You attend lectures, participate in case-based learning assignments, have small group discussions of case studies, and take exams and quizzes. You will also learn about interprofessional interactions and participate in community-based service learning projects.
A Week in the Life of an Optometry Student
Class Time
Lab Time
Your lab time focuses on providing a foundation for understanding concepts in the basic and biomedical sciences as well as improving clinical skills.
Studying
Professors provide you with electronic copies of the lectures, so studying often consists of reviewing these handouts along with class notes, reviewing case studies, studying in groups, and reading assigned chapters in textbooks. Patient care may also require time for preparation or looking up information.
Clinic
You will start working with patients beginning your very first semester. The amount of patient contact will gradually increase to approximately 12 hours per week in your third year.
Non-Academic Time
For long weekends or during spring and winter breaks, you can go home to see your family, ski, or maybe take a trip to Las Vegas. There are many cultural and recreational things to do when you live in Southern California, so our students try to take advantage of them when they can.
Clinic
In the fourth year you will spend all your time in clinical rotations. You will rotate through a variety of clinical settings including hospitals, specialty care settings, and community clinics
- First Three Years
-
Class Time
You attend lectures, participate in case-based learning assignments, have small group discussions of case studies, and take exams and quizzes. You will also learn about interprofessional interactions and participate in community-based service learning projects.
Lab TimeYour lab time focuses on providing a foundation for understanding concepts in the basic and biomedical sciences as well as improving clinical skills.
StudyingProfessors provide you with electronic copies of the lectures, so studying often consists of reviewing these handouts along with class notes, reviewing case studies, studying in groups, and reading assigned chapters in textbooks. Patient care may also require time for preparation or looking up information.
ClinicYou will start working with patients beginning your very first semester. The amount of patient contact will gradually increase to approximately 12 hours per week in your third year.
Non-Academic TimeFor long weekends or during spring and winter breaks, you can go home to see your family, ski, or maybe take a trip to Las Vegas. There are many cultural and recreational things to do when you live in Southern California, so our students try to take advantage of them when they can.
- Fourth Year
-
Clinic
In the fourth year you will spend all your time in clinical rotations. You will rotate through a variety of clinical settings including hospitals, specialty care settings, and community clinics