BSVS Admission Requirements

Pacific University is dedicated to finding and educating the best future practitioners. Pacific acknowledges the non-traditional route to the optometric profession and is excited to offer a bachelor’s degree in Visual Science completion option for those who will not obtain a bachelor’s degree prior to enrollment.

If you are intending to apply to Pacific University College of Optometry without earning a bachelor's degree prior to intended year of entry, please fill out the College of Optometry Bachelor Degree Option Unofficial Prerequisite Worksheet (pdf) and send it in for review.

Applicants seeking admission under the bachelor's degree-completion option need to meet all regular requirements and complete the regular admissions process. The applicant must have completed all the regular prerequisite coursework, including a minimum of 90 semester credits from an accredited college or university with the following courses:

• 35 semester credits in the natural sciences from at least two of the following disciplines:  biology, chemistry, mathematics and physics
• 8-semester credits in the humanities from at least two of the following disciplines: art, art history, communications/media, education**, English, ethics, history**, humanities, languages, music, philosophy, religion, speech or theater
• 8-semester credits in the social sciences from at least two of the following disciplines: anthropology, business, criminal justice, cultural studies, economics, education**, environmental studies, gender studies, geography, history**, linguistics, political science, psychology, public health, social work or sociology.

**Education and History coursework will be evaluated as Humanities or Social Science credit based on the specific course and syllabus.

If an applicant is admitted under the bachelor’s degree completion option, they will automatically earn credit towards a bachelor’s degree during their first year in the optometry program.  After successful completion of all first-year course requirements of the standard curriculum while enrolled in the College of Optometry (41.25 credits), they will be awarded a Bachelor of Science in Visual Science (BSVS) degree from Pacific University and will complete the optometry program as any other student.

There is no separate application process for applicants applying through the bachelor’s degree completion option.