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-programs/college-graduate-studies/master-public-health-program
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

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: Jason Ng, OD, PhD (jng@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/degrees/clinical-vision-research.html

Illinois

ILLINOIS COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRY
Chicago, Illinois
OD/Master of Science in Clinical Vision Research (OD/MS – Dual Degree Program)
Contact: Daniel Roberts, OD, PhD (droberts@ico.edu)
https://www.ico.edu

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-programs/college-graduate-studies/master-public-health-program
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@iu.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 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. Michael Sullivan-Mee msullivanmee@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 (Residency/MS 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 (Concurrent OD/PhD program is also offered.)
Contact: Yu-Chi Tai, PhD (ytai@pacificu.edu)
https://www.pacificu.edu/vision-science-msvs
https://www.pacificu.edu/vision-science-phd
Master of Education (MEd) – Visual function in learning. (Combined OD/MEd program is offered via Pacific University, College of Education)
Contact: Sarah Feigel (sarah.feigel@pacificu.edu)
https://www.pacificu.edu/visual-function-learning-medvfl
Master of Business Administration (MBA) (joint OD/MBA Program is offered via the Pacific University MBA Program)
Contact: Alessandra Govi (govia@pacificu.edu)
https://www.pacificu.edu/master-business-administration/curriculum

Pennsylvania

PENNSYLVANIA COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRY AT DREXEL 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: Darryl Horn, PhD (dh3257@drexel.edu)
https://www.salus.edu/colleges/education-rehabilitation/biomedicine/index.html

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)
https://www.opt.uh.edu/education/graduate-programs/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