Go to information for Pre-Medicine Programs at SFU .
Department Contact:
Chair: Dr. Justin Merry, jmerry@francis.edu, 814-471-1105/ Dr. Michele Hargittai, mhargittai@francis.edu, 814-472-2775
Coordinator: Dr. Susan Reimer, sreimer@francis.edu, 814-472-3086
Program Description:
Under a joint agreement between the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO)/ Salus University and SFU, undergraduate students who have successfully completed specific core course requirements at SFU may continue their education in medicine at PCO in this program of study. The program is comprised of two phases: Phase I consists of the first three years of undergraduate education at Saint Francis; Phase II consists of the remaining four years of optometry school education at PCO. Saint Francis University will confer the Bachelor of Science degree to students upon successful completion of the first year of PCO academic curriculum.
Students will be admitted to the SFU Phase (Phase I) of the program based upon the following criteria:
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High School GPA |
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3.5 on a scale of 4.0 |
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Potential |
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Additional evidence of scholarly and professional potential and desire to become a doctor of optometry. |
These criteria 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.
SFU representatives will interview applicants to the program and submit acceptable applications for review to PCO with a recommendation for provisional acceptance.
Progression and/or Retention Criteria:
To successfully complete Phase I of the program, a student must;
- Complete the current pre-medicine curriculum at Saint Francis University, which must consist of a minimum of 90 semester hours of undergraduate education, including the required pre-requisites for Salus University PCO. Prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of ‘C-’ or better. Advanced Placement (AP) courses are accepted only if college credit is awarded by Saint Francis University and appears on the official undergraduate transcript.
- Besides the required courses for Salus, the student must also complete current general education requirements, as well as their major requirements, at Saint Francis University.
- Maintain a GPA of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale.
- Submit a completed application to the Optometry Centralized Application Service (OptomCAS) including score results of the Optometry Admissions Test (OAT) and required letters of evaluation (scores of 300 or higher in each section of the OAT is recommended).
- Shadow a practicing optometrist(s) in order to be familiar with the role of the optometrist as a member of the healthcare team.
Additional stipulations for matriculation are set forth in the articulation agreement between Saint Francis University and Salus University.
Students who are interested in pursuing the pre-optometry studies program in optometry should contact Dr. Susan Reimer, program coordinator.
Students can also find additional information about the program on Salus University’s website.
Student Learning Outcomes:
This will vary depending on the student’s major. Students in the Biology, Pre-Medicine program will achieve the following learning outcomes:
- Employ the scientific method, including the use of discipline-specific techniques, to discover and validate biological knowledge.
- Demonstrate scientific literacy through reading, writing, presenting, and discussing research.
- Demonstrate knowledge of how atoms and molecules interact to permit the function of living systems, and how cells sense, control, and respond to stimuli in their environments.
- Demonstrate knowledge of molecular genetics and how this leads to the expression and inheritance of traits.
- Explain how organisms reproduce and develop, how their anatomical structure permits function, how they maintain internal conditions, and how they sense and respond to external stimuli, across the full range of biological diversity.
- Describe how evolution by natural selection explains the unity and diversity of life on earth, and articulate how organisms interact at the population, community, and ecosystem levels.
Students in the Chemistry, Pre-Medicine program will achieve the following learning outcomes:
- Ability to use and read chemical formulas, nomenclature and chemical reactions and to do calculations involving stoichiometry, mixtures, solutions, solubility, and chemical equilibrium
- Ability to describe and recognize bonding, structure, and stereochemistry and to predict organic reactions, mechanisms, and synthesis
- Ability to apply the laws of thermodynamics to evaluate conditions of chemical equilibrium and direction and rates of chemical reactions
- Ability to describe the chemistry of metallic and nonmetallic elements and their industrial importance and to apply valence bond, molecular orbital theories and group theory in order to understand the properties and chemistry of inorganic complexes
- Ability to read primary sources (peer reviewed literature) and verbally communicate chemical concepts effectively
Estimated Completion Time:
For this “3+4” program: 3 years at Saint Francis, plus 1 year at Salus University Pennsylvania College of Optometry to complete B.S. Completion of optometry school takes a full four years at Salus University.
Capstone Requirement:
In this “3+4” program, the senior capstone requirement is satisfied by successfully completing the first year of their professional program at Pennsylvania College of Optometry in good standing.
Total Credits Required:
**Students pursue an existing pre-medicine program at Saint Francis University, such as the Biology, B.S. Pre-medicine concentration or the Chemistry, B.S., Pre-Medicine concentration.
Biology, B.S., Pre-Medicine Concentration
Chemistry, B.S., Pre-Medicine Concentration
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