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At the Arizona College of Optometry, our dedicated and caring faculty will challenge you to improve your technical skills as they encourage you to focus on your patients. Shared labs, rotations, and practice experiences help you and your classmates benefit from an atmosphere of collaboration and teamwork. You will also learn on the job as you provide hands-on patient care at the Midwestern University Eye Institute. We will help you build your career as a member of tomorrow's healthcare team.
Program
Doctoral
Location
Glendale, AZ
Duration
4 Years
Intake
August
Class Size
60
AZCOPT awards the degree Doctor of Optometry upon successful completion of the requirements. The first and second years of the curriculum emphasize basic health sciences, optics and visual science and students are introduced to clinical practice in simulation laboratories and through introductory courses. Visual consequences of disease are introduced in the second year. The third year, divided between a didactic and clinical setting, emphasizes the diagnosis and treatment of ocular dysfunction and disease. The fourth year is intensive clinical training that will include some on campus and off campus externship rotations. Clinical settings for external rotations include military facilities, veteran administration hospitals, public health service hospitals and specialty and/or private practices or clinics.
To view the AZCOPT curriculum in greater detail, follow this link to the curriculum table.
The Arizona College of Optometry's vision is to:
The 10 goals of the Arizona College of Optometry (AZCOPT) are listed below:
The Midwestern University Arizona College of Optometry has been granted the accreditation classification of ACCREDITED as of April 24, 2013 by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE), of the American Optometric Association (AOA), 243 N. Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63141-7881; phone 314-991-4100. "Accredited" is the classification granted to a professional degree program that generally meets the standards for accreditation.
Midwestern University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, A Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (HLC/NCA), located at 230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500, Chicago, Illinois 60604-1413; 312-263-0456.
Optometrists practice in a wide variety of settings. Some of the positions included below require advanced education or training beyond the O.D. Degree.
Students seeking admission to AZCOPT must submit the following documented evidence:
Prerequisite Courses
Course | Sem Hrs | Qtr Hrs |
Biology with lab | 8 | 12 |
Anatomy* | 3 | 4 |
Physiology* | 3 | 4 |
General/Inorganic Chemistry with lab | 8 | 12 |
Organic Chemistry with lab | 4 | 6 |
Biochemistry | 3 | 4 |
Physics | 6 | 9 |
Calculus | 3 | 4 |
Microbiology | 3 | 4 |
Statistics | 3 | 4 |
Psychology | 3 | 4 |
English | 6 | 9 |
*The Anatomy and Physiology requirements may also be fulfilled by taking Anatomy and Physiology I (3 Sem/4 Qtr credit hours) and Anatomy and Physiology II (3 Sem/4 Qtr credit hours)
The Doctor of Optometry degree program is rigorous and challenging. The Admissions Committee will therefore assess the quality and rigor of the pre-optometry academic records presented by applicants. When assessing an application, the Admissions Committee will view with concern applicants with:
Application Deadline
Students must apply for admission via OptomCAS by April 1st. Due to the large number of applicants and the limited number of seats available, students are strongly encouraged to complete application early in the cycle. AZCOPT will consider completed applications on a first-come, first-served basis until all seats are filled.
The examination rates for this class are currently incomplete as members of this class are still in process of completing NBEO Part I, II, and III.
The Class of 2020 NBEO Pass rates for first time test takers are:
Part I: Applied Basic Science Examination
AZCOPT Pass Rates | National Pass Rates | AZCOPT Advantage |
92% | 77% | 15% |
Part II: Patient Assessment and Management
AZCOPT Pass Rates | National Pass Rates | AZCOPT Advantage |
100% | 90% | 10% |
Part III: Clinical Skills Examination
AZCOPT Pass Rates | National Pass Rates | AZCOPT Advantage |
TBA | TBA | TBA |
The examination rates for this class are currently incomplete as members of this class are still in process of completing NBEO Part I, II, and III.
The Class of 2019 NBEO Pass rates for first time test takers are:
Part I: Applied Basic Science Examination
AZCOPT Pass Rates | National Pass Rates | AZCOPT Advantage |
85.19% | 74.66% | 10.53% |
Part II: Patient Assessment and Management
AZCOPT Pass Rates | National Pass Rates | AZCOPT Advantage |
96.3% | 90.3% | 6.0% |
Part III: Clinical Skills Examination
AZCOPT Pass Rates | National Pass Rates | AZCOPT Advantage |
92.59% | 83.88% | 8.71% |
The examination rates for this class are currently incomplete as members of this class are still in process of completing NBEO Part I, II, and III.
The Class of 2018 NBEO Pass rates for first time test takers are:
Part I: Applied Basic Science examination
AZCOPT Pass Rates | National Pass Rates | AZCOPT Advantage |
84.00% | 72.93% | 11.07% |
Part II: Patient Assessment and Management
AZCOPT Pass Rates | National Pass Rates | AZCOPT Advantage |
94.00% | 89.96% | 4.04% |
Part III: Clinical Skills Examination
AZCOPT Pass Rates | National Pass Rates | AZCOPT Advantage |
88.00% | 75.97% | 12.03% |
NBEO report: Comprised of students who met the graduation requirements of the program (completed courses, passed part I and took part II of NBEO) from October 1st - September 30th of the graduation year, regardless of initial matriculation date.
First time test takers:
AZCOPT Graduates from October 2019 - September 2020 | |||
AZCOPT | National | AZCOPT Advantage | |
Part I | 96.00% | 81.77% | 14.23% |
Part II | 100.00% | 93.21% | 6.79% |
Part III | 88.00% | 85.75% | 2.25% |
Ultimate Pass Rate | 98.00% | 92.11% | 5.89% |
AZCOPT Graduates from October 2018 - September 2019 | |||
AZCOPT | National | AZCOPT Advantage | |
Part I | 85.19% | 74.66% | 10.53% |
Part II | 94.44% | 87.63% | 6.81% |
Part III | 92.59% | 83.88% | 8.71% |
Ultimate Pass Rate | 98.15% | 92.68% | 5.47% |
AZCOPT Graduates from October 2017 - September 2018 | |||
AZCOPT | National | AZCOPT Advantage | |
Part I | 84.00% | 72.93% | 11.07% |
Part II | 94.00% | 89.96% | 4.04% |
Part III | 88.00% | 75.97% | 12.03% |
Ultimate Pass Rate | 96.00% | 92.09% | 3.91% |
AZCOPT Graduates from October 2016 - September 2017 | |||
AZCOPT | National | AZCOPT Advantage | |
Part I | 90.70% | 79.04% | 11.66% |
Part II | 95.35% | 89.33% | 6.02% |
Part III | 83.72% | 81.26% | 2.46% |
Ultimte Pass Rate | 95.35% | 91.06% | 4.29% |
|
Class Entering in 2018 |
Class Entering in 2017 |
Class Entering in 2016 |
Class Entering in 2015 |
Number of students enrolled |
56 |
56 |
54 |
54 |
Attrition rate of students for academic reasons |
0.00% (0) |
7.14% (4) |
1.85% (1) |
0.00% (0) |
Attrition rate of students for other reasons |
1.78% (1) |
3.57% (2) |
0.00% (0) |
0.00% (0) |
Students still enrolled or on an extended program* |
96.43% (55) |
89.28% (50) |
98.1% (53) |
100.00% (54) |
*Extended program students scheduled to graduate in 5 or more years from initial matriculation
|
Class Entering in 2014 |
Class Entering in 2013 |
Class Entering in 2012 |
Class Entering in 2011 |
Number of students enrolled |
53 |
54 |
54 |
49 |
% (number) of students who graduated in 4 years |
75.47% (40) |
72.22% (39) |
83.33% (45) |
83.67% (41) |
% (number) of students who graduated in 5 years |
N/A |
14.81% (8) |
7.41% (4) |
8.16% (4) |
% (number) of students who graduated in 6 years |
N/A |
1.85% (1) |
3.70% (2) |
0.00% (0) |
% (number) of graduates at any time |
75.47% (40) |
88.89% (48) |
96.30% (52) |
95.92% (47) |
Attrition rate (number) of students for academic reasons |
7.55% (4) |
1.85% (1) |
0.00% (0) |
4.08% (2) |
Attrition rate (number) of students for other reasons |
7.55% (4) |
1.85% (1) |
1.85% (1) |
0.00% (0) |
% (number) of students currently enrolled or on a leave of absence |
9.43% (5) |
7.41% (4) |
1.85% (1) |
0.00% (0) |
*Incudes students who have completed their requirements within 1 quarter of graduation.
Optometrists practice in a wide variety of settings. Some of the positions included below require advanced education or training beyond the O.D. Degree.
Employment of optometrists is expected to grow by 18 percent from 2016 to 2026, much faster than the average for all occupations. Because vision problems tend to occur more frequently later in life, an aging population will require more optometrists. As people age, they become more susceptible to conditions that impair vision, such as cataracts and macular degeneration.
The number of people with chronic diseases, such as diabetes, has grown in recent years. Diabetes has been linked to increased rates of several eye conditions, including diabetic retinopathy, a condition that affects the blood vessels in the eye and may lead to loss of vision. More optometrists will be needed to monitor, treat, and refer individuals with chronic conditions stemming from diabetes.
In addition, nearly all health plans cover medical eye care and many cover preventive eye exams. Furthermore, the number of individuals, particularly children, who have access to vision or eye care insurance is expected to continue to increase because of federal health insurance reform. More optometrists will be needed to provide services to more patients.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Healthcare, Optometrists, http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/optometrists.htm#tab-6 (accessed 04/09/2018)
Median Annual Salary: $140,913*
*AOA survey of Optometric Practice, updated January 2018. https://optometriceducation.org/
The starting salary of a new OD graduate earns is dependent on the professional practice site that he/she enters.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2017, 29-1041, Optometrists, https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes291041.htm (accessed 04/09/2018)