Optometry equipment

Optometry (3+4 Dual-Degree)

We've partnered with the Illinois College of Optometry (ICO) to provide an early-assurance, direct-admission 3+4 dual-degree program for students interested in becoming a Doctor of Optometry (O.D.). WLC is current the only institution in Wisconsin with a 3+4 Doctor of Optometry offering, allowing students to graduate one year earlier than typical!

If you are interested in becoming an optometrist, you can take classes for three years at WLC, and, having satisfactorily met the requirements for admission to Illinois College of Optometry, take an additional four years of classes at ICO, graduating with both your Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in biology from WLC and Doctor of Optometry degree from ICO.

Help Patients See the World in All Its Glory

Optometrists specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders and diseases of the visual system. They typically possess a four-year undergraduate degree in biology or a related discipline, as well as four years of professional school training. Getting into a good optometry school isn’t easy, but our commitment to personal attention from highly trained faculty, and our partnership with ICO, provide unique opportunities for students.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of jobs for optometrists is expected to grow faster than average between 2021-2031.

Early-Assurance Admission to Illinois College of Optometry

The Illinois College of Optometry is recognized as one of the world’s leading optometric colleges. Since 1872, the college, located in Chicago, has had a single focus: to prepare distinguished graduates to enter the real-world as exceptional optometrists.

ICO students receive an unmatched clinical experience, including hands-on patient care in the Illinois Eye Institute beginning in their very first year. Each year at ICO also includes practice management courses, ensuring that our students graduate with a firm grasp on the business side of healthcare.

ICO prepares optometrists who are best prepared to practice, and they have the statistics to prove it. More than half of their fourth-years receive honors from externship preceptors, and ICO students historically exceed the national pass rate on all parts of the National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO) exam.

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