7-Year Optometry Program
Earn your OD in 7 years
Detroit Mercy offers a 7-year program that lets highly qualified students earn both a bachelor’s degree and a Doctor of Optometry (OD) degree. Normally, this takes eight years, but this program saves you a year.
How it works
- First 3 years: Complete a Bachelor of Science in Biology or a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry at the McNichols Campus.
- Next 4 years: Study in the School of Optometry to earn your OD degree.
Pick your path
You can choose a Bachelor of Science in Biology → Doctor of Optometry
or
a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry → Doctor of Optometry .
As a 7-year student, you are guaranteed a seat in the School of Optometry if you meet all criteria.
Focused on you
- Small class sizes mean more one-on-one attention.
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 12:1
Make an impact
- Gain experience by providing optometry care to local residents.
- Learn to serve the community while building clinical skills.
Think beyond your limits
UDM is the only Jesuit and Mercy university in the country. We focus on the development of the whole person — mind, body, and spirit.
Gain Real-World Understanding of Optometry
An Introduction to Optometry course taken in your third undergraduate year will help your understanding of the profession.
In this course, you will complete 10 hours of clinical shadowing. This fulflls the shadowing requirements for our optometry program and for most optometry schools.
Hands-On Experience
At the Eye Institute, you will:
- Experience direct patient care
- Work in 23 fully equipped exam rooms
- You'll train with industry-standard equipment such as slit lamps, retinoscopes, keratometers and ophthalmoscopes. And you'll use emerging tools like virtual reality simulators and digital record systems.
This approach gives you:
- Clinical expertise
- Critical thinking skills
- Professional confidence
Service-Learning
- Participate in community outreach throughout the year.
- Learn to meet real community needs while helping others.
Research Opportunities
- Start research as early as freshman year.
- Work in small teams with faculty and classmates.
- Gain skills for your résumé and employment.
- Opportunities include publications and competitive advantages for optometry careers.
Admission Requirements
Application Notes:
- Apply as a first-year student to the College of Engineering & Science.
- Indicate clearly that you are applying to the 7-year Optometry program.
- Applications go to the Undergraduate Admissions office at McNichols Campus.
- Acceptance is based on your overall application and limited seats.
More information, including admission requirements and application procedure, will be available when the Academic Catalog is published. Please contact the Office of Admissions, admissions@udmercy.edu, 313-993-1245, with any questions.
- 7-year Bachelor of Science in Biology / Doctor of Optometry or
- 7-year Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry / Doctor of Optometry
Undergraduate Core Requirements
- Complete all courses for your major (Biology or Chemistry)
- Complete the University Core Curriculum, including:
- Math, English, history, and culture
- Speech, computer skills, ethics, social responsibility
- Philosophy and religious studies
- Take Introduction to Optometry in your third year
-
Criteria for a Guaranteed Seat in the School of Optometry
Criteria for a Guaranteed Seat in the School of Optometry
You must meet all of the following:
- A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.4
- A minimum science GPA of 3.2
- Completion of all prerequisite coursework required by the University of Detroit Mercy School of Optometry
- Score of at least a 300 on the Optometry Admission Test (OAT) (academic average and on each section) after the second year of the program
- A successful interview with the School of Optometry Admissions Committee
- Completion of 10 hours of optometric shadowing
- Successful completion of Optometry Centralized Application Service (OptomCAS®) after the second year of the program.