Southern College of Optometry

What is the history of Southern College of Optometry?

Southern College of Optometry (SCO) was founded in Memphis in 1932 to educate optometrists. Its identity remains centered on professional optometry education rather than a broad range of undergraduate majors.

Over time, SCO expanded beyond classroom instruction to include clinical training, patient care, research, and continuing education. Its Eye Center is an important part of that development: students learn in a setting where optometrists provide care to patients. For prospective students, the history is most relevant as context for the college's specialized curriculum and clinical focus.

What are the faculties and departments at Southern College of Optometry?

SCO is a specialized professional college, not a university divided into separate arts, business, and engineering schools. Its central academic program is the Doctor of Optometry (OD), a professional degree designed for students who have completed substantial college-level preparation.

OD students study subjects such as ocular anatomy, optics, visual science, diagnosis, and the management of eye disease. They also develop patient-care skills through clinical training. SCO offers postgraduate optometric residency training and continuing education for practicing professionals. An applicant seeking a bachelor's degree or a general undergraduate major should distinguish those goals from SCO's professional program.

What is the location of Southern College of Optometry?

Southern College of Optometry is in Memphis, Tennessee, at 1245 Madison Avenue. Its urban setting places students near health-care institutions and neighborhoods where they may live, commute, and complete clinical activities.

Students considering the location should account for travel between classes, clinical assignments, and housing; a clinical placement may not be within walking distance of the main campus. Memphis International Airport serves the region. A prospective student comparing apartments should consider the full commute, including parking or transportation arrangements, rather than distance to campus alone.

What is the mission and vision of Southern College of Optometry?

SCO's stated purpose centers on educating optometrists, advancing eye care, and serving patients. Its academic and clinical activities reflect a professional-school model in which scientific knowledge, clinical judgment, and patient communication are developed together.

The college also emphasizes service and lifelong learning. Those are statements of institutional priorities, not measures of any individual graduate's experience. Applicants can assess how the priorities appear in the curriculum by examining supervised clinical requirements, patient-care opportunities, and residency options.