Academics - New England College of Optometry
Skip to main site navigation
Academics
Your optometry education is an important decision; that’s why NECO makes every course, clinical exercise, and community interaction count.
With degree options, range of concentrations, a variety of clinical experiences, and other professional and service opportunities, you can tailor your NECO education to fit your career goals.
Degree Programs
We prepare doctors for the practice of optometry today—and to adapt to new technologies and evolving patient expectations for the future.
Student Learning Outcomes
NECO was founded in 1894 and is the longest continuously operating optometry school in the country.
Doctor of Optometry (Four-year program)
A strong foundation in visual, biomedical, and clinical sciences integrated with rich, diverse patient care experiences.
Our unique elective program provides the opportunity for advanced education in an area of personal interest with options for pursuing a postgraduate education.
Get Program Details
Accelerated OD Program
The AODP program is designed for scientists and physicians who have a doctoral-level science or medical degree. This 36-month program includes a full year of clinical rotations, engaging in full time patient care.
Get Program Details
Advanced Standing International Program
Our two-year OD program (ASIP) is for graduates of an international optometry prog
ram. Graduates bring their new knowledge and skills back to their countries, where many go on to assume leadership roles or advocate for legislation to expand the scope of practice in their countries.
Get Program Details
MS in Vision Science
A two-year, research-driven graduate program designed to prepare you for competitive residencies or expand academic and industry career opportunities.
Get Program Details
MS/OD China Program
A unique joint degree program through a partnership with China’s Wenzhou Medical University. Students are provided with the credentials needed to assume positions of leadership in China’s medical education and health care systems.
Get Program Details
OD/MS Dual Degree Program
Earn an MS in Vision Science while studying for the Doctor of Optometry (OD) degree. This dual degree is completed within the time frame of the four-year OD degree program and involves modifications to the course sequence.
Get Program Details
Leading the Profession
NECO faculty members are active researchers, respected clinicians, and industry leaders. They publish in journals, present at conferences, and practice in a range of healthcare and community settings.
24
faculty members
actively provide care at Boston-area health centers.
Significant scholarly activity
… in areas such as myopia development, low vision rehabilitation, color vision, and pediatric eye conditions.
2110
clinic hours
you'll have completed at the end of four years.
Meet Our Faculty
Voices of NECO
Engaged in your success
Ben Young, OD, FAAO
Helping students to become more confident in their knowledge base and technical skills. Often students enter NECO knowing very little about the eye, but they transform into working and thinking clinicians. Students often don’t realize how much they have grown themselves, but it is a pleasure to watch as a professor.
Assistant Professor of Optometry
Areas of Expertise: Ocular Disease, Primary Eye Care
Our Innovative Learning Spaces
NECO is home to thousands of square feet of high-tech classrooms, well-equipped research labs, interactive exam bays, and full-service clinics–plus a library and lots of quiet study spaces.
Take a Virtual Tour
The Clinical Training Center includes additional exam lanes for learning the latest technology.
The Innovation Center brought the latest equipment to clinical labs for students to test and learn on.
NECO has ION cameras in every exam lane in the Clinical Training Center.
College Curricula Notice
New England College of Optometry (NECO) makes every effort to be certain that the curricula provided are accurate as of the date of publication. While to NECO’s knowledge, the curriculum contains no erroneous, deceptive, or misleading omissions, NECO retains the right to amend, add or delete any information in the curriculum, including any course of study, subsequent to publication. Changes may be made on a periodic basis, and a comprehensive review is conducted once every seven years.
Learn more about us.
Request Information
Apply
Take a virtual tour of NECO