Singapore Optometric Association

The Pennsylvania College of Optometry is the leader in providing Optometry education to practicing optometrists around the world, from countries in Europe to Singapore. With the success of the international degree programs, PCO is launching the Bachelor of Science in Optometry course to upgrade the graduates of Singapore Polytechnic from their Diploma in Optometry.

PCO recognizes the high quality of education that the Singapore Polytechnic Department of Optometry provides. However, the education that leads to the Diploma in Optometry is just a step short of qualifying for a Bachelors Degree. The academics and professors from PCO have therefore reviewed the quality of the education from the Diploma course, and formulated the Bachelor of Science in Optometry course for the diploma holders to upgrade their knowledge, skills and standards.

Purpose and Expected Outcomes

Prospective students should understand that the purpose of this course is to upgrade the standards and qualifications of optometrists in Singapore. Graduates of this course are expected to continue to practice optometry in Singapore, in order to increase the pool of graduate optometrists locally.

The Bachelor of Science in Optometry is sufficient for the local practice of optometry with knowledge and skills of advanced procedures with diagnostic pharmaceutical agents. Graduates of the course may wish to upgrade their qualifications to the Master of Science in Optometry for ocular therapeutics and advance optometry knowledge, or the Doctor of Optometry degree in order to practice in the United States.

Standards of the Course

The Bachelor of Science in Optometry course is structured to be very similar to the Bachelor of Science degree that is awarded by the U.K. universities. With the firm knowledge of the standards and academics of the U.K. optometry programs, PCO’s director of International Studies, Professor Abraham Gonen, ensured that the curriculum of the B.Sc. in Optometry program is on par with the U.K. program. This is after taking into account the education that is provided by the Singapore Polytechnic.

Lectures and Lessons

Students in the B.Sc. in Optometry program will undergo Lectures and Clinical Sessions that are fully taught by lecturers and professors from Pennsylvania College of Optometry. The lectures are held about four days every month, lasting one whole day each. Clinical Diagnostic Procedure sessions are held twice locally, and are also fully taught by PCO's instructors. The clinical sessions takes up a full week each. In total, 50 hours are dedicated to the training and perfecting of Advanced Clinical Procedures and Specialized Diagnostic Techniques.

B.Sc. in Optometry Completion Course Topics

1st Semester
General Anatomy and Physiology
Ocular Biology Review
Microbiology
Immunology
Cell Biology
Genetics
General Pharmacology
Ocular Pharmacology
General Pathology
Mechanisms of Disease
Clinical Medicine
Ocular Pathology
Binocular Vision
Pediatric Optometry
Low Vision
Geriatric Optometry

2nd Semester
Public Health
Optometric Instrumentation for Ocular Health Assessment
Practice Management
Research Techniques
Contact Lens Review
Record Keeping
Optometric Ethics
International Optometry
Clinical Diagnostic Procedures

Please click on the icon to download the confirmed & updated course time-table. pdf file

Course Fees

The fees for the entire Bachelor of Science in Optometry completion course is approximately US$8,520, payable in quarterly installments. Applicants of the course will need to join SOA as a member before starting on the course.

Fees excludes booking of venue for lectures to be held.

Application Procedures

Interested applicants can print and fill up the application form, and prepare a bank draft of US$150 addressed to “Pennsylvania College of Optometry”. The application form and the bank draft can be mailed to the Singapore Optometric Association at:

Singapore Post Centre Post Office PO Box 610
Singapore 914021

Please click the icon to download the application form. pdf file
Please note that space is limited, and application will be handled on a first come first serve basis.

Master of Science in Clinical Optometry

The M.Sc. in Clinical Optometry program was originally offered in Singapore with a B.Sc. in Optometry bridge program. This program offers highly advanced optometric education that is targeted in equipping practicing optometrists with the knowledge and skills to make judgement in diagnosing eye disease as well as treatment with ocular therapeutic pharmaceutical agents.

Prospective students should note that likewise to the B.Sc. in Optometry course, graduates of the M.Sc. in Clinical Optometry course are expected to continue to practice locally so as to achieve higher standards of optometry in Singapore.

This time, the M.Sc. course will be offered to the graduates who have successfully graduated from the B.Sc. in Optometry stand alone course. The course is fully taught in Singapore, and students of the M.Sc. course will be involved in conducting research, as well as advanced patient care training in the United States.

Future Opportunities from Master of Science in Clinical Optometry

Doctor of Optometry

The Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) degree is open for application to graduates of the Master of Science in Clinical Optometry graduates. This course is meant for prospective students who are interested in engaging the highest level of optometric education, with involvement in ocular diagnostic and therapeutics, as well as minor surgical procedures.

Master of Science in Clinical Optometry graduations will need to study the O.D. course for 2 years full time, or 4 years part time. Completion of the O.D. degree, as well as passing the national board examinations in the United States will allow the graduates to practice the highest level of optometric standard in the United States. However, this does not automatically qualify one to practice in the US, as he/she is still subjected to immigration requirements.

Doctor of Philosophy in Visual Science

The Center for International Studies at PCO has established a Ph.D. program with Cardiff University in the United Kingdom. The clinically focused research program was set up in response to the demand for advanced specialized education from PCO's international Master of Science in Clinical Optometry graduates.
The duration for the Ph.D. program is 3 years full time, or 5 years part time. A Joint Ph.D. Supervisory Committee has been set up between PCO and Cardiff, which will allow candidates to do the research in their home countries.

PCO Accreditation

In accrediting a degree or diploma, the reputation and legibility is of utmost importance. The Pennsylvania College of Optometry is indeed the leader in Optometric education. It was the first university in the United States to award the Doctor of Optometry degree, and continues to be a place for firsts. Find out more about PCO at www.pco.edu.

Optometry Registration in Singapore

There is currently no Optometry Board or Optometry legislation that defines the practice of Optometry in Singapore. All prospective students have to be registered with the Health Sciences Authority to be eligible for the application to read the B.Sc. in Optometry program, therefore there is no requirement to register the course with HSA.

PCO will seek the approval of the new Optometry and Opticianry Board that will be formed in mid 2007 for the approval of the B.Sc. in Optometry course as an approved degree for the upgrading of optometric qualifications. The Ministry of Health has commented to that the new legislation for Optometry and Opticanry be inclusive and not protectionist in nature.

PCO provides high quality of optometry education, while the instructors and lecturers are of the highest academic calibre. PCO is therefore confident in achieving approval of the course as an accepted course for the upgrading of the current diploma qualifications.

PCO Accreditation

SOA acknowledges the importance of the quality of an academic qualifications. Pennsylvania College of Optometry is accredited by the following agencies in the United States:

Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE) of the American Optometric Association
Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA)

Singapore Civil Service

The Singapore Civil Service will consider any degree that is accredited by the home government of the country where the university is situated. Candidates with Degrees that are awarded by universities, which are accredited by the following agencies in the United States, will be considered for Civil Service in Singapore.

Middle State Association of Colleges and Schools
New England Association of Schools and Colleges
North Central Association of Schools and Colleges
Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Western Association of Schools and Colleges
Distance Education and Training Council (for Universities that only offers distance learning programs)

United States Embassy Support

SOA is pleased to have the U.S. Embassy's support in promoting PCO's B.Sc. in Optometry / M.Sc. in Clinical Optometry program, and acknowledging the Accreditation by the relevant authorities in the United States as stated above.

Registration with Ministry of Education

SOA is the registered local facilitator for the B.Sc. in Optometry / M.Sc. in Clinical Optometry program awarded by PCO. The program is registered with the Ministry of Educations as a Distance Learning Program (DLP), as the degree is awarded by an Overseas Institution.

Please feel free to email your queries about the Bachelor of Science in Optometry course to bscoptom@optometrists.org.sg

We will answer your queries, and post the questions and answers here, if they will benefit other prospective students.

Q) I would like to enquire if the degree is recognised in singapore and whether with this degree, are we allowed to practise with diagnostic drugs in the future with the upcoming legislation.

First of all, lets define recognition.
1) HSA (Health Science Authority) recognition
2) OOB (Optometrists and Opticians Board) recognition HSA regulates the practice of contact lens, and not optometry. Since all applicants of the PCO course must be registered with the HSA, we do not see a reason why it is necessary to have the HSA recognise the course. Perhaps one can argue that if the HSA recognise the course as an additional qualification, then it can be considered recognised. BUT, there's not much point in it. However, SOA is working on getting the HSA to recognise the course as an additional qualification. But HSA's Contact Lens unit will be defunct, once the OOB is formed. The OOB is not formed yet, and therefore, no school... including the UNSW, University of Melbourne, UK universities, and other US universities (including PCO) can submit their applications to the OOB to have their degrees recognised for practice in Singapore. Perhaps the OOB will automatically recognise some mainstream degrees (that HSA used to recognised). When the time comes, PCO will submit relevant documents to the OOB to have the course accredited as a recognised degree for upgrading of qualifications from the Diploma course.TILL DATE, THERE IS NO RECOGNISED DEGREE FOR PRACTICE OF OPTOMETRY IN SINGAPORE, until the OOB is formed.

As for the practice of DPA (Diagnostic Pharmaceutical Agents), the BSc Optom course gears students for DPA. And therefore, when the time comes for the legislation of DPA. But for now, we'll just wait for the legislation of the profession first. DPA is more advanced, and should be considered at a later context.Hope you understand the above. You may wish to do more research, into comparing the UK universities course vs PCO's BSc top-up course for the Dip. That may help you understand that the standards are actually pretty much the same.

Q) The website states that students who graduate from PCO may wish to upgrade further such as Master of Science in Optometry for ocular therapeutics and advance optometry knowledge, or the Doctor of Optometry degree. For instance the Doctor of Optometry, may i know if they recognise the credits of PCO degree and if im interested, do i get an exemption of some years?

Once you are awarded with the BSc Optom degree, you can choose to upgrade to the MSc in Clinical Science degree. The MSc is a part time 2 year degree. The Doctor of Optometry degree can only be admitted thru the
Master of Science degree, with a two year exemption (leaving 2 years full time, or 4 years part time).

Q) To enrole in the PCO course, are the diploma grades a factor of consideration of the intake of students? i understand that it is on a first come first serve basis, however, just like to know if grades play a role as
well.

Grades play a role in the enrolment. However, its not a big factor. PCO's course is to upgrade the our diploma holders to degree holders. Therefore, they welcome almost everyone with the Diploma who has an
interest to upgrade themselves. PCO usually does not wish to deny anyone an education if he/she wish to upgrade.

Q) I am currently waiting to serve the National Service. I have heard and known of graduates from PCO who have done the PCO course in conjunction with the National Service. Of course, most of whom i have spoken to have been posted to various units and vocations where they are not confined to staying in the camp. However, my question is can the school/course write a letter so as to allow me to take leave to attend the course during my service if i am not posted to such vocations?

If you are in national service, it is best that you check with your superior, showing him the timetable of the course. It is best that you apply leave for the period of time that you are away for the course. Do take note that there is also 2 x 1 week period (total 2 weeks) in July 08 for clinical procedures. PCO can provide a letter stating that you are undertaking the course, however, the ultimate decision lies with your superior officer.

Q) I understand taht the course starts on the 7th of december. When will the registration date close and what is the number of students the course can hold?

The class size is about 30+ students, and registration will close somewhere near the start of the first class. We do welcome you to register for the course early.

Q) If I completed the B.Sc. program, does it directly means that I am already a degree holder?

YES! After completion of the Bachelor of Science in Optometry course, you will be awarded with the Bachelor of Science in Optometry degree, awarded by the Pennsylvania College of Optometry. And yes, it is a degree, and you will be a degree holder. You can put the prefix B.Sc. Optom. next to your name.

Q) Is it possible for me to begin the program before I graduated? (Judging from the previous batch, I will graduate from SP at the end of January 2008, but officially declared as a graduate only in April 2008.)

As for whether you can start the course before you officially graduate, it may be possible. However, we will need to see if there is any clash of classes between PCO\'s class in Dec and your SP classes. If there is no clash, it may be possible to start the PCO course before you officially get your diploma. But this is still subjected to the approval of PCO. We can wait till the second half of the year to see your time table.

Q) After the Bsc, if i were to go on to MSc, will it be conducted locally or in US? Also, what will the fees roughly come up to?

After the BSc, if there's enough students and demand, PCO will open the course for the MSc. The MSc is also conducted locally, however, there will be one or two instances where you have to travel to USA to do clinical
rotations for about 2 weeks each.The fees for the BSc is about US$8520 excluding misc fees. The fees for the previous BSc / MSc combined degree course is about US$15500 to US$16500. Therefore the BSc fees is lower than the MSc, and can cater to more students who wish to upgrade to a degree, but do not require advanced training for a MSc standard.

Q) I was wondering how much will the MSc cost then if i choose to continue.. will the combined cost comes up to be much more?

I cannot tell u offhand how much the MSc standalone will be. But it may be more than the combined course, if you are taking the 2 seperately. But taking the standalones seperately should not be too far off from the price of the combined course.

However, PCO is not offering the BSc Optom/Msc Clinical Optom combined course now, as its experience tells that it will be better to offer a Bachelor degree before making the MSc optional to those more interested.

Therefore, PCO is only offering the BSc course as at now. When there is a big enough group of BSc graduates, PCO will then consider opening the MSc course.