Visual Impairments Master's Degree Program
The Visual Impairments specialization covers a range of topics such as the Unified English Braille code, Assistive Technology for Students with Visual Impairments, and the Expanded Core Curriculum. Candidates learn how to support their students in developing social skills, succeeding academically, and more.
Two Degree Tracks
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birth - 5
Candidates prepare to serve children, ages birth through five, in home-based and preschool settings.
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K - 12
Candidates prepare to work in specialized classrooms or inclusive/itinerant settings with students from kindergarten through twelfth grade.
M.Ed. K-12 with Endorsement Course Requirements
48-50 total credit hours Requirements PDF
Teacher Education Core (9 credit hours)
Students who hold a valid Utah teaching license in Special Education may not need to complete the following courses. Check with your faculty advisor.
| Number | Course Name | Credits | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| SP ED 5011 | Inclusive Early Childhood & Elementary Classrooms | 3 | Fall, Spring |
| SP ED 6022 | Principles of Instruction & Behavior Support | 3 | Fall, Spring, Summer |
| SP ED 6040 | Legal & Policy Foundations of Special Education | 3 | Spring, Summer |
Specialization in Visual Impairments (31-35 credit hours)
| Number | Course Name | Credits | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| SP ED 6410 |
Introduction to Visual Impairments Pre-requisite for ALL VI Specialization Courses |
1 | Summer |
| SP ED 6420 | Social and Psychological Implications of Visual Impairments | 2 | Summer |
|
SP ED 6430 SP ED 6432
|
Ocular Disorders and Examination Techniques Educational Implications for Individuals with Low Vision Taken concurrently |
2 2
|
Fall Fall
|
| SP ED 6435 |
Early Literacy for Young Children with Visual Impairments |
2 | Summer |
| SP ED 6441 |
Literary Braille Codes |
3 | Fall |
| SP ED 6442 |
Advanced Braille Codes and Abacus Instruction Pre-requisite SP ED 6441 |
3 | Spring |
| SP ED 6450 |
Teaching Children who are DeafBlind |
3 | Summer |
| SP ED 6460 |
Introduction to Orientation and Mobility |
2 | Summer |
| SP ED 6470 |
Instructional Management for Students with Visual Impairments Pre-requisites SP ED 6410, 6420, 6430, 6441, 6443, 6450, 6460 |
3 | Spring |
| SP ED 6480 |
Assistive Technology for Students with Visual Impairments Pre-requisites SP ED 6410, 6441, 6442 |
3 | Summer |
| SP ED 6495 |
Understanding the Brain, CVI & TBI |
2 | Fall |
| SP ED 6500 |
Student Teaching: Students with Visual Impairments (5-21)
|
5-9 | Fall, Spring |
AdvancedGraduate Core (5 credit hours)
| Number | Course Name | Credits | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| SP ED 6054 | Professional Writing in Education | 2 | Fall, Spring, Summer |
| SP ED 6610 | Principles of Instruction & Behavior Support | 3 | Summer |
M.Ed. Birth-5 with Endorsement Course Requirements
95 Minimum total credit hours requirements PDF
Teacher Education Core (15 credit hours)
| Number | Course Name | Credits | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| SP ED 5011 | Inclusive Early Childhood and Elementary Classrooms | 3 | Fall, Spring |
| SP ED 6021 | Principles of Assessment and Data-Based Decision Making | 3 | Fall, Spring, Summer |
| SP ED 6022 | Principles of Instruction & Behavior Support | 3 | Fall, Spring, Summer |
| SP ED 6030 | Functional Communication and Language Development | 3 | Spring, Summer |
| SP ED 6040 | Legal & Policy Foundations of Special Education | 3 | Spring, Summer |
Specialization in Visual Impairments (25-28 Credit Hours)
| Number | Course Name | Credits | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| SP ED 6410 |
Introduction to Visual Impairments Pre-requisite for all VI Specialization Courses |
1 | Summer |
| SP ED 6420 | Social and Psychological Implications of Visual Impairments | 2 | Summer |
| SP ED 6430 | Ocular Disorders and Examination Techniques | 2 | Summer |
| SP ED 6435 | Early Literacy for Young Children with Visual Impairments | 2 | Summer |
| SP ED 6440 | Literary Braille Code for Early Childhood Special Educators | 2 | Fall |
| SP ED 6450 | Teaching Children who are Deafblind | 3 | Summer |
| SP ED 6462 | Introduction to Orientation & Mobility for Young Children with Visual Impairments | 1 | Summer |
| SP ED 6482 | Assistive Technology for Young Children with Visual Impairments | 2 | Summer |
| SP ED 6490 |
Instructional Strategies for Young Children with Visual Impairments Pre-requisites 6410, 6420, 6430, 6435, 6440, 6443, 6450, 6462, 6495 |
4 | Spring |
| SP ED 6495 | Understanding the Brain, CVI, and TBI | 2 | Fall |
|
Student Teaching |
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| SP ED 6700 |
Student Teaching: Visual Impairments (Birth-5) May possibly be concurrent with SP ED 6390 and/or SP ED 6400 if all coursework is complete |
4-7 | Fall, Spring, Summer |
Specialization in Preschool Special Ed (32 Credit Hours)
| Number | Course Name | Credits | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| SP ED 6260 | Transdisciplinary Approaches for Students with Severe Disabilities | 3 | Spring |
| SP ED 6310 | Curriculum and Programming for Preschool Children with Developmental Delays | 3 | Fall |
| SP ED 6320 | Communication, Social, and Play Development and Intervention | 3 | Fall |
| SP ED 6330 | Field Studies I: Early Childhood | 4 | Fall, Spring |
| SP ED 6340 | Individualizing for Diverse Learning Needs | 3 | Fall |
| SP ED 6350 | Collaborative Early Intervention for Infants and Toddlers with Developmental Delays | 3 | Spring |
| SP ED 6360 | Supporting Young Children with Developmental Delays in Natural Environments | 3 | Spring |
| SP ED 6370 | Early Childhood Seminar | 2 | Spring |
| SP ED 6390 |
Student Teaching: Early Intervention May possibly be concurrent with SP ED 6700 if all coursework is complete |
4 | Fall, Spring, Summer |
| SP ED 6400 |
Student Teaching: Preschool May possibly be concurrent with SP ED 6700 if all coursework is complete |
4 | Fall, Spring |
AdvancedGraduate Core (5 credit hours)
| Number | Course Name | Credits | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| SP ED 6054 | Professional Writing in Education | 2 | Fall, Spring, Summer |
| SP ED 6610 | Introduction to Research Design | 3 | Summer |
M.S. with Endorsement Course Requirements
81-89 total credit hours requirements PDF
Teacher Education Core (18 credit hours)
Students who hold a valid Utah teaching license in Special Education may not need to complete the following courses. Check with your faculty advisor.
| Number | Course Name | Credits | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| SP ED 5011 | Inclusive Early Childhood and Elementary Classrooms | 3 | Fall, Spring |
| SP ED 6022 | Principles of Instruction and Behavior Support | 3 | Fall, Spring, Summer |
| SP ED 6030 | Functional Communication | 3 | Spring, Summer |
| SP ED 6040 | Legal & Policy Foundations of Special Education | 3 | Spring, Summer |
| ED PS 6315 |
Reading Methods K-3 Upper Division Communication/Writing Requirement |
3 | Contact Department |
|
Choose One of the Following Three Courses |
|||
|
EDU 6314
|
Reading Practicum K-3 Early Steps | 1 | Contact Department |
|
EDU 6316
|
Reading Practicum K-3 Next Steps |
1 | Contact Department |
| EDU 6321 |
Reading Practicum 4-6 Higher Steps |
1 | Contact Department |
Specialization in Visual Impairments (32-36 credit hours)
| Number | Course Name | Credits | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| SP ED 6410 | Introduction to Visual Impairments | 1 | Summer |
| SP ED 6420 | Social and Psychological Implications of Visual Impairment | 2 | Summer |
| SP ED 6430 | Ocular Disorders & Examination Techniques | 2 | Fall |
| SP ED 6432 | Educational Implications for Individuals with Low Vision | 2 | Fall |
| SP ED 6435 | Early Literacy for Young Children with Visual Impairments | 2 | Summer |
| SP ED 6441 | Literary Braille Codes | 3 | Fall |
| SP ED 6442 | Advanced Braille Codes & Abacus Instruction | 3 | Spring |
| SP ED 6450 | Teaching Children who are Deafblind | 2 | Summer |
| SP ED 6460 | Introduction to Orientation and Mobility | 2 | Summer |
| SP ED 6470 | Instructional Management for Children with Visual Impairments | 3 | Spring |
| SP ED 6480 | Assistive Technology for Students with Visual Impairments | 3 | Summer |
| SP ED 6495 | Understanding the Brain, CVI & TBI | 2 | Fall |
| SP ED 6500 | Student Teaching Students with Visual Impairments (5-21) | 5-9 | Fall, Spring |
Advanced Graduate Core (5 credit hours)
| Number | Course Name | Credits | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| SP ED 6054 | Professional Writing in Education | 2 | Fall, Spring, Summer |
| SP ED 6610 | Introduction to Research Methods | 3 | Summer |
