First Professional Degree
The professional program in the School of Optometry requires four years of full-time study and leads to the Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) degree. The curriculum is designed to give the student a very strong foundation in the basic health and basic vision sciences and in-depth training in all aspects of optometric clinical sciences. The school is an integral part of the university and the UAB Academic Health Sciences Center and can take advantage of the many human and physical resources available in such an environment to supplement its own facilities and outstanding faculty. Graduates of this program are equipped with the basic clinical skills that allow them to practice in any region of the country and in any setting, as well as with the intellectual skills that allow lifelong professional development. This program is widely recognized as one of the leading programs in the profession of optometry both nationally and internationally.