Optometry, Bachelor of Science Pre-Professional

Program Information
Credential: 
Pre-Professional Study
Duration: 

2 years at RDC - 1 year at most universities

Delivery: 
Main Campus
Program Cost Estimates: 
Program Cost Estimates

Contact Information

Contact Name: 
Dr. Nancy Brown
Contact Title: 
Associate Dean
Contact Phone: 
403.342.3400 OR 1.888.732.4630
Contact Email: 
inquire@rdc.ab.ca
University Transfer Program

Two Year Pre-Professional Program:

Please note that course work for pre-professional programs varies as per university. It is the student's responsibility to ensure they are taking correct pre-professional coursework when applying the a University other than specified in the Calendar.

For the most current university program and transfer information, see the Planning Guides in Academic Advising.

International Students and Students applying outside of their home province are advised to consult the calendar of the institution to which you will be applying regarding its policy on admitting international and out-of-province students. This may vary between institutions.

Related Careers
  • clinical practice
  • private clinics
  • partnerships
  • public health units
  • education services
  • public or industrial consultants
  • research and advanced study
The Program

The Pre-Optometry program at RDC is the first two years of the three year pre-professional program required for admission to Doctor of Optometry at University of Waterloo in Waterloo, Ontario. Your third year of study will be completed at a university of your choice. You must make sure you meet admission and minimum course load requirements for the professional program as well as your alternate degree program.

Program Admission Features

Admission to the Pre-Optometry program at RDC does not guarantee admission to Doctor of Optometry at University of Waterloo. You should meet the admission requirements of the professional school, and also design your program so that you can complete a Bachelor of Science degree. Competitive admission to professional programs requires a high grade point average. You should check with universities to be aware of specific admission requirements.

Requirements
Admission Requirements: 

Minimum average of 60% with no mark below 50% in:

  1. Biology 30
  2. Chemistry 30
  3. ELA 30-1
  4. Mathematics 30-1
  5. Physics 30

Note: Applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate English language proficiency in addition to the program admission requirements.

Graduation Requirements: 

You must pass 20 term university transfer courses or a minimum of 60 credit hours, and achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00 to receive a Diploma in University Transfer Studies.

Program Content

Suggested Pattern Year 1

  • BIOL 217/BIOL 218 (6 credits)
  • CHEM 211/CHEM 351 (3 credits)
  • MATH 202 or MATH 203 (3 credits)
  • STAT 251 (3 credits)
  • ENGL 219 (3 credits)
  • PSYC 260 (3 credits
  • PHIL 201 or PHIL 300 (3 credits)
  • Free Electives (3 credits)

 

Year 2

Please contact the artscienceinfo [at] rdc [dot] ab [dot] ca (Advisors in the School of Arts and Sciences), or refer to the Academic Advising Planning Guides. 

Year 1 Course Descriptions

BIOL 217

Survey biological macromolecules, membrane structure and function, cellular structure; bioenergetics and energy flow, respiration and photosynthesis, cell division and the cell cycle, DNA structure and replication, transcription and translation, recombinant DNA and genetic regulation. Prerequisite: Biology 30 and Chemistry 30

BIOL 218

Examines the major lineage of life on Earth. Overview of evolutionary principles and classification, the history of life, and the key adaptations of prokaryotes, protists, fungi, plants, and animals. Laboratories survey the diversity of biological form and function, and introduce the students to data collection and scientific writing. Prerequisite: Biology 30

CHEM 211

Introduction to the discipline and essential concepts of chemistry focusing on stoichiometry, reactions and titrations, ideal gases, atomic structure and bonding, chemical equilibrium, and acids and bases. Prerequisite: Chem 30 and Math 30-1.

CHEM 351

An introduction to the chemistry of carbon compounds focusing on the molecular structure, nomenclature, reactions, reaction mechanisms and stereochemistry of hydrocarbons, and some functional groups including haloalkanes, alcohols, thiols, ethers and epoxides, Introuction to the use of important organic compounds related to industry, agriculture and everyday purposes. Prerequisite: CHEM 211 or CHEM 102 Anti-requisite: Chem 251

ENGL 219

Explore university-level essay composition and the skills related to critical reading, interpretation, and argument. Prerequisite: ELA 30-1 or equivalent. NOTE: Credit will not be granted for both ENGL 219 and ENGL 210.

MATH 202

Compute limits, derivatives and integrals of a variety of single-variable functions. Interpret the theoretical meaning of these tools and their use in applications. Intended for students without prior calculus experience. Prerequisite: MATH 30-1. Anti-requisite: MATH 203

MATH 203

Compute limits, derivatives and integrals of a variety of single-variable functions. Interpret the theoretical meaning of these tools and their use in applications. Intended for students with prior calculus experience. Prerequisite: MATH 31 Anit-requisite: MATH 202

PHIL 201

The classical problems of Western philosophy. Studying and discussing selected philosophical classics and contemporary works. Emphasis is on questions of moral and other values, and on the nature of society and justice. Note: Do not take if you have credit in PHIL 239 or 240.

PHIL 300

This course is designed to acquaint students with the range of ethical questions and issues that arise for practitioners of various professions. Students will develop their critical and analytical skills in their own arguments designed to appraise and develop good ethical positions on a variety of issues and problems common to many professions, problems like: professional responsibility, the use of codes of ethics in making good ethical decisions, privacy and client confidentiality, professional client-practitioner relationships, issues of public and private ethical responsibility.

PSYC 260

Fundamental terminology, procedures, findings, and theories related to basic psychological processes. Topics may include the nature and history of psychology, research methods, biological foundations of behaviour, sensation and perception, states of consciousness, learning, memory, language and thought.

STAT 251

Explore methods for the collection, organization and summarization of data. Interpret the concepts of probability and distributions in order to make inferences about quantitative problems in applied settings. Prerequisite: Math 30-1 or Math 30-2 Anti-requisite: STAT 241, PSYC 309, SOCI 311, and BUS 306