professional school pathways.

The Committee is composed of the Premedical and Health Studies Program Director, Assistant Director, and faculty program mentors and is chaired by the Program Director or Assistant Director. Faculty program mentors hold office hours for advising, serve as contacts for specific pathways, write letters of recommendation, and participate in pre-health professions events in addition to their teaching, service and research responsibilities.

Graduates of the College have been accepted at a number of medical and dental schools, including Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Boston University, Dartmouth School of Medicine, Duke University, Georgetown University, Howard University, Medical College of Virginia, Michigan State University, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, the State University of New York at Brooklyn, the State University of New York at Buffalo, the State University of New York at Stony Brook, Syracuse University, Tulane University, Tufts University, University of Massachusetts, and the University of Vermont.

Recently, Premedical & Health Studies majors have had acceptances to the following programs:

• Masters of Physician Assistant studies program at MCPHS
• M.D./M.P.H. programs at Tufts Univ. School of Medicine and Tulane Univ. School of Medicine
• M.D. programs at Univ. of Vermont, Univ. of Massachusetts, Commonwealth Medical College, Ross Univ. & St. Georges Univ.
• D.P.M. program at Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine
• D.V.M. program at Tufts University and Colorado State Univ.
• D.M.D. programs at Tufts University and Boston University Schools of Dentistry
• accelerated BSN program at MCPHS, Nurse Practitioner track
• clinical research internships with the National Institutes of Health IRT program and Harvard Medical School
• O.D. degree program at Pennsylvania College of Optometry & accelerated O.D. degree at the New England College of Optometry
• and many others 
  

For Transfers

MCPHS welcomes students from other institutions. Any applicant to MCPHS who has completed at least one semester of college coursework (12 credits or more) is considered to be a transfer applicant. Students who have been out of high school for more than two years are strongly encouraged to take math and science courses at another accredited college or university and then to apply for transfer to MCPHS.

The transfer requirements may be different for different MCPHS programs. To find the requirements for transferring into this program, please click the link below.

Transfer Requirements for Premedical and Health Studies (BS) (Boston)