Blind and Visually Impaired (All Grades)
Program Overview
Graduates of the Blind and Visually Impaired program will be prepared to work with diverse individuals who are blind or visually impaired in a wide range of settings. New York State certified Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments (TSVI or TVI), work with young people in grades K-12 who may be blind or have low vision. TVIs work in a variety of educational settings, including residential schools for the blind or as itinerant teachers in public and private schools in New York City, Long Island, upstate New York, and beyond. You will learn how to teach assistive technology, braille, orientation and mobility, and all components of the Expanded Core Curriculum.
Coursework and Clinical Experiences
Courses are offered in the afternoon and evening. Select courses have required hours of classroom experience (fieldwork) in a New York City public school. Students also participate in supervised teaching (student teaching and/or practicum) as the culmination of their course of study. Student teaching and/or practicum requires five full days per week for at least one semester.
Credits
32-41
Certification
Teacher of the Blind and Visually Impaired (PreK-12)
Eligibility and Admission Requirements
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a GPA of at least 3.0; or a master’s degree from an accredited institution with a GPA of at least 3.5
- A liberal arts or science major or interdisciplinary concentration of at least 30 credits
- Applicants must have coursework that includes either:
- A general liberal arts & sciences distribution of credits to include the arts; career development and occupational studies; English language arts; health, physical education, and family and consumer sciences; world languages; mathematics, science and technology; and social studies.
- OR, a major in English, a world language other than English, biology, chemistry, earth science, physics, mathematics, or social studies (provided the social studies major includes study in economics, government, and at least a total of 21 semester hours of study in the history and geography of the United States and the world).
- Two letters of recommendation.
- A personal statement
- Evidence of work, volunteer, or personal experience with individuals with visual impairments.
To Apply
This program accepts applications each fall and spring semester.
We’re launching a new graduate admission application! The application will be available in late summer 2025. While you wait for the application to launch, view the How to Apply page for full application requirements. Join our School of Education email list for updates.
Application Deadlines
Fall Start
- March 15
Spring Start
- October 15
Visit How to Apply for information about deadline extensions.