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Academic Plan

During the first two years, orthoptics majors focus on completing their liberal arts and science requirements. Classes will be held on both the St. Paul and Minneapolis campuses. Upper-level courses in the junior and senior year target specific orthoptics topics.

In addition, students complete two externships where they participate in clinical activities along with certified orthoptists and pediatric ophthalmologists. The final requirement is a clinical residency, which is an extension of the final clinical externship.

The clinical externships are located in settings across the United States where students work directly with a certified orthoptist, who serves as a clinical preceptor. The faculty of the orthoptics program supervise and maintain contact with the students through regular discussion board postings.

See below for a sample course sequence. Upon admission, you will work with an adviser to tailor your courses to fit your individual needs.

For detailed course descriptions, visit the courses page.

Required supporting courses

PSYC 1001: General Psychology
CHEM 1010: General Chemistry for Health Sciences
BIOL 2510: Human Anatomy
PHYS 1020: Physics Concepts
BIOL 2520: Human Physiology
PSYC 2025: Lifespan Development
PSYC 2050: Statistical Methods
or ECON 2250: Statistical Analysis for Decision Making
or MATH 1080: Statistical Analysis
PHIL 2200: Ethics

Liberal arts and science core requirements

CORE 1000: The Reflective Woman
CORE 3990: Global Search for Justice
Health and fitness (EXSS - 4 credits)
History ( HIST - 4 credits)
Literature (LIT - 4 credits)
Fine arts (ART - 4 credits)
Theology (THEO - 4 credits)
Foreign language (LANG - 8 credits)

Fall

  • ORTH 4994 Topics: Ocular Motility I (4 credits)
  • ORTH 4994 Topics: Optics for Orthoptists (4 credits)

J-Term

  • ORTH 4994 Topics: Introduction to Ophthalmic and Orthoptic Clinical Skills (4 credits)

Winter

  • ORTH 4994 Topics: Ocular Motility II (Eye diseases, congenital anomalies, and ocular emergencies) (4 credits)
  • ORTH 4994 Topics: Eye Care Pharmacology and Instrument Maintenance/Clinical Rotation I (4 credits)

Summer

  • ORTH XXXX: Clinical Externship I (2 credits)
    (clinical externship extends through both summer sessions)

Fall

  • ORTH XXXX: Ocular Motility III (4 credits)

J-Term

  • ORTH XXXX: Clinical Externship II (4 credits)

Winter

  • ORTH XXXX: Ocular Motility IV Seminar (4 credits)
  • ORTH XXXX: Clinical Externship III (6 credits)
    (a continuation of the clinical externship begun during J-Term)

Summer/Fall - Residency

Students must also complete a five-month clinical residency after completing their academic requirements. This residency provides opportunities to hone clinical skills, gain professional practice experience and meet the minimum number of patient examinations, as required by the American Orthoptic Council. Students are supervised by certified orthoptists in approved pediatric or neuro ophthalmology practices throughout the country. Students also continue to have close contact with St. Kate’s faculty during their residency.