Why wait to get started? At Pacific you will start connecting coursework and clinical experiences right away to build a meaningful foundation.
Program Overview
Pacific University prides itself on providing a solid foundation in clinical education. Clinical work is introduced in your first year and students will graduate as a full-scope, primary care optometric physician, yet you will also have exposure to areas of specialization such as contact lenses, low vision, ocular disease and special testing, pediatrics, primary care, sports vision and vision therapy.
Our clinic network includes six sites, each with its own distinctive patient population. You will gain cultural competency by working with a diverse range of patients, and you will have the volume of patients required for an advanced clinical education.
Community Outreach The mobile EyeVan is utilized for vision assessments, screenings, examinations and education throughout the community. Our faculty and students screen patients at preschools, elementary schools, nursing homes, migrant camps, health fairs and other locations. Pacific’s outreach program participates in Project Homeless Connect, Veterans Stand Down, Binational Health Week, Special Olympics and other events where our services will be beneficial.
Curriculum Info The first year students take an average of 8 to 9 classes per semester, with 5 to 7 labs. It is important that incoming students recognize the nature of the program and prepare themselves accordingly. First-year students depart for a traditional summer break and return in the fall.
From fall of second year through graduation, the curriculum is year-round, with only short breaks.
Second year integrates more clinical work but is still establishing an academic foundation.
Third-year students provide care to patients in our primary care services each semester. Additionally, students rotate through one of three specialty clinics each semester: Contact Lens, Ocular Disease/Low Vision, and Pediatrics/Vision Therapy.
The fourth professional year consists entirely of clinical rotations. You will complete four 11- to 12-week clinical rotations.
For more information on our curriculum, please visit our website.
“The curriculum is meticulously thought out, both in terms of order and structure. Each class intertwines with another, although the broader topics may be different, with an appropriate amount of overlap. The classroom environment encourages participation and faculty provide resources that allow the students to build off of what is learned in the classroom with copious supplemental materials.”
You will use active learning techniques to enhance the retention of material beyond individual classes, develop problem-solving skills, and motivate you for life-long study.
