Program of Study

Class Profile for the Class of 2013, entering Fall 2009
Total applications 330-350
Class size: 90
Men 48
Women 42
Average age 24
Age range 20-54
Average Cumulative GPA 3.58 (range admitted from 2.85-4.0)
Average Total Science OAT

343 (equivalent to about 320-330 on the newly calibrated OAT) Range admitted 280-400.

Twenty-two states are represented, along with four Canadian provinces.

Pacific University College of Optometry became part of the Pacific campus in 1945. It was originally founded in 1921 as the North Pacific College of Optometry. Eighty-eight years later, we pride ourselves on our clinically oriented program, focusing on the graduation of a comprehensive practitioner with expertise in general optometry, contact lenses, low vision, vision therapy, sports vision and ocular disease. Pacific University is a fully accredited member of the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges and the Council on Optometric Education of the American Optometric Association. Graduates are fully qualified to practice in any state in the nation, the curriculum far exceeding the most stringent educational requirements of any state.  The curriculum also prepares students for successful completion of the National Board Exam.

In May 2009, Pacific University College of Optometry received our institutional pass rate on the March 2009 Applied Basic Science examination Pass Rate.  Pacific’s Pass Rate for first-time test takers was 97.7%. 

Pacific’s outstanding scores, well above the national average of 91.9%, reflect the elite education our students receive here at Pacific University, and the hard work, dedication and focus our students and faculty bring to the classroom every day.  We also have statistics that show our mean percent discipline scores outperformed the national average in every single topic area.

We offer a four year doctoral program in optometry. The curriculum consists of academic and laboratory experiences integrated with clinical work. The fourth year is entirely clinical, consisting of one clinical rotation in the Portland area clinics and three off-site preceptorships. In addition to clinical training, Pacific demonstrates its commitment to quality optometric research by offering all students an elective research thesis opportunity, encouraging and providing funds for faculty to attend scientific meetings and providing research facilities, and with our new MS Vision Science degree. The annual Pacific Vision Conference on campus allows practitioners, students, faculty and other reseachers the opportunity to exchange findings and information.

Unique to Pacific University are additional graduate degree programs in clinical optometry, allowing specialization in various areas of optometry. In conjunction with Pacific's School of Education, the Master of Education (M.Ed.), Visual Function in Learning program is designed to provide specialized study to qualify the optometrist as an education vision consultant. The M.Ed. and O.D. degrees may be pursued concurrently or separately. Pacific has also recently launched the new M.S. Vision Science degree.  Succesful graduates of the O.D. program can complete this research-oriented Master's degree in just one year. 

Residency programs leading to a certificate in Hospital Optometry, Rehabilitative Optometry, and Hospital/Geriatric Optometry are also available. These are conducted in conjunction with Veterans Affairs Medical Centers.  A contact lens residency is also offered at the Forest Grove campus.

We have excellent facilities located on the Pacific campus along with a network of clinical centers in Portland. Graduates have broad-based clinical skills in all areas of optometry. Clinical work is introduced in the first year of the professional program and increases in complexity as the student progresses. Intensive clinical work in the last year requires the student intern to rotate through a series of clinical centers operated by the College, both on campus and in nearby Portland. In addition, students will complete three external preceptorships in clinical settings across the United States and in several foreign countries.