COOPERATIVE DEGREE PROGRAM WITH SALUS UNIVERSITY PENNSYLVANIA COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRY

Faculty:

• Brett Aiello, Ph.D.
• Ashley Bartelson, Ph. D.
• Abigail Bogdan, Ph. D.
• Jessica Brzyski, Ph.D.
• Amalene Cooper-Morgan, Ph.D.
• Demetra Czegan, Ph.D.
• Jamie Fornsaglio, Ph.D.
• Diana Hoover, Ph.D.
• Bobbie Leeper, Ph.D.   
• Nicole McAllister, Ph.D.      
• Diane Miller, Ph.D.
• Jonathan Moerdyk, Ph.D. 
• Ja’Nean Reay Ph.D.
• Renee Rosier, Ph.D.

The cooperative degree program at Seton Hill University with the Salus University Doctor of Optometry Program offers a combined undergraduate and graduate program leading to two degrees: the Bachelor of Science in biology and the Doctor of Optometry. The 3 + 4 program (Phase I: three years of study at the undergraduate level at Seton Hill University. Phase II: four years of graduate medical school instruction with Salus University Pennsylvania College of Optometry) allows the student to receive the Bachelor of Science degree after the successful completion of the first year of study in optometry school. The Doctor of Optometry degree is awarded after the successful completion of four years of study with Salus University Pennsylvania College of Optometry and all requirements for the degree.

Phase I students must:

1. Be accepted at Seton Hill University as full-time students,
2. Complete the Pre-Optometry curriculum at Seton Hill University (at least 90 credits including the requirements for the major),
3. Have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale on the Seton Hill transcript, and
4. Adhere to Seton Hill University’s Student Code of Conduct and Academic Integrity standards.

To be eligible for Phase II students must:

1. Complete all prerequisite coursework as published by Salus University Pennsylvania College of Optometry,
2. Complete the Optometry Centralized Application Service (OptomCAS) process which includes letters of recommendation and the Optometry Admissions Test (OAT),
3. Participate in an on-campus interview, and
4. Complete all degree requirements for the Seton Hill degree except for the year 1 courses in Phase II.

Seton Hill Phase I students who successfully meet all criteria for admission to Phase II of the program at Salus University/PCO will be considered for the Salus University Doctor of Optometry program and will be invited for an interview. A Phase I student who enters the Salus University/PSO Admissions Selection Process and completes all steps will be notified of her/his provisional acceptance or rejection to Phase II of the program, as determined by the Salus/PCO Admissions Committee, as early as October prior to the year of desired enrollment in Phase II of the program.

Please note: Students who present a transcript from Salus University showing successful completion of all first-year courses of Phase II will have 30 credits transferred in to their Seton Hill transcripts and will be awarded a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. Those credits will satisfy all coursework for the Biology major not taken at Seton Hill, including elective credits to reach a minimum of 120 credits.

All candidates for the cooperative degree program’s Bachelor of Science/Doctor of Optometry degrees must complete the Liberal Arts Curriculum, the capstone assessment, and all undergraduate (Phase I) and graduate (Phase II) courses for the major, earning a minimum of 90 credits at SHU for the 3 + 4 program. The capstone assessment for the biology major includes successful completion of a comprehensive examination. Students must contact the Seton Hill Pre-Health Professions Advisor for details.