Doctor of Optometry
Scholars Program
The Scholars Program at PCO is an opportunity for highly motivated and well-qualified applicants to earn a Doctor of Optometry degree designed specifically with them in mind. This program provides students the opportunity to complete their optometry degree requirements in an accredited 36 month, year-round, campus-based program.
After careful consideration of the needs and expectations of the students, the University has decided to delay the launch of PCO’s Scholars Program until June 2013. As previously published, we will continue to target interested students who meet the higher admissions criteria. As evidence of the College and the University’s continued commitment, portions of the Scholars Program curriculum will be piloted with eligible students who have chosen to join the Pennsylvania College of Optometry's Class of 2016.
Drawn from features of our traditional program and consistent with PCO’s reputation for innovation and commitment to excellence, this unique curriculum emphasizes:
- directed independent learning
- lecture and lab instruction
- small group learning
- case-based learning
- problem based learning
- online and web enhanced instruction
The Scholars Program recognizes individual student learning styles and leadership skills. The student cohort will be immersed in patient care at the beginning of the program. The program’s structured patient care experiences and small student-to-faculty ratio provides close faculty mentorship, as students develop the critical thinking and clinical competencies necessary for optometric practitioners.
The inaugural class accepted into the program will begin in June 2013 and graduate in May 2016. Students enrolled in the Scholars Program earn the credit equivalency of students in the traditional program.
The Scholars Program recognizes and develops individual student learning styles and leadership skills. Academically talented and motivated applicants will be carefully screened and accepted based on qualifications, history of academic performance and career path. If you are highly motivated to complete your studies, have a strong academic record, are disciplined enough for directed independent study, and want to begin your optometric career as soon as possible, the Scholars Program at PCO might be the best pathway for you.
Interested applicants who would like to be considered for admission into the Scholars Program beginning June 2012 can contact Salus University Office of Admissions at admissions@salus.edu or 215.780.1301.
*Directed Independent Study Definition
Directed independent study (DIS) provides students with the opportunity to work individually and in small groups with faculty mentors.
Each course that uses the DIS model provides materials and reference resources to help the student achieve clearly defined course objectives. As in traditional lecture courses, a DIS course describes the methods of evaluation used to determine the student’s grade.
Directed independent study provides students with opportunities for close one-on-one interactions between other students and their mentors through regularly scheduled meetings. This level of supervision assures that the student has sufficient guidance and is making appropriate progress through the course materials.
In this learning process the student must be able to make a commitment to working on the course goals and to maintain continuous self-motivation.
04/23/2012