THE ACCELERATED DEGREE PROGRAM An Affiliation Agreement Between Pennsylvania College of Optometry and Saint Francis University Loretto, Pennsylvania BACKGROUND The Pennyslvania College of Optometry (PCO) and Saint Francis University (SFU) hereby pledge their commitment to the training of future practitioners of optometry by joining in this affiliation. Under the joint agreement between PCO and SFU select undergraduate students who have successfully completed specific core course requirements at SFU may continue their education in optometry at PCO in this program of study. This accelerated academic program is referred to as The Accelerated Degree Program {ox Program). The Program is comprised of two phases: Phase I consists of the first three years of undergraduate education at Saint Francis University; and Phase H consists of the remaining four years of optometry school education at PCO. Saint Francis University will confer the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree to students who have successfully completed the first year of PCO's academic curriculum.
SFXECTION OF STUDENTS FOR THE PROGRAM For admission to the Program, students must complete the first 3-year phase of education at SFU. Following the successful completion of the ascribed undergraduate phase of training, students will continue with the second phase of their education under the auspices of PCO and its associated clinical training sites. Students will be admitted to the SFU Phase (Phase I) of the Program based upon the following criteria: SAT Scores 1150 (re-centered) Grade Point Average 3.4 (High School GPA) Class Rank Top 25% of the class Potential Additional evidence of scholarly and professional potential and desire to become a primary care physician The SAT scores (1150) and high school GPA (3.4) serve as targets for applicant selection for admission to the Program; other parameters, such as personal traits and desire to become an optometrist, will also be considered for each applicant. ADMISSION TO PHASE I OF THE PROGRAM SFU representatives will interview applicants to the Program and submit acceptable applications for review to PCO with a recommendation for provisional acceptance. PCO will notify SFU within thirty (30) days of receipt of the application of provisional acceptance. Therefore, acceptance to Phase I of the Program will be determined jointly by SFU and PCO. Students successful in Phase I will be interviewed by PCO prior to admission to Phase H of the Program. Final acceptance of candidates to Phase H of the Program will be determined by PCO.
ADMISSION TO PHASE II OF THE PROGRAM Upon successful completion of Phase I of the Program (at SFU), select students will be recommended for final acceptance to Phase II of the Program (at PCO). Students to be admitted to Phase II of the Program must arrange to take the Optometry Admissions Test (OAT) no later than the spring testing date. The results should be forwarded to the Office of Admissions and should not be more than two years old. Students must successfully complete all Major and SFU General Education requirements by the end of the third year of Phase I. Students to be admitted to Phase II of the Program must also successfully complete the specific prerequisite course work as indicated in the SFU and PCO Student Catalogs, and as described below (or as amended). Appropriate letters of evaluation and all other supporting documentation must be submitted directly to the Admissions Office of PCO for Phase II of the Program. All student inquiries for information regarding application status should be directed to the PCO Admissions Office at (800) 824-6262 or Admissions@pco.edu SFU personnel should contact PCO's Admissions Office for assistance regarding student status confirmation and/or secondary application documentation. Communication and correspondence regarding the implementation of the joint programs should be made between the Chair of the Biology Department at Saint Francis University and the Director of Admissions at PCO Consultation and Communication on student progress in the Admissions process will be maintained between the Chair of the Biology Department at Saint Francis University and the Director of Admissions. Students not accepted into Phase II after their third year will be encouraged to reapply during the fourth year at SFU.
THREE-YEAR UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM IN HEALTH SCIENCES AT SAINT FRANCIS UNIVERSITY AND FOUR-YEAR MEDICAL PROGRAM AT PCO* Phase I Biology Major (B.S. Accelerated Program) FALL SEMESTER (17 Credits) 4 BIOLOGY I 111 4 CHEM PRINCIPLES I 101 3 MATH 121 3 ENGLISH 103 OR 104 3 FINE ARTS ELECTIVE 0 CORE 103 FALL SEMESTER (17 Credits) FIRST YEAR (at SFU) SPRING SEMESTER ( 17 Credits') 4 DEVEL. BIOLOGY 212 4 CHEM. PRINCIPLES H 102 3 MATH 122 3 ENGLISH 103 or 104 1 CORE 101 2 CORE 102 0 CORE 104 SECOND YEAR (at SFU) SPRING SEMESTER (17 Credits) 4 COMP. ANATOMY 211 4 ORGANIC CHEMISTRY I 201 3 HISTORY 101 OR 221 3 RELIGION 205 OR PHILOSOPHY 205 3 PSYCHOLOGY 101 4 VERTEBRATE PHYSIOLOGY 406 4 ORGANIC CHEMISTRY H 202 3 HISTORY 102 OR 222 3 RELIGION 205 OR PHILOSOPHY 205 3 STATISTICS 1101 FALL SEMESTER ( 18 Credits) 4 GENETICS 301 4 CELL & MOLECULAR BIO 401 3 PHILOSOPHY 312 3 LANGUAGE ELECTIVE 4 PHYSICS 104 OR 121 0 CORE 403: SENIOR CAPSTONE THIRD YEAR (at SFU) SPRING SEMESTER (18 Credits) 3 BIOCHEMISTRY 405 4 GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY 302 3 RELIGION ELECTIVE 1 FINE ARTS 101 3 SPEECH 103 4 PHYSICS 105 OR 122 Summer 1st, 2nd, or 3rd year: Three Social Science Electives (9 credits). Students may wish to reduce the academic year load by attending summer courses. After completing 3 years at Saint Francis, and a successful year at the affiliated institution, the student will be awarded a B.S. degree from Saint Francis University in Biology. Note: Social Science Electives (Econ, Psych, Soc, Pol. Sci.)
Phase I Other Majors 0 (B.S. Accelerated Program) Complete Major and General Education requirements which include English, Psychology, and Statistics. Additional requirements if not included in the major: Biology 111 (Biology I), Biology 405 (Biochemistry) and General Microbiology 302 and three 200-level or above Biology courses approved by the Pre-professional coordinator, Chemistry 101,102,201,202; Physics 104-105 or 121-122; and Mathematics 121-122.
Phase II FOURTH YEAR (First Year at PCO) FALL SEMESTER CREDITS MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR PROCESSES 9.15 INTEGRATIVE NEURO-VISUAL SCIENCES 3.00 OPTOMETRIC PRINCIPLES & MANAGEMENT OF VISION PROBLEMS 5.75 CLINICAL SKILL BLOCKS 4.50 PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE 1.06 OPTOMETRY, PATIENT AND SOCIETY 2.60 CLINICAL PROBLEM SOLVING 120 27.26 SPRING SEMESTER INTEGRATED ORGAN SYSTEMS 10.65 INTEGRATIVE NEURO-VISUAL SCIENCES 6.50 OPTICAL PRINCIPLES & OPHTHALMIC APPLICATIONS 7.40 MANAGEMENT OF REFRACTIVE DISORDERS 1.20 CLINICAL SKILL BLOCKS 4.80 PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE 1.70 CLINICAL PROBLEM SOLVING L20 33.45 FIRST YEAR TOTAL CREDIT UNITS 60.71 {The course work listed above is required for conferral of the O.D. degree as of the date of the signing of this agreement. However, an optometry school curriculum is quite dynamic and evolves to meet the changing needs of the students. Therefore, there may occasionally be changes in course content, emphasis and sequencing.] CONFERRAL OF THE DOCTOR OF OPTOMETRY DEGREE The degree will be conferred only upon successful completion of all course work, both didactic and clinical, and recommendation by the faculty and administration of PCO. Conferral of the O.D. degree will be at the end of the fourth year at PCO (seventh year of the Program).
AGREEMENT THIS AGREEMENT is made this 24th day of June 2003 by and between THE PENNSYLVANIA COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRY and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, hereinafter referred to as "PCO" and SAINT FRANCIS UNIVERSITY, of the City of Loretto, County of Cambria, and State of Pennsylvania, hereinafter referred to as "SFU". PENNSYLVANIA COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRY Thomas L. Lewis, O.D.. Ph.D. President SAINT FRANCIS UNIVERSITY (t~» flpsisus' Fr. Christian Oravec, T.O.R. President 'Anthony FJ&iStefano, </.D., M.TJB. Vice President and Dean ' for Academic Affairs Peter Skoner, Ed.D. Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs JC/ccf^ Wayne Takacs, Ph.D. Chair Biology Department