There will be no new students accepted in the program for Academic year 2024-2025. Current students should reach out to an academic counselor to create an academic plan to complete their remaining optical technology courses by the end of Summer 2025 semester.
Dispensing opticians are those professionals who fit eyeglasses or contact lenses as prescribed by an Ophthalmologist or Optometrist. These professionals analyze prescriptions along with the patient's occupation and habits in order to make recommendations about lenses and spectacle frames. Licensed opticians may work in retail, laboratory, or private practice settings.
Program contact: Learn more
This degree program contains one or more embedded certificates which will be automatically awarded when the certificate requirements are completed. If you do not want to receive the embedded certificate(s), please notify the Office of the Registrar at RegistrarOffice@tri-c.edu.
There will be no new students accepted in the program for Academic year 2024-2025. Current students should reach out to an academic counselor to create an academic plan to complete their remaining optical technology courses by the end of Summer 2025 semester.
Program Learning Outcomes
This program is designed to prepare students to demonstrate the following learning outcomes:
- Communicate verbally and in writing to clients, colleagues, and other professionals.
- Design eyewear by combining accurate physiognomic measurements with knowledge of ocular anatomy, geometric optics and prescription analysis.
- Demonstrate proficiency in the operation and function of equipment and tools used in the fabrication and verification of eyewear.
- Perform all tasks associated with the fitting and dispensing of eyewear.
- Apply knowledge of ocular physiology and of local, state and federal guidelines in order to maintain accurate medical records.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the ophthalmic profession and optical manufacturing process.
- Work within the safety standards that govern opticianry.
- Discuss Ohio and national statutes that govern opticianry.
- Conduct him/herself in a professional manner at all times.
Suggested Semester Sequence
| Summer Start | Credit Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| MATH-1190 | Algebraic and Quantitative Reasoning (or Any Approved Ohio Transfer 36 Mathematics course) 1 | 3 |
| OPT-1100 | Introduction to Optical Technology | 1 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| College Composition I | ||
| Honors College Composition I | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| General Psychology | ||
| Honors General Psychology | ||
| Credit Hours | 10 | |
| First Semester | ||
| BIO-1230 | Anatomy and Physiology of the Eye | 4 |
| OPT-1310 | Theoretical Optics I | 2 |
| OPT-1400 | Introduction to Fabrication Principles | 1 |
| OPT-1411 | Basic Spectacle Fabrication | 1 |
| OPT-1510 | Optical Dispensing I | 3 |
| OPT-1610 | Contact Lens I | 2 |
| Credit Hours | 13 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| OPT-1320 | Theoretical Optics II | 2 |
| OPT-1421 | Advanced Spectacle Fabrication | 1 |
| OPT-1520 | Optical Dispensing II | 3 |
| OPT-1621 | Contact Lens II | 2 |
| PHYS-1300 | Physics of Optical Materials | 4 |
| Credit Hours | 12 | |
| Third Semester | ||
| OPT-1710 | Introduction to Patient Care | 3 |
| OPT-2501 | Optical Business | 3 |
| OPT-2550 | Advanced Optical Dispensing Lab | 1 |
| OPT-2620 | Advanced Contact Lens Theory | 1 |
| OPT-2650 | License Review Spectacle | 1 |
| OPT-2940 | Optical Field Experience I | 2 |
| OPT-2972 | Optical Field Experience Seminar I | 2 |
| Credit Hours | 13 | |
| Fourth Semester | ||
| OPT-2660 | License Review Contact Lens | 1 |
| OPT-2702 | Refractometry | 2 |
| OPT-2950 | Optical Field Experience II | 2 |
| OPT-2982 | Optical Field Experience Seminar II | 2 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| College Composition II | ||
| Honors College Composition II | ||
| Fundamentals of Speech Communication | ||
| Honors Speech Communication | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Bioethics | ||
| Honors Bioethics | ||
| Credit Hours | 13 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 61 | |
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MATH-1100 Mathematical Explorations or MATH-1240 Contemporary Mathematics taken prior to Fall 2024 will be accepted to meet mathematics requirement for this program.
MATH-1140, MATH-1141, MATH-1200, MATH-1270, and MATH-1280 can no longer count towards fulfilling the college-level mathematics requirement. These courses were re-classified as developmental mathematics by the state of Ohio in 2016. Tri-C established a 5-year transitioning window for students who had completed these courses prior to 2016 to apply them towards meeting graduation requirements, which expired in Summer 2021. It is highly recommended to see a counselor to determine the appropriate math required for your current major.