Pennsylvania College of Optometry
The Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) follows a legacy that began in 1919, when PCO created a four-year degree program that set the standard for all other institutions of optometry that exists today.
At PCO, students are prepared to become providers representing an entry point into the healthcare system. Early clinical experience and externships provide hands-on learning crucial for becoming an excellent clinician. Students are not only exposed to the clinical setting early on in their studies at The Eye Institute — the University's main clinical eye care facility — but also have the opportunity to work in a variety of different environments to determine what works best for them.
The University offers both a four-year Doctor of Optometry Traditional program and a three-year Doctor of Optometry Accelerated Scholars program. Each program provides the same academic degree requirements and teaches all critical material necessary for the National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO) and for careers in the optometric profession. The different scheduling system, unique methods of course delivery, and the three-year continuous curriculum allow students to more rapidly acquire basic clinical skills and to become more quickly immersed in patient care.
As one of the nation's fastest-growing occupations, optometry as a profession is taking on more of a holistic approach to ocular health to meet the demands of the population. Primary care optometry includes all components of visual care, ocular health, and care associated with related systemic disorders. In conjunction with the changing field, every aspect of education at PCO — from early and extensive clinical training to the didactic courses, such as evidence-based practice, anatomy, and genetics — prepares students for this shift.