Overview of Program

The mission of the University of the Incarnate Word Rosenberg School of Optometry (UIWRSO) is to educate and prepare future leaders in optometry through excellence in education, patient care, and vision research. This is achieved in an environment committed to personal growth within a context of faith, human dignity and social justice.

We are the only optometry school in the country associated with a faith-based institution emphasizing individualized attention and placing a high importance on our student’s personal growth and development. In addition to our goal of graduating clinically proficient optometrists, UIWRSO is equally concerned with graduating well-rounded healthcare professionals. We challenge you to consider what it means to be a compassionate doctor and leader in the community.

The school is housed near the San Antonio Medical Center. Our modern primary facility includes multimedia classrooms, technologically-advanced clinical laboratories (including 2 different virtual reality platforms), library, computer lab, study areas, student lounge, faculty and administrative offices.

Academic Highlights

UIWRSO is committed to the success of each student enrolled in the professional program. Our rigorous curriculum, dynamic Faculty and strong student support combine to create a positive yet challenging academic environment. The curriculum has been developed to provide our students with a progressive, clinical educational experience throughout the four years of the professional program. The didactic & clinical laboratory instruction begins in the first year and continues through the duration of the program. All courses, including basic science courses, integrate and emphasize clinical applications & scenarios. Opportunities exist for clinical research through our Summer Fellowship Training Program as well as interaction with other medical and health care providers.

Clinical Highlights

Early clinical encounters occur in the second year of study through community based vision & disease screening activities. To emphasize these clinical activities, students undergo instruction in integrated clinical problem- based learning, gaining experience in the diagnosis, treatment and management of patients.

The professional settings for your third and fourth year rotations include the UIW Eye Institute, the UIW Bowden Eye Care & Health Center, and the southwest Communicare Clinic. Your fourth year externship sites vary in location across the country and internationally. Practice management is also focused on during this critical period, emphasizing the skills necessary to maintain a successful business or private practice.