Master of Arts in Teaching Children Who Are Visually Impaired/Orientation and Mobility for Children

Advisor: Donna Lee
College of Health and Human Services

This dual degree program is offered through the Teaching Children Who Are Visually Impaired/Orientation and Mobility for Children program (SEOM) which is jointly administered by the Department of Blindness and Low Vision Studies and the Department of Special Education and Literacy Studies.

This 65 hour degree program prepares a dual competency practitioner who is able to serve in the schools as a teacher of children who are visually impaired and as an orientation and mobility specialist. Two degrees are offered in this option: One, a Master of Arts in Teaching Children Who Are Visually Impaired (from the Department of Special Education and Literacy Studies) and the other, a Master of Arts in Orientation and Mobility with a Concentration in Teaching Children (from the Department of Blindness and Low Vision Studies). Graduates of this program are eligible to become certified teachers and certified orientation and mobility specialists (COMS). It is also possible to specialize in only one of these degrees.

Program Requirements

The program requires the satisfactory completion of:

BLS 5840 - Computer Technology in Rehabilitation Credits: 3 hrs.
BLS 5880 - Psychosocial Aspects of Disability Credits: 2 hrs.
BLS 5900 - Physiology and Function of the Eye Credits: 2 hrs.
BLS 5910 - Braille and Tactual Communication Systems Credits: 2 hrs.
BLS 5920 - Orientation and Mobility with Children Credits: 3 hours
BLS 5930 - Methods of Teaching Adaptive Communications Credits: 2 hrs.
BLS 5950 - Introduction to Orientation and Mobility Credits: 2-4 hrs.
Credits: 4 hours needed
BLS 5970 - Principles and Practices of Low Vision Credits: 2 hrs.
BLS 6040 - Issues in Travel Credits: 2 hrs.
BLS 6050 - Practice in Low Vision Credits: 1 hr.
BLS 6060 - Adaptive Sports Activities for Visually Impaired Children Credits: 1 hr.
BLS 6070 - Adaptive Art Activities for Visually Impaired Children Credits: 1 hr.
BLS 6950 - Practicum in Orientation and Mobility Credits: 1-3 hrs.
Credits: 2 hours needed
BLS 7120 - Professional Field Experience Credits: 2-12 hrs.
Credits: 6 hours needed
FCS 6360 - Teaching for Independent Living Credits: 4 hrs.
SPED 5440 - Educating Individuals with Severe Impairments Credits: 3 hrs.
SPED 6010 - Acquisition and Analysis of Special Education Information Credits: 3 hours
SPED 6100 - Teaching Nemeth Code to Children Credits: 3 hours
SPED 6320 - Teaching Children Who Are Visually Impaired Credits: 4 hours
SPED 6370 - Research and Evaluation Techniques in Special Education Credits: 3 hours
SPED 6610 - Collaboration and Consultation in Special Education Credits: 3 hours
SPED 6740 - Intern Teaching in Special Education Credits: 6 hours
SPED 7120 - Professional Field Experience Credits: 2 to 12 hours
Credits: 2 hours needed

Additional Requirements

In addition, students will complete two 4-hour comprehensive exams (each program requires a comprehensive exam) as their capstone requirement.