University of Houston College of Optometry
From SUS Redbooks
Location
University of Houston
College of Optometry
Physiological Optics & Vision Sciences
4901 Calhoun, 505 JDA RM 2115
Houston, TX 77204-2020
Contacts
Website: http://www.opt.uh.edu/
Phone: (713) 743-1885
Admissions e-mail: phopgrad@uh.edu or rrattelade@uh.edu
Program Information
- MSc or PhD in Physiological Optics/Vision Science
- Two years of study
- 30 semester hours of coursework and research, teaching experience, and a research project with a written thesis
- Combined OD/MSc
- For enrolled optometry students who wish to pursue a MSc Physiological Optics/Vision Science concurrently with the doctor of optometry (OD) degree
- OD students apply in the Fall for admission in the Spring of their second year
- 30 semesters hours of coursework (12 overlapping with OD coursework) and research hours, written thesis based on original research
- PhD
- At least four years of study
- 60 semester hours of coursework and research hours, teaching experience, a foreign language or research skill, qualifying examinations, and a written dissertation based on a body of original research
- Accelerated placement in the PhD program for OD/MS students is also offered (OD/PhD)
For more information, click here.
Admission Requirements
Course and Degree Requirements
- Degree: BSc (or equivalent) or an undergraduate Engineering degree, or a doctorate (or equivalent) degree in optometry or medicine
- From a variety of fields such as optometry, physiological optics, vision sciences, medicine, ophthalmology, structural and functional biosciences, neuroscience, psychology, optics, bioengineering, and biophysics
- GPA: B (3.00) or above in all previous college-level or higher work with particular attention being given to science courses
Supporting Documents
- US applicants
- Online application via CollegeNet
- Official Transcripts
- Recommendation Letters and Form
- Submit the names of three persons in your application
- Recommended to have two (2) from doctoral-degreed tenure track faculty
- Personal Statement of Purpose
- GRE (≥300 V+M to be competitive)
- University of Houston’s ETS institutional code for the GRE: 6870
- Curriculum Vitae
- International applicants
- Application
- Official Transcripts (for international transcripts information, click here)
- Recommendation Letters and Form
- Submit the names of three persons in your application
- Recommended to have two (2) from doctoral-degreed tenure track faculty
- Personal Statement of Purpose
- GRE (≥300 V+M to be competitive)
- University of Houston’s institutional code for the GRE: 6870
- Curriculum Vitae
- Signed Letter of Understanding
- Letter of Financial Backing or statement that student can enroll with financial support (found here)
- $25 application fee (non-refundable)
- Strongly encouraged to upload (required to obtain a student visa if admitted):
scanned copy of passport page(s) showing full name, date of birth, passport number and expiration date, photo of the passport holder
- TOEFL test for proof of English proficiency
- not required of students from English-speaking countries or students who have received a degree from an accredited English-speaking University
- Go to link below for minimum scores
- TOEFL test for proof of English proficiency
For more information, click here.
For more information and steps on How to Apply, click here.
Timeline
- Application and documents due October 1-February 1 preceding the fall semester of expected entrance
Tuition 2018-2019
- In-state tuition: $8,096
- Out-of-state tuition: $14,666
Funding
Often accompanied by program financial support, teaching or research assistantships
- Teaching/Research Assistantships starting at $23,376/year; amount of support depends on prior degrees and experience
- Half-time clinical appointments to qualified optometrists starting at $38,000/year
- Tuition support for full-time students working 50% time as teaching/research assistants
- Health Insurance covered for full-time students working 50% time
- Annual Salary of $38,000 for combined Graduate Program/Residency students
- Other fellowships available from national organizations
- National Institutes of Health Loan Repayment Program for eligible ODs and other post-doctoral students who qualify
- Graduate Tuition Fellowship (GTF)
- Doctoral graduate students must be in good standing and enrolled, devoting full time (9 credit hours per semester and up to six hours during the summer) effort toward a PhD
- Will support funding for 9 SCH (semester credit hours) for fall and spring and up to 6 SCH for summer
- Continuing students must have shown satisfactory progress in the degree program as defined by the College of Optometry graduate program in Physiological Optics/ Vision Science
- With a cGPA of minimum 3.00 in the PhD program
- Students who enter the doctoral program with a master's degree may hold the fellowship for no more than four academic years
- Doctoral degree seeking students who enter the doctoral program directly from a baccalaureate program may hold the fellowship for no more than six academic years
- Graduate students holding the fellowship must agree not to be employed (on or off-campus) for more than 20 hours per week (50% FTE) without prior approval
- Violation will result in withdrawal of the funding during the semester in which the violation occurs
- The Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Research with advice from the Graduate Review Committee will decide annually the number of awards based upon funds available
- UH/UHCO Competitive Fellowships
- Based on funding availability in any given year, graduate students may be eligible for financial assistance through competitive fellowships at the University of Houston Graduate School or the UH College of Optometry
For more information, click here. For more information about the University-level fellowship programs, click here.
