Blind and Visually Impaired for NYS Certified Teachers
Program Overview
This master’s program will prepare you to teach learners who are blind or visually impaired in diverse PreK-12 settings including residential schools for the blind, classroom programs and itinerant teaching settings in public and private schools.
Credits: 40-41
Certification: Teacher of the Blind and Visually Impaired
Eligibility & Admission Requirements
For applicants who hold Early Childhood, Childhood, PreK-Grade 6, Middle Childhood or Adolescent Education NYS certification.
- 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; plus
- NYS initial, professional, or permanent certification in Early Childhood, Childhood, PreK-grade 6, Middle Childhood or Adolescent Education. Those holding permanent certification must either show proof that they have satisfied the New York State requirements regarding wellness, child abuse, drug abuse, fire safety, and violence prevention or take HED 715, a 1-credit course covering these topics
- A statement of purpose
- Two letters of recommendation
- An official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score report. Certified teachers who hold graduate degrees are exempt from this requirement.
Note: International applicants who need an F-1 or J-1 Visa are not currently eligible for this program.
To Apply
Applications are accepted each Fall and Spring semester.
To start your application, click here.
When applying to this program under Program of Study, select School of Education – Special Education and Blind and Visually Impaired with prior NYS Childhood Teacher Cert.
Application Deadlines
Fall Start: March 15
Spring Start: October 15
Visit How to Apply for information about deadline extensions.
Related Programs
If you hold a Master’s Degree in Special Education you may be eligible for a one of our Specialized Additional Teaching Certificate programs in Teacher of the Blind and Visually Impaired or Blind and Visually Impaired – Orientation and Mobility