Doctor of Optometry

The Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) degree is based on the NSU Tahlequah campus. The program is four years of intensive doctoral-level training that prepares students to become effective members of a comprehensive health care team. 

Doctor of Optometry

The Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) degree is based on the NSU Tahlequah campus. The program is four years of intensive doctoral-level training that prepares students to become effective members of a comprehensive health care team. The Optometric Physician has been trained to diagnose and treat a wide variety of eye and vision problems at the primary care level. 

Doctor of Optometry

The Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) degree is based on the NSU Tahlequah campus. The program is four years of intensive doctoral-level training that prepares students to become effective members of a comprehensive health care team. The Optometric Physician has been trained to diagnose and treat a wide variety of eye and vision problems at the primary care level. 

Doctor of Optometry

The Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) degree is based on the NSU Tahlequah campus. The program is four years of intensive doctoral-level training that prepares students to become effective members of a comprehensive health care team. The Optometric Physician has been trained to diagnose and treat a wide variety of eye and vision problems at the primary care level. 

Doctor of Optometry

The Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) degree is based on the NSU Tahlequah campus. The program is four years of intensive doctoral-level training that prepares students to become effective members of a comprehensive health care team. The Optometric Physician has been trained to diagnose and treat a wide variety of eye and vision problems at the primary care level.

Outcomes Assessment

NSUOCO engages in an ongoing, systematic process of planning and self-study and regularly reviews its mission, goals and objectives, revising as needed. Annually, optometry administration prepares the Northeastern State University “Student Learning Outcomes Assessment Report” for the previous academic year and submits to the university. During this process, administration reviews the mission, goals, student learning objectives, outcomes, assessment measures, performance targets and results. The generation of this annual report engages NSUOCO administration in a systematic process of taking an in depth look at our learning objectives and outcomes, and provides a regular for an annual time to analyze assessment results in order to make plans for the future. Additionally the curriculum committee chair, reviews board score results and trends each year prior to the fall faculty retreat. Data, trends and analysis are shared and discussed with all faculty and plans to address any issues or areas of concern are discussed.

Clinical assessments begin with a clinical proficiency given to all second year students before entering direct patient care. Any deficiencies in skills is addressed and remediated. Daily assessment and feedback is given to each student in clinic via the NSUOCO Clinic Grades System (CGS). Additionally, clinical checklists are given to each student the spring of third year and fall of fourth year. Each student is required to satisfactorily perform a variety of clinical skills in the presence of a faculty member. 

Program’s Definition of Entry Level Practice:

The optometric physician is a healthcare professional trained and state licensed to provide primary eye care services.  These services include comprehensive eye health and vision examinations; diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases and vision disorders; the diagnosis of ocular manifestations of general health problems; the prescribing of glasses, contact lenses, low vision rehabilitation and vision therapy; the prescribing of medications and performing of certain surgical and laser procedures; and the counseling of patients regarding their vision needs as related to their occupations, avocations, lifestyle, and surgical alternatives.  The optometric physician has completed pre-professional undergraduate education in a college or university and four years of professional education at a college of optometry, leading to the doctor of optometry (O.D.) degree.  Some optometric physicians complete a residency. 

The College has defined entry level practice.  This definition is a set of measures which all students must successfully complete during the four-year curriculum.  The measures which define the College’s entry level practice are:

  •  the clinical skills tested in the clinical course proficiencies
  •  the clinical skills tested in the clinical test check-off lists
  •  the learning objectives in the didactic courses and
  •  the clinical proficiency expectations and requirements found in the Clinic Manual in the section entitled, “Maturation of Clinical Proficiency”                                                                                        

The first measure is a series of clinical methods practical examination tests which take place throughout the four-year curriculum.  These practicals  examinations occur in each of the four clinical methods courses and are structured on the National Board of Examiners in Optometry practical format.  The students are also required to perform a specific list of clinical procedures under faculty supervision during spring clinic of the second and third years, and fall semester of the fourth year.  Cumulatively, these practical examinations define the program’s clinical entry level skills.  When successfully completed, the College has a direct measure that a capstone benchmark has been achieved by each student.

The program’s didactic entry level skills are embodied by the learning objectives found in every course syllabus.  These learning objectives are a direct reflection of the course content and specify the entry level skills and knowledge expected of each student upon completion of the curriculum.  The examinations held in each didactic course are intended to assess if the course learning objectives have been achieved. Successful completion of each course assures the program’s didactic entry level skills have been achieved.

The clinical proficiency expectations and requirements in the “Maturation of Clinical Proficiency” are used to evaluate every student in the clinical curriculum.

In addition to didactic and clinical instruction, professionalism and ethics are overarching themes throughout the four years of the program. This begins in the first year at new student orientation as the incoming class takes the student pledge of professionalism and the optometric oath. Professional standards and the Code of Ethics of the American Optometric Association are addressed as well. These are reinforced during White Coat ceremony in the program’s second year. Ethical values and professionalism are addressed in clinic orientation every semester and in Practice Management courses. The result is an optometric physician who embodies professionalism and ethics in their practice and professional interactions.

 

 

Annual Institutional Pass Rates for All First-time Takers of NBEO Parts I, II, and III
Academic Year 2019-2020 2020-2021 2021-2022 2022-2023
NBEO Exam Part # of All First Time Takers Pass Rate (%) of First Time Takers # of All First Time Takers Pass Rate (%) of First Time Takers # of All First Time Takers Pass Rate (%) of First Time Takers # of All First Time Takers Pass Rate (%) of First Time Takers
Part I Applied Basic Science (August & March administrations except during COVID-19 exam administration interruptions) 26 84.62% 29 75.86% 28 78.57% 28 71.43%
Part II Patient Assessment & Management (December & April Administrations) 27 88.89% 28 89.29% 29 93.10% 28 92.86%
Part III Clinical Skills Examination (July - June administrations) 25 72.00% 22 63.64% 28 75.00% 28 35.71%

 

Ultimate Passage Rate                
Graduating  Cohort by Year (year of graduation, Oct 1 - Sept. 30, as defined  by NBEO) Class of 2020 Class of 2021 Class of 2022 Class of 2023
NBEO Ultimate passages rate *                                               # Passing All Parts % of Graduates # Passing All Parts % of Graduates # Passing All Parts % of Graduates # Passing All Parts % of Graduates
18 72.00% 19 86.36% 26 96.30% 22 81.48%
*Ultimate pass rate is the percentage of candidates who have graduated and attempted all three examination parts at least once, and passed all three exams as of September 30th post graduation.
*Ultimate passage rates are from the NBEO yearly institutional performance report found at:
https://optometriceducation.org/national-board-of-examiners-in-optometry-yearly-performance-report/

 

Graduation and Attrition Rates            
Year Matriculated  2016 2017 2018
28 Matriculants per year # % of Total Matriculants # % of Total Matriculants # % of Total Matriculants
Graduated in 4 years* 27 96.43% 28 100.00% 28 100.00%
Graduated in 5 or more years 0 0.00% 0 0.00% 0 0.00%
Graduated at any time  27 96.43% 28 100.00% 28 100.00%
Still enrolled or on a leave of absence. 0 0.00% 0 0.00% 0 0.00%
Attrition for academic reasons 0 0.00% 0 0.00% 0 0.00%
Attrition for other reasons 1 3.57% 0 0.00% 0 0.00%
             
*Includes students who completed all graduation requirements in the same calendar year as the end of their fourth year.
For additional institutional pass rate information and national pass rates please go to:
https://optometriceducation.org/national-board-of-examiners-in-optometry-yearly-performance-report/
   

All pass rates are calculated using only candidates who attempted all three examination parts at least once as calculated by the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO).

 

NBEO Part I - Applied Basic Science
Year NSUOCO First Timer Pass Rate National First Timer Pass Rate
2023 81.48% 62.65%
2022 77.78% 73.19%
2021 86.36% 77.67%
2020 68.00% 81.79%
2019 76.00% 74.66%
2018 80.77% 72.93%

 

NBEO Part II - Patient Assessment & Management
Year NSUOCO First Timer Pass Rate National First Timer Pass Rate
2023 96.3% 82.79%
2022 96.3% 86.01%
2021 95.45% 89.65%
2020 92.00% 92.56%
2019 92.00% 87.63%
2018 96.15% 89.96%

 

NBEO Part III - Clinical Skills Examination
Year NSUOCO First Timer Pass Rate National First Timer Pass Rate
2023 37.04% 74.18%
2022 74.07% 79.89%
2021 63.64% 79.87%
2020 72.00% 85.9%
2019 84.00% 83.88%
2018 92.31% 75.97%

 

NBEO Ultimate Pass Rates
Year NSUOCO Pass Rate National Pass Rate
2023 77.78% 83.59%
2022 96.30% 87.77%
2021 86.36% 92.46%
2020 72.00% 92.20%
2019 92.00% 92.68%
2018 96.15% 92.09%

All pass rates are calculated using only candidates who have graduated during the listed time frame and attempted all three examination parts at least once.
First timer pass rates are the percentage of the above-referenced candidate group that passed the examination on their first attempt.
Ultimate pass rate is the percentage of the above-referenced candidate group that passed all three exams.
Above pass rates are from the NBEO yearly institutional performance report found at the following:
https://optometriceducation.org/news/national-board-of-examiners-in-optometry-yearly-performance-report/

 

 

 

NSUOCO Class of 2022 Career Placement / Future Plans
Future Plans Number of Students Percentage
Entering Residency 7 25.00%
Entering Practice 18 64.29%
Academia 2 7.14%
Other 1 3.57%
Total 28 100%

Table above reflects data available two months post-graduation with updates 12/2022

NSUOCO Class of 2021 Career Placement / Future Plans
Future Plans Number of Students Percentage
Entering Residency 4 14.29%
Entering Practice 19 67.86%
Academia 2 7.14%
Other 3 10.71%
Total 28 100%

Table above reflects data available three months post-graduation.

NSUOCO Class of 2020 Career Placement / Future Plans
Future Plans Number of Students Percentage
Entering Residency 8 28.57%
Entering Practice 18 64.29%
Academia 1 3.57%
Other 1 3.57%
Total 28 100%

Table above reflects data available upon May 2020 graduation with updates 7/2021.

 

Downloadable Reports

NSU Assessment Form 2021-2022
NSU
Assessment
2021-2022
NSU Assessment Form 2020-2021
NSU
Assessment
2020-2021
NSU Assessment Form 2019-2020
NSU
Assessment
2019-2020
NSU Assessment Form 2018-2019
NSU
Assessment
2018-2019
NSU Assessment Form 2017-2018
NSU
Assessment
2017-2018