Student Clubs & Organizations

Get Involved

Looking for a way to get involved? Whether you’re interested in providing vision services to underserved populations, providing (or receiving) tutoring, becoming involved with legislation impacting the profession of optometry, or are interested in the latest and most compelling journal articles, we have a club or organization for you.

American Optometric Association

The AOA is the acknowledged leader and recognized authority for eye and vision care around the world. By promoting doctors of optometry through advocacy, professional development, and practice management tools, the AOA is able to assist optometrists in improving the quality and availability of eye care to the public.

American Optometric Student Association (AOSA)

The AOSA is an organization committed to empowering students to thrive as doctors of optometry by providing student-focused, educational experiences and tools for success. It is the largest student-led optometric organization in the country, representing over seven thousand optometry students from twenty-five schools throughout the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.

Bay Area Optometric Council and Alameda & Contra Costa Counties Optometric Society

The Bay Area Optometric Council (BAOC) Board consists of the most influential members of the optometric community in the Bay Area, including: the presidents & president-elects of all 4 local societies, a COA Board of Trustees member, a VSP representative, and a UCBSO student representative among other members.

Beta Sigma Kappa (Peer-to-Peer Tutoring)

An international optometric honor society with more than 2,300 members worldwide. The mission of BSK is to stimulate scientific attainment, academic excellence, and the ethical practice of optometry, and to promote and provide financial support for worthy research projects relating to vision care and the eyes.

California Optometric Association (COA)

The COA is dedicated to making optometry a stronger, more cohesive, and visible profession.

Christian Medical and Dental Association (CMDA)

The Christian Medical and Dental Association (CMDA), formerly the separate entity known as Fellowship of Christian Optometrists (FCO), is a club that works to provide a space for
Christian optometrists.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (DEIB) Student Council

Established in 2020, the Berkeley Optometry Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (DEIB) Student Council recommends initiatives that weave DEIB into all aspects of optometric education with the goal of improving the campus experience for students of all races, ethnicities, identities and backgrounds.

Eyechat!

EyeChat! was founded in 2017 at Berkeley Optometry with the intent to bring student awareness and insight into unconventional career paths that exist after graduating from optometry school.

Gold Key International Optometric Honor Society

The Gold Key International Optometric Honor Society is highest honor for leadership a student of optometry can achieve. Induction into the Gold Key Society is to recognize optometry students who have demonstrated leadership to their class, college, and profession.

Graduate Assembly

The Graduate Assembly is UC Berkeley’s official legislative body for graduate and professional students. It provides a space for delegates to discuss issues that impact graduate students, the campus, the community.

Low Vision Club

The Low Vision Optometry Club at Berkeley aims to educate optometry students about the low vision profession by providing opportunities for students to explore residences and career paths, foster connections with low vision specialists, and shadow in various clinical settings.

Myopia Control Club

Myopia Control Club (MCC) at Berkeley aims to introduce students to the clinical aspects of evidence-based myopia control.

National Optometric Student Association (NOSA)

National Optometric Student Association (NOSA) is the student branch of the National Optometric Association (NOA). Their main focus is serving the minority and underserved communities through vision health care, and strive to promote diversity and inclusion within the optometry schools.

Optometric Business Management Club (OBM)

OBM’s purpose is to orient students with business management skills, communication skills, and knowledge about the industry required to succeed in the business world upon graduation.

Optometric Student Association (UCOSA)

Comprised of student representatives from each class, the University of California Optometric Student Association (UCOSA) represents the interests of students to the faculty. UCOSA also organizes vision care services through student-sponsored activities, student activities, textbook sales, and publication of the Berkeley Study Guide for national board exams.

Business Management Immersion Program (BMIP)

The Business Management Immersion Program (BMIP) is an opportunity for optometry students to fully immerse themselves in the world of private practice for two days.

Student American Academy of Optometry (SAAO)

The Berkeley Optometry Student Chapter of the American Academy of Optometry (SAAO) reflects the values of the American Academy of Optometry (AAO) at the student level by promoting the art and science of vision care through lifelong learning.

Vision Development Club (VDC)

VDC is a professional student organization at UCBSO that aims to promote awareness of the prospects of vision therapy early in students’ optometric education. Club members will be exposed to topics such as visual perceptual training, accommodative and vergence training, sports vision, traumatic brain injury, and stroke rehabilitation.

Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity (VOSH)

Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity (VOSH) International is an organization aimed to provide the gift of vision and eye health to people worldwide, especially to those in underserved communities. VOSH at Berkeley is a student chapter affiliated with VOSH that utilizes Berkeley student volunteers for service trips locally and internationally.

Information about creating a new registered student organization can be found here. You should also discuss your intent and plans with our Assistant Director of Student Affairs in Admissions & Student Affairs.