As one of the first optometry schools to be integrated into an academic health center, the UAB School of Optometry offers courses within its Department of Optometry and Vision Science, in addition to courses in other UAB health science departments.
The four-year curriculum begins with an emphasis on basic science and vision science and transitions to clinical content. Students are exposed to patients early and their patient care responsibilities increase as each term passes. In fact, the final year of the curriculum is devoted exclusively to clinical rotations on and off campus. Externships are an integral part of the final year of the curriculum and ensure each student is exposed to diverse clinical experiences prior to graduation.
Course subjects include optics, neuroscience, gross anatomy, eye movements, public health optometry, glaucoma, pediatric optometry, contact lenses, low vision rehabilitation, binocular vision and more. The UAB School of Optometry provides a vibrant, comprehensive and ever expanding curriculum reflective of the environment in which it is offered: a world class academic medical center.
The Doctor of Optometry degree prepares students for a career as a licensed optometrist. Licenses to practice optometry must be obtained for each state or province in which the practitioner renders care to patients. UAB’s well-rounded curriculum includes training on skills approved for optometrists outside the state of Alabama. Our graduates can expect to be well prepared to complete licensure exams outside the state and beyond.
In an effort to match the changing demands of the profession, the curriculum outlined below changes periodically.
First Year – Fall Semester
| Course Number | Course Title | Course Description | Instructor | Semester Hrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OBHS 111 | Fundamentals 1 | The Fundamentals courses provide foundational knowledge in cellular and organ function including biochemistry, cellular biology, molecular biology, microbiology, histology, immunology, pathology and systemic pharmacology. | Bruns, Heather | 5 |
| OPT 111 | Intro to Optometry | The Introduction to Optometry course is designed to acquaint the student with the organization of optometry, the health care delivery system, and to provide a foundation of the evolution of the profession of optometry including its history, socio-economic, ethical, and legal elements. | Nichols, Kelly | 2 |
| OPT 112 | Geometric and Clinical Optics | This course provides students with an overview of concepts of refraction of light including properties of lenses, prisms and mirrors. Students are also introduced to refractive, prismatic, and magnification effects of ophthalmic lenses and principles of optical dispensing. | Gordon, Adam | 5 |
| VS 111 | Ocular Anatomy and Physiology | This course provides an overview of the ocular structures (anatomy) and their function (physiology) emphasizing how the ocular structures work together from the histological (microscopic) level to the gross, three dimensional model of the eye. | Arthur, Edmund | 6 |
| VS 113 | Biochemistry of the Eye | This course provides and overview of significant chemical reactions in the eye and how those reactions are related to normal visual function and ocular pathology. | Pittler, Steven | 2 |
| OBHS 112 | Fundamentals II | The Fundamentals courses provide foundational knowledge in cellular and organ function including biochemistry, cellular biology, molecular biology, microbiology, histology, immunology, pathology and systemic pharmacology. | Taylor, Jared | 4 |
First Year – Spring Semester
| Course Number | Course Title | Course Description | Instructor | Semester Hrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OBHS 121 | Systems I: Neuroscience | This course provides a review of the structure and function of the nervous system including functional organization, pathways, sensory input, integration, and genetic and environmental mechanisms controlling development and response to injury or disease. | Pittler, Steven | 4 |
| OBHS 122 | Systems II: Gross Anatomy | This course provides an overview of the head and neck anatomy. The didactic instruction is supplemented with cadaver lab dissection. | Kadisha, Inga / Resuehr, David | 1 |
| OBHS 123 | Systems III: Cardiovascular and Respiratory | This course provides an overview of the normal structure, function, physiology, pathology, and treatment including systemic pharmacology of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. | Herr, Michael | 4 |
| OPT 121 | Clinical Evaluation of the Visual System (CEVS) I | CEVS is a methods and procedures course designed to teach mastery of the physical and didactic elements of a basic eye exam. This course will cover the integrity of the visual system and associated structures to confirm or rule out the presence of ocular or systemic disease. | West, Natalie | 1 |
| OPT 122 | Ocular Microbiology | This course reviews ocular defense immunology providing students with an understanding of good clinical hygiene practices, ocular allergies, and the microbial organisms encountered in regular clinical practice. | Khanal, Safal | 1 |
| OPT 124 | Optometric Clinical Seminar Series | This seminar series provides optometric clinical applications for systemic pathology related to Neuroscience and Cardio/pulmonary dysfunction in the spring of first year and GI/Musculoskeletal and Hematology/Endocrine in the fall of second year. | Steele, Elizabeth | 1.5 |
| VS 121 | Visual Optics | This course provides an overview of optics as it relates to each visual component of the eye. This course also provides students with instruction in interpreting and calculating refractive changes in spectacles and contact lenses for refractive errors and examining changes required for accommodation and effectivity. | Oechslin, Tamara | 6 |
| VS 122 | Visual Perception | This course provides students with an overview of optical and psychological phenomena focusing on issues associated with using light to study visual perception. This course also provides an overview of the scientific basis for psychophysical measurement of visual functions and monocular visual perception. | Sincich, Lawrence | 4 |
First Year – Summer Semester
| Course Number | Course Title | Course Description | Instructor | Semester Hrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLN 131 | Clinical Rotation I | This clinical course introduces 1st year students to the operations in the internal clinic. | Steele, Elizabeth | 2 |
| OBHS 131 | Systems IV: Renal | This course provides students with an overview of the normal structure, function, physiology, pathology, and treatment including systemic pharmacology of the renal and urinary systems. | Herr, Michael | 2.5 |
| OPT 132 | CEVS II | CEVS is a methods and procedures course designed to teach mastery of the physical and didactic elements of a basic eye exam. This course will cover the integrity of the visual system and associated structures to confirm or rule out the presence of ocular or systemic disease. | West, Natalie | 4 |
| OPT 133 | Clinical Ophthalmic Optics | This course provides students with the skills needed to prescribe, measure, order, and dispense eyewear. This course emphasizes progressive addition lenses, ophthalmic prism, frame selection, frame alignment, and absorptive lenses and coatings. | Gordon, Adam | 1.5 |
| OPT 134 | Professional Communications | This course introduces foundational communication skills necessary for effective patient care including active listening, feedback, non-verbal interpretation, assertiveness, and effective writing. | Sims, Janene | 1 |
| VS 131 | Neurobiology of the Visual System | This course provides students with an overview of the basic organization and function of all parts of the visual neural system including how deficits occurring through damage to the visual system affect visual function and principles of electrodiagnostic testing. | Gawne, Timothy | 2 |
| VS 132 | Eye Movements and Principles of Binocular Vision | This course provides an overview of the basic anatomic and physiological structures of eye movements and binocular vision emphasizing clinical correlations for optometric clinical care. | Oechslin, Tamara / Quinet, Julie | 4 |
Second Year – Fall Semester
| Course Number | Course Title | Course Description | Instructor | Semester Hrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OBHS 211 | Systems V: Gastrointestinal & Musculoskeletal/Skin | This course provides students with an overview of the structure, function, physiology, disease states, pathophysiology, and pharmacological treatments for the gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, and integumentary systems. | Herr, Michael | 4 |
| CLN 211 | Clinical Rotation II | This clinical rotation provides students with an introduction to patient care at UAB Eye Care through observation and assistance with adult eye examinations in the Primary Care Clinical Services. | Call, Terri | 2 |
| CLN 212 | Community Eye Care I | Second year students in this clinical rotation provide community based vision screenings for children and adults utilizing clinical skills learned in the Clinical Evaluation of the Visual System (CEVS) course sequence. | Sims, Janene | 2 |
| OPT 212 | Ocular Pharmacology | This course considers the classification and pharmacologic actions of currently employed ophthalmic drugs. Emphasis is placed on the clinical utilization of these drugs including indications, contraindications, dosages, and side effects for the diagnosis and management of ocular disorders. | Turner, Candice | 4 |
| OPT 213 | CEVS III | CEVS is a methods and procedures course designed to teach mastery of the physical and didactic elements of a basic eye exam. This course will cover the integrity of the visual system and associated structures to confirm or rule out the presence of ocular or systemic disease. | Call, Terri | 7 |
| VS 211 | Visual Perception | Course information not provided in text. (Consider verifying description if needed.) | Sincich, Lawrence | 3 |
| OBHS 212 | Systems VI: Hematology & Endocrine | This course provides students with an overview of the structure, function, physiology, pathology, and pharmacological treatments for the endocrine and reproductive systems. This course also provides an overview of hematology and disease states of the blood. | Herr, Michael | 3 |
Second Year – Spring Semester
| Course Number | Course Title | Course Description | Instructor | Semester Hrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLN 221 | Clinical Rotation III | This clinical rotation provides students with an introduction to patient care at UAB Eye Care through observation and assistance with adult eye examinations in the Primary Care Clinical Services. | Call, Terri | 1 |
| CLN 222 | Community Eye Care II | Second year students in this clinical rotation provide community based vision screenings for children and adults utilizing clinical skills learned in the Clinical Evaluation of the Visual System (CEVS) course sequence. | Sims, Janene | 2 |
| CLN 224 | Primary Eye Care Clinic I | This clinical rotation provides students with appropriately supervised patient care experiences to help students become proficient in the examination, assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and management of primary eye care patients. | Call, Terri | 1 |
| OPT 221 | CEVS IV | CEVS is a methods and procedures course designed to teach mastery of the physical and didactic elements of a basic eye exam. This course will cover the integrity of the visual system and associated structures to confirm or rule out the presence of ocular or systemic disease. | Call, Terri | 3 |
| OPT 222 | Diseases of the Anterior Segment | This course considers the epidemiology, clinicopathology, differential diagnosis and management of diseases of the anterior segment of the eye including disorders of the eyelids, lacrimal system, conjunctiva, cornea, episclera, sclera, uvea, iris, and crystalline lens. | Pate, Caroline | 5 |
| OPT 224 | Anomalies of Binocular Vision I | This course provides instruction in the diagnosis and management of disorders of binocular vision including dysfunctions of the accommodative, vergence, and ocular motor systems. | Hopkins, Kristine | 2.5 |
| OPT 225 | Diseases of the Posterior Segment | This course reviews the clinical anatomy of the posterior segment, as well as the pathophysiology, identification and management of peripheral retinal disorders, diabetes related disorders, age- related macular degeneration, and other macular disorders. | Swanson, Mark | 3 |
| OPT 226 | Clinicolegal Aspects of Optometry | This course addresses legal issues that may arise while practicing Optometry. The course provides students with knowledge of relevant federal and state laws that apply to Optometry and how these apply to clinical practice. | Spear, Katie | 1.5 |
| OPT 228* | Public Health | This course emphasizes basic concepts and principles of public health that impact the practice of optometry. | Wang-Harris, Sandra | 1.5 |
| OPT 2210 | Business Fundamentals I | This course equips students with the knowledge, skills, and strategic foundation needed to develop an individualized career plan and to pursue successful practice models. Students will examine modes of practice, business planning, and interdisciplinary collaboration, while also gaining essential non-clinical competencies such as human resources and patient experience. In addition, the course introduces key business and practice management concepts—including marketing, operations, and patient experience. | Sventek, Janelle | 1 |
| OPT 2211 | Optometric Clinical Seminar 2 | This course provides guidance for clinical thinking and reasoning in the examination of optometric patients including building examination content, developing differential diagnoses, determining appropriate follow up schedules and patient management plans with emphasis on refractive conditions. | Steele, Elizabeth / Sims, Janene | 1 |
| OPT 516 | Spanish for Eye Care ELECTIVE | This course is an interactive elective aimed at educating optometry students in providing language-concordant healthcare for Spanish-speaking patients. | Hirn, Ronald | 1 |
Second Year – Summer Semester
| Course Number | Course Title | Course Description | Instructor | Semester Hrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OPT 231 | Ophthalmic Imaging | This course is designed to provide foundational knowledge and practical experience in the operation of ophthalmic imaging devices commonly used in clinical settings. | Brown, Keisha | 2 |
| OPT 238 | Systemic Pharmacology | This course integrates pertinent systemic pharmacology with clinical optometric practice emphasizing mechanisms of action, indications, and adverse effects of selected drug classes commonly encountered in optometry. | Logan, Amy / Turner, Candice / Ziemanski, Jillian | 2 |
| CLN 231 | Primary Eye Care II | This clinical rotation provides students with appropriately supervised patient care experiences to help students become proficient in the examination, assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and management of primary eye care patients. | Call, Terri | 4 |
| CLN 232 | Clinical Rotation IV | This clinical rotation helps students become more proficient in the examination, diagnosis and clinical management of patients in Vision Therapy, Optical Services, Intake, and Imaging. Students will also become familiar with special patient populations in an observatory/assistive role in Ocular Disease Service, Pediatric Service, and Cornea & Contact Lens Service as well as some of the many specialty rotations clinics, both internal and external. | Oechslin, Tamara | 2 |
| CLN 233 | Community Eye Care III | During this clinical course, interns use basic tools to perform adult eye examinations with patient encounters at Health Department clinics, The Foundry, Lovelady Clinic, and other community clinics locally and in the Black Belt region of Alabama, as well as the United Ability of Birmingham LincPoint Campus. Students will continue to learn how to tailor examinations based on patient symptoms and signs. | Sims, Janene | 1 |
| OPT 602 | AIODP Geometric and Clinical Optics | This course reviews the basic concepts of light, refraction, reflection, and the properties of lenses, mirrors and prisms. The mechanisms of image formation, magnification, minification, and optics of multi-lens systems is also reviewed. Properties of ophthalmic lenses and optical dispensing are also reviewed. | Wang-Harris, Sandra | 8 |
| CLN 602 | AIODP CLN ROT I | This course is an introductory opportunity for AIODP students to further develop their skills and knowledge in optometric clinical care while becoming familiar with community eye care clinics throughout the Birmingham area. | Wang-Harris, Sandra | 1 |
| OPT 133 | Clinical Ophthalmic Optics | This course provides students with the skills needed to prescribe, measure, order, and dispense eyewear. This course emphasizes progressive addition lenses, ophthalmic prism, frame selection, frame alignment, and absorptive lenses and coatings. | Gordon, Adam | 1.5 |
| OBHS 231 | AIODP Integrated Human Physiology | This course provides ADIOP students with an overview of anatomy and physiology of human organ systems. | McNicholas, Carmel | 4 |
Third Year – Fall Semester
| Course Number | Course Title | Course Description | Instructor | Semester Hrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLN 311 | Primary Eye Care III | This clinical rotation provides students with appropriately supervised patient care experiences to help students become proficient in the examination, assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and management of primary eye care patients. | Call, Terri | 2 |
| CLN 312 | Clinical Rotation V | This clinical rotation helps students become more proficient in the examination, diagnosis and clinical management of patients in Vision Therapy, Optical Services, Intake, and Imaging. Students will also become familiar with special patient populations in an observatory/assistive role in Ocular Disease Service, Pediatric Service, and Cornea & Contact Lens Service as well as some of the many specialty rotations clinics, both internal and external. | Oechslin, Tamara | 2 or 3 |
| CLN 313 | Community Eye Care IV | During this clinical course, interns use basic tools to perform adult eye examinations with patient encounters at Health Department clinics, The Foundry, Lovelady Clinic, and other community clinics locally and in the Black Belt region of Alabama, as well as the United Ability of Birmingham LincPoint Campus. Students will continue to learn how to tailor examinations based on patient symptoms and signs. | Sims, Janene | 1 |
| CLN 314 | Special Clinical Rotation I | This course introduces the Special Rotations Clinics to the intern with a focus on how these clinics treat patients beyond the general eye exam and within special populations. Additionally, the online components will progressively develop reasoning in differential diagnosing. | Oechslin, Tamara | 1 |
| OPT 311 | Anomalies of Binocular Vision II | This course provides instruction in the diagnosis and management of amblyopia, comitant and incomitant strabismus including paralytic and restrictive deviations, and sensory adaptations including suppression and anomalous correspondence. | Hopkins, Kristine | 4 |
| OPT 312 | Contact Lenses I | This course provides students with instruction in the physical and optical properties of soft and rigid contact lenses, the design and fitting philosophies of prescribing contact lenses, and contact lens care and management. | Clore, Katherine | 3 |
| OPT 313 | Geriatric Optometry | This course provides a basis for comprehensive care of the older adult patient. | Swanson, Mark | 1 |
| OPT 314 | Low Vision | This course is designed to teach key principles of low vision rehabilitation including epidemiology of visual impairment, low vision exam elements, device assessment and training, and interdisciplinary resources used to optimize visual function and enhance quality of life. | Wang-Harris, Sandra | 2 |
| OPT 316 | Glaucoma | This course provides instruction in the basic science and clinical practice related to the diagnosis and management of glaucoma. The course prepares students for entry level practice and provides the basic competency necessary to understand disease mechanisms, interpret clinical diagnostic procedures, and manage the glaucoma patient using evidence-based strategies. | Ziemanski, Jillian | 2 |
| OPT 318 | Pediatric Optometry | This course is designed to provide students with tools and techniques for assessing children's visual and developmental needs, knowledge of common conditions affecting this population, and evidence-based management strategies for addressing the needs of pediatric patients. | West, Natalie | 4 |
| OPT 319 | Diseases of the Posterior Segment II | This course continues building on the content from the Diseases of the Posterior Segment I course with emphasis on macular disorders, retinal vascular disorders, myopia, trauma, hereditary retinal disorders, retinal tumors, and posterior uveitis including pediatric infectious disease. | Swanson, Mark | 2 |
Third Year – Spring Semester
| Course Number | Course Title | Course Description | Instructor | Semester Hrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLN 321 | Primary Eye Care Clinic IV | This clinical rotation provides students with appropriately supervised patient care experiences to help students become proficient in the examination, assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and management of primary eye care patients. | Call, Terri | 2 |
| CLN 322 | Clinical Rotation VI | This clinical rotation helps students become more proficient in the examination, diagnosis and clinical management of patients in Vision Therapy, Optical Services, Intake, and Imaging. Students will also become familiar with special patient populations in an observatory/assistive role in Ocular Disease Service, Pediatric Service, and Cornea & Contact Lens Service as well as some of the many specialty rotations clinics, both internal and external. | Oechslin, Tamara | 2 or 3 |
| CLN 323 | Community Eye Care V | During this clinical course, interns will use basic tools to perform adult eye examinations with patient encounters at Health Department clinics, The Foundry, Lovelady Clinic, and other community clinics locally and in the Black Belt region of Alabama, as well as the United Ability of Birmingham LincPoint Campus. Students will continue to learn how to tailor examinations based on patient symptoms and signs. | Sims, Janene | 2 |
| CLN 324 | Special Clinical Rotation II | This course introduces the Special Rotations Clinics to the intern with a focus on how these clinics treat patients beyond the general eye exam and within special populations. Additionally, the online components will progressively develop reasoning in differential diagnosing. | Oechslin, Tamara | 2 |
| OPT 321 | Neuro-optometry | This course provides an overview of the diagnosis and management of neurological disease affecting the eye, visual pathways, and oculomotor control systems. | Swanson, Mark | 2 |
| OPT 322 | Contact Lenses II | This course provides students with instruction in more advanced contact lens topics including keratoconus, scleral and hybrid lenses, topographic applications in contact lens fitting, orthokeratology, and myopia management. | Craig, Jennifer | 2 |
| OPT 323 | Injections and Surgical Procedures | This course will provide instruction on instrumentation and skills required for injections and minor surgical procedures as covered by the scope of primary-care optometric practice. This will include relevant OSHA regulations, asepsis, injections, suturing, and appropriate minor surgical procedures. | Call, Terri | 2 |
| OPT 324 | Business Fundamentals II | This course equips students with the knowledge, skills, and strategic foundation needed to develop an individualized career plan and to pursue successful practice models. Students will examine future trends in optometry, diversifying with specialty care, while also gaining essential non-clinical competencies such as coding and billing. In addition, the course introduces key business and practice management concepts—including business finance, optical management, and innovations in optometric practice models. | Sventek, Janelle | 1 |
| OPT 325 | Clinical Management of Vision Problems | This course utilizes a lecture-based classroom approach augmented by a case-based, problem-oriented laboratory learning to managing clinical conditions. The laboratory sessions utilize an interactive format facilitated by faculty and is designed to develop independent, self-directed learning and clinical decision-making skills. | Rothstein, Andrew | 2 |
| OPT 326 | Ophthalmic Lasers | This course provides instruction in the fundamentals of ophthalmic lasers including Nd:YAG, CO2, Diode, and Excimer. The lectures and hands-on laboratories teach the technical skills required to perform laser surgical procedures including posterior capsulotomy, peripheral iridotomy and laser trabeculoplasty. | Steele, Elizabeth | 1 |
| OPT 328 | Assessment of Systemic Diseases in Optometry | This course explores systemic diseases from a multidisciplinary perspective as they relate to the care of an optometric patient. Students will learn to recognize pertinent systemic diseases and carry out an appropriate work-up and referral. | Logan, Amy | 2 |
| OPT 329 | Advanced Posterior Segment Evaluation | This lab provides hands-on experience with more advanced retinal examination skills building on the foundational fundus examination skills learned in the Clinical Evaluation of the Visual System course sequence. | Logan, Amy | 1 |
| OPT 515 | Advanced Vision and Learning ELECTIVE | This course provides advanced training in concepts related to vision perception, developmental vision, and vision-related learning problems of children and adolescents. | Oechslin, Tamara | 1 |
| OPT 516 | Spanish for Eye Care ELECTIVE | This course is an interactive elective aimed at educating optometry students in providing language-concordant healthcare for Spanish-speaking patients. | Hirn, Ronald | 1 |
Third Year – Summer Semester
| Course Number | Course Title | Course Description | Instructor | Semester Hrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLN 332H | Pediatric Optometry I | Through direct patient care, guided education, and independent study in an academic clinical setting, the student will learn skills that help promote and protect the eye and visual health of children, as well as adults with binocular vision anomalies, and individuals with special needs or mild traumatic brain injury. | Weise, Katherine | 2 |
| CLN 333H | Cornea & Contact Lens I | This clinical course provides interns with direct patient care experiences to teach the skills needed to achieve entry-level competence managing contact lens patients using all available contact lens technology. | Gordon, Adam | 2 |
| CLN 334H | Ocular Disease & Low Vision I | This clinical course prepares students for the entry level optometric management of ocular disease through direct patient care experiences. | Swanson, Mark | 2 |
| CLN 335H | Special Clinical Rotation III | This course introduces the Special Rotations Clinics to the intern with a focus on how these clinics treat patients beyond the general eye exam and within special populations. | Oechslin, Tamara | 4 |
| CLN 336 | Externship I | This 4th year clinical rotation provides students with the opportunity to provide supervised comprehensive clinical care in approved hospital-based or multidisciplinary healthcare facilities as well as private practice clinics outside of UAB Eye Care. | Turner, Candice | 20 |
| CLN 336H | Externship I | This 4th year clinical rotation provides students with the opportunity to provide supervised comprehensive clinical care in approved hospital-based or multidisciplinary healthcare facilities as well as private practice clinics outside of UAB Eye Care. | Turner, Candice | 10 |
Fourth Year – Fall Semester
| Course Number | Course Title | Course Description | Instructor | Semester Hrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLN 411 | Pediatric Optometry II | Through direct patient care, guided education, and independent study in an academic clinical setting, the student will learn skills that help promote and protect the eye and visual health of children, as well as adults with binocular vision anomalies, and individuals with special needs or mild traumatic brain injury. | Weise, Katherine | 4 |
| CLN 412 | Cornea & Contact Lens II | This clinical course provides interns with direct patient care experiences to teach the skills needed to achieve entry-level competence managing contact lens patients using all available contact lens technology. | Gordon, Adam | 4 |
| CLN 413 | Ocular Disease & Low Vision II | This clinical course prepares students for the entry level optometric management of ocular disease through direct patient care experiences. | Swanson, Mark | 4 |
| CLN 414 | Special Clinical Rotation IV | This course introduces the Special Rotations Clinics to the intern with a focus on how these clinics treat patients beyond the general eye exam and within special populations. Additionally, the online components will develop independent learning skills for future practice. | Oechslin, Tamara | 8 |
| CLN 416 | Externship I or II | This 4th year clinical rotation provides students with the opportunity to provide supervised comprehensive clinical care in approved hospital-based or multidisciplinary healthcare facilities as well as private practice clinics outside of UAB Eye Care. | Turner, Candice | 20 |
| OPT 514 | Concepts of Practice Management ELECTIVE | This elective course provides a board room interactive discussion environment for fourth year students which builds on the current Business curriculum, providing additional entry level knowledge about running an optometric practice. | Vaughn, Alexia | 1 |
Fourth Year – Spring Semester
| Course Number | Course Title | Course Description | Instructor | Semester Hrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLN 421 | Pediatric Optometry III | Through direct patient care, guided education, and independent study in an academic clinical setting, the student will learn skills that help promote and protect the eye and visual health of children, as well as adults with binocular vision anomalies, and individuals with special needs or mild traumatic brain injury. | Weise, Katherine | 4 |
| CLN 422 | Cornea and Contact Lens III | This clinical course provides interns with direct patient care experiences to teach the skills needed to achieve entry-level competence managing contact lens patients using all available contact lens technology. | Gordon, Adam | 4 |
| CLN 423 | Ocular Disease and Low Vision III | This clinical course prepares students for the entry level optometric management of ocular disease through direct patient care experiences. | Swanson, Mark | 4 |
| CLN 424 | Special Clinical Rotation V | This course introduces the Special Rotations Clinics to the intern with a focus on how these clinics treat patients beyond the general eye exam and within special populations. Additionally, the online components will develop independent learning skills for future practice. | Oechslin, Tamara | 8 |
| CLN 426 | Externship II | This 4th year clinical rotation provides students with the opportunity to provide supervised comprehensive clinical care in approved hospital-based or multidisciplinary healthcare facilities as well as private practice clinics outside of UAB Eye Care. | Turner, Candice | 20 |
| OPT 515 | Advanced Vision and Learning ELECTIVE | This course provides advanced training in concepts related to vision perception, developmental vision, and vision related learning problems of children and adolescents. | Oechslin, Tamara | 1 |
| OPT 516 | Spanish for Eye Care ELECTIVE | This course is an interactive elective aimed at educating optometry students in providing language-concordant healthcare for Spanish-speaking patients. | Hirn, Ronald | 1 |