Curricula
Degree Programme in Clinical Optometry
| Credits: | 90 |
| Type: | Master's Degree |
| Degree Programme: | Degree Programme in Clinical Optometry |
| Title: | Master of Health Care |
This education provides biomedical and specialized ocular sciences at the advanced level and gives you further competency to practice clinical optometry. In addition, you will learn to recognize ocular signs of systemic diseases that can be used as information for treating patients' general health, or that may lead to the previous detection of unidentified systemic health disorders. A multidisciplinary approach to manage patients who require treatment for their chronic and/or acute conditions and the need for appropriate referrals will also be taught.
This education is offered as a flexible part-time-based education, partly online, and partly on-campus. Education consists of 6 theory modules (clinical biomedicine and advanced ocular sciences) that also include clinical workshops. Four modules are offered annually. Contact teaching on campus lasts 2 days. After completion of theory modules, students will complete their mentor-guided research activities.
Structure of studies:
Methods of research and knowledge production module (10 ETCS)
Clinical biomedicine (15 ETCS)
Advanced ocular sciences (10 ETCS)
Neurology and neuro-optometry (10 ETCS)
Pharmacology (10 ETCS)
Electives (5 ETCS)*:
Binocular vision
Pediatric optometry
Specialty contact lenses
Low vision
Ocular surgery; Diagnostic pharmacology
Clinical biomedical research
Special training in primary eye care
*OUAS keeps the rights to what electives are offered in the current year.
Research 30 ETCS
Teaching is offered in English.
Career opportunities:
After graduation, you will be able to work independently as a clinical eye specialist; clinical instructor and lecturer, or a clinical researcher in different kinds of eye care organizations as a part of a multidisciplinary health care team on a national and international level.
Possible job titles after graduation:
Lead eye clinician / Lead optometrist
Hospital optometrist
Clinical instructor and lecturer
Clinical researcher
Postgraduate study opportunities:
Education provides the possibility to continue into the international doctoral level of studies.
Modules 1-6
MOptom: Module 1 Methods of Research and Knowledge Production (10 ETCS)
Fall Term 2020: 1.8.-31.12.2020
On-campus OR off-campus (online): Monday-Tuesday 24.-25.8.2020, 9am-7pm
Theoretical Framework (4 ECTS)
Instructor/s: Jaana Holappa-Girginkaya
Room/s: Classroom
Qualitative Research Methods (3 ECTS)
Instructor/s: Jaana Hoffren
Room/s: Classroom
Quantitative Research Methods (3 ECTS)
Instructor: Prof./Dr. Robert Andersson
Room/s: Classroom
MOptom: Module 2 Clinical Biomedicine Module (15 ETCS)
Spring Term 2021: 1.1.-31.3.2021
Off-campus (online): 1.1.-31.3.2021
Anatomy and physiology (2 ETCS)
Instructor/s: Heidi Vierimaa
Biochemistry and molecular biology (2 ETCS)
Instructor/s: Paula Reponen
Immunology (2 ETCS)
Instructor/s: Katja Nummilinna; Irja Parkkinen
Microbiology (2 ETCS)
Instructor/s: Parkkinen
Genes (2 ETCS)
Instructor/s: Paula Reponen
Off-campus (live online lectures): Dates announced later
Pathology and disease manifestations: Clinical examination of patients; evidence-based decision making in the implementation of clinical eye care and management of patients (4 ETCS)
Instructor/s: Prof./Dr. Robert Andersson
On-campus: Monday-Tuesday 15.-16.3.2021, 9am-7pm
General clinical procedures and laboratory test workshops (1 ETCS)
Lead Instructor: Prof./Dr. Robert Andersson
Room/s: Classroom and lab
MOptom: Moduli 3 Advanced Ocular Science and Neurology Module (10 ETCS)
Spring Term 2021: 1.3.-31.5.2021
Off-campus (live online): Dates announced later
Ocular anatomy and physiology (3 ETCS)
Instructors: Prof./Dr. Robert Andersson; Tuomas Juustila
Neurology and neuro-optometry: Clinical examination of patients; evidence-based decision making in the implementation of clinical eye care and management of patients (6 ETCS)
Instructors: Prof./Dr. Robert Andersson
On-campus: Monday-Tuesday 10.-11.5.2021, 9am-7pm
Clinical ocular procedures and laboratory test workshops (1 ETCS)
Instructors: Prof./Dr. Robert Andersson; Tuomas Juustila
Room: Classroom and lab
MOptom I: Moduli 4 Ocular Pathophysiology Module: Clinical examination of patients; evidence-based decision making in the implementation of clinical eye care and management of patients (10 ETCS)
Fall Term 2021: 1.8.-31.10.2021
Off-campus (live online): Dates announced later
Anterior segment disease (3 ETCS)
Instructor/s: Tuomas Juustila
Posterior segment disease (3 ETCS)
Instructor/s: Prof./Dr. Robert Andersson
Glaucoma (3 ETCS)
Instructor/s: Prof./Dr. Robert Andersson
On-campus: Monday-Tuesday 13.-14.9, 9am-7pm
Clinical ocular procedures and laboratory test workshops (1 ETCS)
Lead instructor: Prof./Dr. Robert Andersson
Room: Classroom and lab
MOptom I: Modules 5 and 6
Module 5. General and Ocular Pharmacology Module: Therapeutic pharmacology: Evidenced-based safe prescribing and legal and ethical considerations (10 ETCS)
and
Module 6. Advanced Visual Science Module (5 ETCS)
Fall Term 2021: 1.10.-31.12.2021
Off-campus (online): 1.10.-31.12.2021
General pharmacology and therapeutics (2 ETCS)
Instructor/s: Prof./Dr. Mashael Namaeh
Prescribing for general disorders (2 ETCS)
Instructors: Prof./Dr. Mashael Namaeh
Ocular pharmacology and therapeutics (2 ETCS)
Instructor/s: Prof./Dr. Mashael Namaeh
Elective Module 6: Announced later
Instructor/s: Prof./Dr. Robert Andersson
On-campus: Monday-Tuesday 22.-23.11
Prescribing for ocular disorders (3 ETCS)
Instructor/s: Prof. Nicholas Rumney
Room: Classroom
Elective Module 6: Announced later
Instructor/s: Prof./Dr. Robert Andersson
Clinical ocular procedures and laboratory test workshops (1 ETCS), 9am-7pm
Instructor/s: Prof./Dr. Robert Andersson
Room: Classroom and lab
The studies include a 30-credit research-oriented research development task, i.e., Master thesis. Students will start to work with their Master thesis immediately at the beginning of their studies. The thesis is typically a work-oriented development project that produces novel research data for the field of eye care. You can do your Masterwork in your workplace or even as a start-up plan for your own business. You can also do your thesis in the OUAS project.
Preparing the master thesis requires a systematic approach, content expertise, independent judgments on limiting the work, methodological competence, collaboration, interaction skills, presentation, and publishing skills.
The master thesis is a mentor-guided research project that represents students’ individual work. The final thesis, including the consultation and topic approval with the instructing lecturer, is started at the beginning of the studies. Students will continue their thesis throughout their studies until the second intensive period when the thesis should be finished. A number of online meetings and consultations with instructing lecturers are offered to help students with their thesis projects.
The key content areas are:
Assessment and management of the ocular and related systemic health conditions
Acting in a multidisciplinary healthcare organization
Conducting evidence-based research and using that for enhancing evidence-based clinical decision-making skills in an interdisciplinary healthcare organization