The School of Optometry of the Faculty of Science offers a four-year professional Academic Plan leading to the degree of Doctor of Optometry. It is the only School of Optometry in Canada with English as the language of instruction. The immediate purpose of the School of Optometry is to qualify individuals for the practice of optometry. Graduates are eligible to apply for registration as optometrists in the province of their choice. The study of Optometry provides students with a background in general science and specialized knowledge in visual science so that they may follow a career in optometric research and teaching if they so desire. A two-year Diploma of Residency, designed for persons with the OD degree who wish to improve and extend their clinical skills, is available. Graduate Academic Plans in Vision Science leading to the Master of Science degree and the Doctor of Philosophy degree are also available.
Students who have completed two years of the Honours Science Regular or Biomedical Sciences Academic Plans at the University of Waterloo prior to successfully completing the Optometry degree may be eligible to transfer 11.0 optometry units to an Honours Science BSc degree. For details regarding eligibility, contact the Associate Dean of Science for Undergraduate Studies.
As with other health care professions, graduates in Optometry must hold the certificate of the licensing body of the province in which they choose to practise.