Visual Impairment Specialization in Special Education

Make a difference in the lives of children and youth who are blind or visually impaired.

The Visual Impairment (VI) specialization area focuses on children and adolescents who are visually impaired or blind, ranging in age from birth to age 21.  This program addresses several aspects of VI including characteristics, assessment, braille code, methods/strategies, orientation/mobility, and application in a field setting.

Courses are available in visual impairment and early intervention as well as working with students with multiple disabilities. This program features small class sizes in order to offer personalized learning experiences. It is the only program of its kind in the region to be offered entirely online.

This specialization is part of the Special Education graduate degree program:

• The M.Ed. in Special Education is designed for individuals seeking initial licensure.
• The M.S. in Special Education is designed for individuals who hold a teaching license and are seeking advanced training.

Top Visual Impairment Specialization Program

• UND's Special Education M.Ed. degree ranks #12 on the Top 60 Best Online Master's in Special Education 2022 by TopEducationDegrees.org.
• UND's Special Education M.S. degree was awarded Best in the Midwest by Intelligent.com and is ranked #12 overall on their Best Online Master's In Special Education Programs of 2022 list.
• UND's Special Education graduate program is listed on the Top 20 Best Online Master's in Special Education Degree Programs by the Masters in Special Education Program Guide.

Apply to UND

Those interested in pursuing a master's degree in Special Education with a specialization in Visual Impairment should first apply and gain admission to the University of North Dakota.

Special Education Resident Teacher Program

Students who reside in North Dakota are eligible to apply to the Special Education Resident Teacher Program (SERTP). All students in Special Education may apply, but admission to SERTP is not guaranteed. Paraeducators are highly encouraged to apply.

Special Education Resident Teacher Program

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