PhD in Vision Science Course Work

Course requirements vary based on students' backgrounds when matriculated into the program.

  • All students must complete courses from the following six categories with a minimum of 55.5 credits.
  • Students without a relevant Master's degree need to take all PhD courses mentioned below, plus complete the whole Master's degree curriculum.
  • For graduate credit, the grade in a course must be C or higher.
  • Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. 

The PhD curriculum consists of coursework in the following six categories. 

  1. Research Skills: 7.5 credits
  2. PhD Research Work: 21.0 credits
  3. Vision Science Seminars: 18.0 credits
  4. Clinical Skills: 1.0 credit
  5. PhD Teaching Experiences: 2.0 credits
  6. Electives: 5.0 credits

Total: 55.5 credits

Research Skills: 7.5 Credits

  • VSC 502 - Scientific & Clinical Writing 1.5 credits
  • VSC 704 - Clinical Research Methodology 2.0 credits
  • VSC 705 - Statistics for Clinical Research 3.0 credits
  • VSC 861 - Survey of Vision Science Laboratories, 1.0 credit

PhD Research Work: 22.0 credits

  • VSC 801 - PhD Vision Research colloquium 1.0 credit (4 credits total)
  • VSC 862 - Laboratory Study, 3.0 credits
  • VSC 902 - Proposal Writing & Grant Application, 3.0 credits
  • VSC 991 - Dissertation Research, 1-3 credit(s), minimum 12 credits total

Vision Science Seminars: 18.0 credits

  • VSC 751 - Vision Science Seminar I 3.0 credits
  • VSC 752 - Vision Science Seminar II 3.0 credits
  • VSC 811 - Advanced Seminar in Vision & Optics, 3.0 credits
  • VSC 821 - Advanced Seminar in Ocular Anatomy & Physiology, 3.0 credits
  • Eye Diseases & Public health area can be fulfilled in one of two ways.
    • VSC 831 - Advanced Seminar in Eye Diseases & Public Health 3 credits
    • VSC 833 - Advanced Seminar in Health Policy & Eye Disease I 1.5 credits and VSC 834 - Advanced Seminar in Health Policy & Eye Disease Ii 1.5 credits
  • VSC 841 - Advanced Seminar in Oculomotor Function & Visual Performance, 3.0 credits

Clinical Skills: 1.0 credit

  • VSC 660- Practice of Clinical Skills 1 credit Or OPT 722 - Patient Care VI 1.5 credits

Ph.D. Teaching Experiences: 2.0 credits

  • OPT 970 - Teaching Experiences, 1.0 credit

Electives: 5.0 credits

Updated for Academic Year 2023-2024 on 7/26/2023