2 quick questions

[nc2tarheels]

---

Members do not see this ad.

What's the advantage of the MS/OD degree at SUNY over just the normal OD degree. What do people with an MS do exactly?

Secondly, have any of you experienced the "early" promisary from certain schools? I heard you can get accepted early and your kinda guaranteed that spot. What's the entire deal on this? when do you apply for it etc?

Thanks in advance
Keith

 

[iowaeyes]

I'm sure that there are many other doctors who can give a better answer regarding this question, but I have done some basic research into the MS/OD degree at IU. According to the optometrists/professors I have talked to, a Master's degree is necessary if you are planning on teaching at an optometry school. Very few optometry schools will give you a decent teaching position without at least a Masters in addition to the OD. Obviously if you are interested in research as a career, the MS/OD is the way to go. Another option that I am slightly interested in is practicing optometry as an OD (private practice, etc.) who does clinical trials and research in their practice. I do not have personal experience with this, but I was told that optometrists with MS/OD degrees are often contacted by pharmaceutical or research companies to do clinical trials or studies using new products.

 

[EyeBaller]

I'm sure that there are many other doctors who can give a better answer regarding this question, but I have done some basic research into the MS/OD degree at IU. According to the optometrists/professors I have talked to, a Master's degree is necessary if you are planning on teaching at an optometry school. Very few optometry schools will give you a decent teaching position without at least a Masters in addition to the OD. Obviously if you are interested in research as a career, the MS/OD is the way to go. Another option that I am slightly interested in is practicing optometry as an OD (private practice, etc.) who does clinical trials and research in their practice. I do not have personal experience with this, but I was told that optometrists with MS/OD degrees are often contacted by pharmaceutical or research companies to do clinical trials or studies using new products.

A Master's is definitely NOT necessary to teach at an optometry school. A residency usually is. This is of course depending on what you are teaching...

The MS would be most useful for people interested in research whether it's clinical or more experimental. To that note, if you wanted to work at a school where you spend your time mostly doing research and teach a course then the MS may be more beneficial to you. If you want to do any clinical teaching the residency is pretty much a requirement.