Blind and Visually Impaired – Orientation and Mobility (Advanced Certificate)
Welcome to the Blind and Visually Impaired – Orientation and Mobility (Advanced Certificate) program home page. Use this page as a guide to the Blind and Visually Impaired – Orientation and Mobility (Advanced Certificate) program from acceptance to graduation.
This post-master’s, advanced certificate program is designed to prepare certified Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments and/or Vision Rehabilitation Teachers (VRT) who have Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals (ACVREP) certification to become Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialists (COMS).
Academic Plan
ORMOB-AC
Total Credits
Earn at least 20 credits
Advisors
- Caitlin Graham, Faculty Advisor, cg4359@hunter.cuny.edu
- L. Beth Brady, Faculty Advisor (on leave)
- Valerie J. Lyons, Administrative Advisor
Newly Accepted Students
Getting Started and Orientation
New Student Checklist
Welcome to the School of Education! Visit the Newly Accepted Students page for a checklist to get you started at Hunter College.
New Student Support
If at any point you need support, please reach out to our New Student Liaison at newsoest@hunter.cuny.edu or make an appointment.
Orientations
Students will attend three orientations to cover all the information needed to start your program:
- General New Student Orientation
- Program Advising Session
- Clinical Experiences and Fingerprinting Orientation
See “Program Related Events” for details about upcoming sessions.
Financing Your Degree
Visit the Financing Your Degree page for information.
Fingerprint Clearance Requirements
All students in teacher preparation programs as well as programs in school counseling need to be fingerprinted so that they are cleared to work with children in various settings including New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) public schools, charter networks, and other organizations. Visit the Fingerprinting page for requirements and procedures.
Program Sequences
Consult the program sequence for a suggested order of courses for the program based on start date. It also includes when to take certification exams and apply for clinical experiences in addition to other important non-course requirements. For technical registration support and troubleshooting, please visit the Register for Classes page.
Hunter College Catalog
Use the Hunter College Course Catalog to review descriptions of specific courses and academic progress standards for the program along with exit requirements.
Clinical Experiences
Students in the Blind and Visually Impaired – Orientation and Mobility (Advanced Certificate) program participate in developmental field experiences (fieldwork), and one semester of internship.
Fieldwork
Fieldwork is a classroom experience in a New York City Public School in conjunction with a course. Select courses have fieldwork requirements.
Registration
Registration permission is not required. Students register for all courses through CUNYfirst.
Placement
For courses with fieldwork components, students are responsible for identifying placement within New York State after attending class and receiving instructions from their instructor.
Fieldwork Hours Time Record Form
Internship
All students participate in internship hours as the culmination of your course of study. Students who complete all required courses with a grade of “B” or higher are eligible to register for Rehabilitation Teaching and Orientation and Mobility internship course. The following course is required in the same semester students are completing internship hours at a school, local education agency or vision rehabilitation agency.
- SPED 767
Certification and Licensure
Graduates of this program will be eligible to obtain national certification from the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals (ACVREP) as orientation and mobility specialists. This program does not lead to New York State certification.
Graduation
Graduation is the official completion of your program and conferral of an academic degree. In order to graduate, students must apply for graduation using CUNYFirst the semester before the semester of their planned graduation and complete any outstanding requirements by the stated deadlines. Visit the Graduation and Commencement page for complete information.