Vision Education Professionals

Dominican College - Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments

Dominican University New York offers graduate programs for an MS in Education or a state teaching license in New York for teachers of students with visual impairments. These programs are available both part-time and full-time, with coursework primarily conducted online. The program requires a minimum of 9 credit hours and a maximum of 24 credit hours, depending on prior coursework. Financial aid options include grants, scholarships, employee discounts and reimbursements, and alternative loans. For more information, please contact Ms. Yvette Blitzer.

Hunter College - Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments

This certificate program leads to a state teaching license in New York. Programing is offered online or face-to-face. This graduate level program consists of 22 credit hours. Please contact Loretta Brady for more information. lbrady@hunter.cuny.edu

Hunter College also offers a program in severe and multiple disabilities which includes coursework focused on deaf-blindness.

Hunter College - Orientation and Mobility

The orientation and mobility graduate certificate offered through Hunter College is an 18 credit hour program. Courses may be taken face-to-face or online with some face-to-face requirements. Please contact Dr. Grace Ambrose-Zaken for more information. gambrose@hunter.cuny.edu

Additional programming offered by Hunter College is a graduate certificate in rehabilitation therapy.

Indiana State University – Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments

Indiana State University offers an online Visual Impairment Teaching Licensure Program designed to prepare Indiana teachers to work with students who are blind or have low vision. The program is made possible by the Promoting Achievement for Students with Sensory Loss (PASS) grant, which is funded by the Indiana Department of Education through the Blumberg Center. For more information, contact Jennifer.mesanovic@indstate.edu

Kutztown University – Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments

Kutztown University offers coursework leading to teacher certification (in Pennsylvania) at both the undergraduate and graduate level. Undergraduate classes are offered full-time, face-to-face. The 21 credit hour, graduate level certificate classes are offered full-time, in a hybrid setting. Please contact Dr. Nicole Johnson for more information. njohnson@kutztown.edu

Marshall University – Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments

This graduate certificate program is only open to students who reside in West Virginia. The 30 credit hour program is primarily offered online with some face-to-face meetings. Face-to-face meetings take place on weekends in the central most location for the students who are enrolled at the time. Grant funding is available for in-state students. Please contact conner4@marshall.edu for more information.

Salus at Drexel University – Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments

Salus University offers a graduate-level certificate program to obtain teacher licensure as a teacher of students with visual impairments. The 43.5 credit hour program may be completed full-time or part-time. The majority of coursework is offered online with some face-to-face requirements. Funding is available through a federal grant. Please contact Ms. Kerry Lueders for more information. klueders@salus.edu

Salus at Drexel University - Low Vision Rehabilitation

Students may a graduate certificate in low vision rehabilitation. The coursework is offered part- or full-time, and completers are eligible for national certification. The 31.5 credit hour program is primarily offered online with some face-to-face requirements. Funding is available through a federal grant. Please contact Ms. Kerry Lueders for more information. lasmith@salus.edu

Salus at Drexel University – Vision Rehabilitation Therapy

The 41.5 credit hour certificate in vision rehabilitation therapy offered at Salus University is an online program which requires some face-to-face meetings. Individuals who complete the graduate level certificate are eligible to sit for the national certification exam. Coursework is offered on a part-time basis. Funding is available through a federal grant. Please contact Ms. Lachelle Smith for more information. lasmith@salus.edu

Salus at Drexel University - Orientation and Mobility

This full-time graduate program is 30 credit hours of online and face-to-face coursework. Individuals who complete the certificate are eligible to sit for the national certification exam. Funding is available through a federal grant. Please contact Dr. Fabiana Perla for more information. fperla@salus.edu

Shawnee State University – Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments

This 22 credit hour program offers graduate level coursework leading to licensure as a Teacher of the Visually Impaired. The program is designed to be completed in one year and applicants must hold a valid Ohio teaching license. The coursework is primarily online with extensive face-to-face field experiences and is delivered through a consortium of Ohio Institutions of Higher Education, with Shawnee State University as the Lead Institution. Funding for tuition and books is contingent on a state-funded grant and a three-year service agreement. Please contact Dr. Karen Koehler for more information kkoehler@shawnee.edu

The Ohio State University - Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments

The Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments Program at The Ohio State University is offered as both a graduate certificate leading to teacher certification or as a master’s of education. Both options are offered online with periodic classwork conducted face-to-face. The certificate program in offered part-time while the master’s program is offered on either a part-time or full-time basis. Beginning in fall 2018, students will have the additional option of studying to become as teacher of students with visual impairments in conjunction with early childhood education. Program admission is competitive, and availability is contingent on a funded state-level grant. Program has been funded since 2009. The grant provides support for tuition and general fees. Please contact Dr. Tiffany Wild for more information. wild.13@osu.edu

A new undergraduate option to become certified as a teacher of students with visual impairment began in Fall 2017.

The Ohio State University - Orientation and Mobility

This graduate certificate program is offered part-time. Coursework is primarily offered online with some class meetings on campus. The certificate is 20 – 23 credit hours dependent on prior coursework. Program admission is competitive, and availability is contingent on a funded state-level grant. Program has been funded since 2009. The grant provides support for tuition and general fees. Please contact Dr. Peter Paul for more information. paul.3@osu.edu

University of Kentucky - Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments

The University of Kentucky program offers graduate level teacher certification in visual impairments as an initial teaching certification, an alternative certificate for individuals currently work as teachers of students with visual impairments who lack certification, and as an add-on endorsement to complement a current teaching certification. The 30 credit hour program is part-time with coursework being completed both online and face-to-face. Grant funding is available for in-state students. Please contact Dr. Donna Brostek-Lee for additional information. donna.b.lee@uky.edu

University of Kentucky - Orientation and Mobility

The Master of Arts Program in Orientation and Mobility (O&M) prepares individuals to provide instruction related to knowledge and skills for independent travel for children and adults with visual impairments. Contact the program to learn more about possible tuition support funded through the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE), donna.b.lee@uky.edu.

University of Pittsburgh - Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments

The Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments (TVI) program at the University of Pittsburgh School of Education will equip you with the specialized knowledge and hands-on experiences needed to thrive as a new teacher. The curriculum will prepare you for state certification to teach in preK-12 classrooms and features a TVI graduate certificate (29 credits) whose courses lead to state certification and the option to add on a master’s degree in education for an additional six credits (35 credits total). Please contact Dr. Tessa McCarthy for more information. tessam@pitt.edu

University of Pittsburgh – Orientation and Mobility

Graduates of the University of Pittsburgh orientation and mobility certificate program are eligible to sit for national certification. A master’s degree can be obtained with the addition of 12 credit hours. The graduate certificate is 32 credit hours, with a “fast track” option for students who are certified as teachers of students with visual impairments. Federal grant funding is available. Out-of-state students are eligible for the in-state tuition rate. Merit scholarships are available. Please contact Dr. Tessa McCarthy for more information. tessam@pitt.edu

Western Michigan University - Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments

Upon completion of this 49-credit graduate Master of Arts as a Teacher of Children with Visual Impairment, students are eligible for a state teaching license in visual impairments (in Michigan). Admission to the program requires at least a bachelor’s degree and/or teacher certification in your state. Courses are offered in both an on-campus format or as a hybrid model which is primarily online with some face-to-face experiences. Funding is available through federal grants, departmental scholarships, and graduate assistantships. For more information, please contact robert.wall@wmich.edu.

Western Michigan University – Orientation and Mobility

A Master of Arts in Orientation and Mobility with Children can be earned through a 39 graduate credit program at Western Michigan University, which may lead to the national certification in O&M through ACVREP.  Admission to the program requires a 4-year degree in any field.  Courses are offered in both an on-campus format or as a hybrid model which is primarily online with some face-to-face experiences.  Funding is available through federal grants, departmental scholarships, and graduate assistantships.  For more information, please contact robert.wall@wmich.edu.

Interested in programs that are available nationwide?

AER

AER provides this list of university personnel preparation programs with a focus on Orientation & Mobility, Teacher of the Visually Impaired, Low Vision, Assistive Technology, and Vision Rehabilitation Therapy.