Southern College of Optometry | © 2019 StudentBridge, Inc.
Student Services is the central area for Admissions & Enrollment, Student Recruitment, and Financial Aid. Located on the 11th floor of the tower along with the Office of the President, Academic Affairs, and Financial Affairs, the Student Services Department is where applicant interviews are held and prospective students are first introduced to the college.
In 2005, SCO alumnus Dr. Jerry Hayes, '73, and his wife Cris funded the establishment of the Hayes Center for Practice Excellence. With matching funds committed by the SCO Board of Trustees, an endowment was created to support the Hayes Center in its mission to teach independent optometrists the fundamentals of managing the business side of their practice, including strategic planning, budgeting, overhead control and profitability.
Located on the fifth floor of the SCO tower, SCO's Library prides itself on providing personalized library services to all of its students, faculty, and staff, as well as to its individual and institutional customers. The SCO library is home to VISIONET, a highly regarded comprehensive database of optometric and vision literature. The database is produced by staff at the SCO library, and is used internationally. VISIONET utilizes the entire journal collection of the SCO library.
A Square Meal serves as SCO's main campus meal facility for the campus community. An assortment of entrees, soups, salads, sandwiches, and desserts are served daily. Students may also use microwaves, vending machines, and meeting areas for dining. A Square Meal and the surrounding area provide a modern dining and study space for the SCO community.
SCO's Computer Labs also serve as a popular third-floor study location. Students may use PCs or Macs at no charge.
SCO's main classroom facilities are located in our North/South classrooms. Featuring a state-of-the-art technology called Tegrity, all lecture material is recorded and is accessible for playback and review throughout the four-year curriculum. Tegrity provides a fantastic study aid for midterm and final exams, as well as for the national board exams. Break-out rooms for smaller group instruction are also located in this facility.
Optometric Theory & Methods Labs for 1st and
SCO prides itself on how well it prepares students for success on the National Board Exams. The Eye Center Practice Suite provides students the opportunity to practice with an exact replica of the equipment they will use to complete part III of National Boards at the national headquarters in Charlotte, NC.
The Eye Center uses the most up-to-date and modern technology available in optometry to care for patients by diagnosing serious medical conditions that affect the eye. Students gain great experience with this technology to enhance their knowledge of the field, and to keep current with advancements in the profession.
The Eye Center's lobby serves as the main registration area for the college's full-service primary eye-care facility.
In the United States, optometry is recognized as the primary eye health and vision care profession. In The Eye Center's Adult Primary Care suite, students treat adult patients, supervised by clinical faculty. Full-scope family practice or primary care
All of the family practice services provided to older patients are available to children through the Pediatric Primary Care service. Doctors in this service area are particularly trained in the special needs of infants, pre-school and school-aged children. Many are nationally recognized as experts in pediatric vision.
The Eye Center's full service optical retail is staffed by 3rd year SCO students who assist trained opticians. The Optical in The Eye Center is one of the largest facilities of its kind in the Mid-south. Our patients may find a wide variety of fashion, safety and recreational eyewear. All of the eyewear options are fitted to the patient’s lifestyle and physical needs by an intern and optician who daily staff our facility.
Many of SCO's Vision Therapy faculty members are nationally known for their research and leadership in the areas of Vision Therapy, know as VT. From childhood learning to assisting patients with traumatic brain injuries caused by accidents or strokes, VT provides a unique kind of vision care.
Advanced Care Ocular Disease Service provides patients with specialized attention and care for their acute and chronic health disorders. Our doctors concentrate on advanced diagnostic testing and management of conditions such as glaucoma, the ocular effects of systemic conditions such as hypertension and diabetes, and many genetic disorders. We also provide ongoing care for retinal disorders and unique neurological conditions. Fluorescein Angiography is one of our advanced diagnostic testing procedures whereby we obtain images of the blood vessels from inside the eye.
SCO's Advanced Procedures Suite utilizes interprofessional education as our interns observe medical procedures performed by visiting doctors. The Suite also includes a digital observatory where students can watch surgical procedures be performed from remote locations.
SCO’s Activity Center is designed for the comfort and relaxation of our campus community. The Activity Center houses a gymnasium, including basketball and racquetball courts, as well as recreational rooms, physical fitness equipment and other amenities. Open to our students, their families, and faculty and staff, our Activity Center is free to use for your convenience. SCO students come from all over the country, and some even come from abroad. The college is proud of this tradition, and we aim to highlight this by displaying students’ alma maters in the lounge area of the Activity Center.