Graduate Programs

Graduate degree programs in optometry are usually research oriented and are for individuals interesting in delving further into the “whys” and “hows” of the visual system. Master’s, PhDs and dual degree programs are offered at many of the schools and colleges of optometry and are identified by different names, but most emphasize and explore some aspect of vision and the visual and ocular system.

More detailed descriptions and enrollment figures for the programs listed below are here.

Click here to watch a video and learn more about careers in optometric research.

 

In alphabetical order by State

Alabama

UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM
School of Optometry
Birmingham, Alabama
Master of Science (MS) – Vision Science (Combined OD/MS program is also offered)
OD/Master of Public Health (MPH) Dual Degree Program
OD/Master of Business Administration (MBA) Dual Degree Program
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) – Vision Science
Contact: Lawrence Sincich, PhD  (sincich@uab.edu)
http://www.uab.edu/vsgp

Arizona

MIDWESTERN UNIVERSITY
Arizona College of Optometry
Glendale, Arizona
OD/Master of Public Health (MPH) Dual Degree Program (through the College of Graduate Studies)
Contact: David Line  (dline@midwestern.edu)
https://www.midwestern.edu/academics/degrees-and-programs/master-of-public-health.xml

OD/Master of Science (M.S.) in Precision Medicine (through the College of Graduate Studies)
Contact: Garilyn Jentarra (gjenta@midwestern.edu)
https://www.midwestern.edu/academics/degrees-and-programs/master-of-science-in-precision-medicine

California

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRY AT
MARSHALL B. KETCHUM UNIVERSITY
Fullerton, California
Master of Science (MS) – Vision Science (Combined OD/MS program is also offered.)
Contact: William H. Ridder, III, OD, PhD (wridder@ketchum.edu)
http://www.ketchum.edu/optometry/ms_in_vision_science

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA – BERKELEY
Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry & Vision Science
Berkeley, California
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) – Vision Science
Contact: Ardi Samonte, Associate Director of Admissions
(optometry-admissions@berkeley.edu) or vision@berkeley.edu
http://vision.berkeley.edu

Florida

NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY
College of Optometry
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Graduate Program in Clinical Vision Research
Master of Science (MS)
Contact: Bin Zhang, MD, PhD (bz52@nova.edu)
http://optometry.nova.edu/cvr/

Illinois

MIDWESTERN UNIVERSITY
Chicago College of Optometry
Downers Grove, Illinois
OD/Master of Public Health (MPH) Dual Degree Program (through the College of Graduate Studies)
Contact: David Line (dline@midwestern.edu)
https://www.midwestern.edu/academics/degrees-and-programs/master-of-public-health.xml
OD/Master of Science (MS) in Precision Medicine
(through the College of Graduate Studies)
Contact: Garilyn Jentarra (gjenta@midwestern.edu)
https://www.midwestern.edu/academics/degrees-and-programs/master-of-science-in-precision-medicine

Indiana

INDIANA UNIVERSITY
School of Optometry
Bloomington, Indiana
Master of Science (MS) – Vision Science (Combined OD/MS program as well as non-thesis MS are also offered.)
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) – Vision Science
Contact: Dr. Steve Burns (staburns@indiana.edu)
http://www.optometry.iu.edu/academics/degrees/phd.shtml
http://optometry.iu.edu/academics/ms-vision-science.html

Massachusetts

MCPHS UNIVERSITY
School of Optometry
Worcester, Massachusetts
OD/MPH Dual Degree Program Encompasses five Core Disciplines (Biostatistics, Environmental Health Science, Epidemiology, Health Policy & Management, and Social and Behavioral Sciences)
Contact: Carly Levy, MPH (carly.levy@mcphs.edu)
Contact: Nancy Coletta, OD, PhD (nancy.coletta@mcphs.edu)
https://www.mcphs.edu/academics/school-of-optometry/optometry/optometry-od


NEW ENGLAND COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRY
Boston, Massachusetts
Master of Science (MS) – Vision Science (Combined OD/MS program is also offered.)
Contact: Thanasis Panorgias, MSc, PhD (panorgiasa@neco.edu)
https://www.neco.edu/academics/

New York

STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
College of Optometry
Graduate Center for Vision Research
New York, New York
Master of Science (MS) – Vision Science (Combined OD/MS and Residency/MS programs are also offered.)
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) – Vision Science (Combined OD/PhD and Residency/PhD programs are also offered.)
Contact: Dr. Stewart Bloomfield (sbloomfield@sunyopt.edu)
http://www.sunyopt.edu/education/academics/graduate_programs
Combined OD/MBA (offered with SUNY Empire State College)
Contact: Dr. Richard Madonna (rmadonna@sunyopt.edu)
https://www.sunyopt.edu/academics/programs/mba-certificate-program

Ohio

THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
College of Optometry
Columbus, Ohio
Master of Science (MS) – Vision Science (Advanced Practice Fellowship and combined OD/MS programs are also offered.)
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) – Vision Science
Contact: Heather Anderson, OD, PhD (Anderson.3881@osu.edu)
http://optometry.osu.edu/graduate/

Oregon

PACIFIC UNIVERSITY
College of Optometry
Forest Grove, Oregon
Master of Science (MS) – Vision Science (concurrent OD/MS program and one-year post-OD/MS are also offered)
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) – Vision Science
Contact: Yu-Chi Tai, PhD (ytai@pacificu.edu)
Master of Education (MEd) – Visual function in learning Pacific University, College of Education (Combined OD/MS and OD/MEd programs are available.)
Contact: Sarah Feigel (sarah.feigel@pacificu.edu)
OD/Master of Business Administration (MBA) Joint Program
Contact: Alessandra Govi (govia@pacificu.edu)
https://www.pacificu.edu/colleges/college-optometry/academic-programs

Pennsylvania

PENNSYLVANIA COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRY AT SALUS UNIVERSITY
Elkins Park, Pennsylvania
Master of Science (MSc) – Biomedicine with a concentration in Optometry
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) – Biomedicine with a concentration in Optometry
Contact: Mitchell Scheiman, OD, PhD, FAAO (Dipl) (mscheiman@salus.edu)
http://www.salus.edu/Colleges/Health-Sciences/Biomedicine.aspx

Texas

UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON
College of Optometry
Houston, Texas
Master of Science (MS) – Physiological Optics/Vision Science
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) – Physiological Optics/Vision Science (Combined OD/MS or OD/PhD, and MS (or PhD)/Residency programs are also offered.)
Contact: Dr. Laura Frishman (lfrishman@uh.edu)
http://www.opt.uh.edu/academics/graduate/index.cfm

UNIVERSITY OF THE INCARNATE WORD
ROSENBERG SCHOOL OF OPTOMETRY

San Antonio, Texas
Master of Science (MS) – Vision Science
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) – Vision Science
Contact: Jeffrey Rabin, OD, PhD (rabin@uiwtx.edu)
https://optometry.uiw.edu/academics/ms-in-vision-science/index.html
https://optometry.uiw.edu/academics/phd-in-vision-science/index.html