College of Education and Rehabilitation

Department of Graduate Studies in Vision Impairment

Students gain hands-on instruction and laboratory practice (using low vision simulators and blindfolds) in the methods and adaptive techniques.

Students are taught to write contracted Braille.

Professional Preparation Programs For
Teachers of Children with Visual and Multiple Disabilities

Master of Education and
Certificate Programs

Salus University College of Education and Rehabilitation offers a Master of Education degree program and a certificate program for Teachers of Children with Visual and Multiple Disabilities. These competency-based programs offer coursework and practical experiences that develop the necessary knowledge and skills required for the instruction of infants, children, and youth who are totally blind or visually impaired and those with multiple disabilities.

Students successfully completing the curriculum are prepared for certification by the state credentialing body in Pennsylvania. The master's degree program offers students the possibility of reciprocity of certification in other states.

Both programs are offered for part and full-time study, with coursework primarily online during the fall and spring semesters, and a ten week summer residency at Salus University for two summers.

Requirements for Certification

Individuals entering the program must meet the minimum requirements of the College of Education and Rehabilitation (see the Admissions Requirements) and the Pennsylvania Department of Education requirements, which must be met for certification. These requirements depend upon whether the individual already holds a teaching certificate in another area, or wishes to earn his or her initial certificate. Those applicants who enter the program without any teaching certificate are considered Initial Certificate Applicants. Those applicants who enter with an additional certificate already in hand are considered Advanced Certificate Applicants.

The following are the additional requirements for Initial and Advanced Applicants.

Students gain insight to the necessary skills.

Teacher of the Visually Impaired

In order to obtain a Pennsylvania certificate as a Teacher of the Visually Impaired the requirement listed below are required by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for Teacher Certification in Visual Impairment.

A candidate who does not hold a certificate in the Commonwealth is considered an applicant for Initial Certification.

A candidate who already holds a teaching certificate is considered an applicant for Advanced Certification.

Initial Certification

(for Candidates who do not hold a certificate in Pennsylvania):

Passing score on the PRAXIS I test series (reading, writing, mathematics)
Six (6) credits of college level English
Six (6) credits of college level Mathematics
Undergraduate degree with a minimum QPA of 3.0
Coursework in the area of Teaching of Reading
Salus University coursework in Human Development (or the equivalent)
Salus University coursework in Visual Impairment and Additional Disabilities
(Introduction to Special Education or the equivalent)

Advanced Certification

(for candidates with teacher certification who are adding the TVI certification):

Undergraduate degree with a minimum QPA of 3.0
Coursework in the area of Teaching of Reading
Salus University coursework in Human Development (or the equivalent)
Salus University coursework in Visual Impairment and Additional Disabilities
(Introduction to Special Education or the equivalent).

Upon completion of the program, Pennsylvania requires that the applicant take the appropriate PRAXIS examinations. These change from time to time, and should be verified with the Educational Testing Service as to requirements in Pennsylvania at the time of completion of the program.

Applicants to the Teacher of the Visually Impaired program must submit copies of current Pennsylvania and federal background clearances at the time of application to the program.

Student learn teaching strategies to assist individuals who are visually impaired.

Course Sequence and Prerequisites

Those individuals who wish to receive the Certificate as a Teacher of the Visually Impaired are assessed by transcript evaluation to assure that they have the requirements for certification listed above for either the Initial or Advanced Certificate. The Program Director and the student then jointly plan a program of studies which will accommodate either full or part time status and which will ensure appropriate course sequencing and integration. Some courses have prerequisites which must be taken into account in planning the program of studies. Students may enroll during any semester. The internship (student teaching) is the last course which students complete. (See Course Descriptions)

Those individuals who wish to receive the Master of Education degree in addition to Certification as a Teacher of the Visually Impaired, will complete an additional three courses. These are GS709 Critical Analysis of Research, GS 710 Functional Applications of Research, and GS 728 Children with Visual Impairment and Additional Disabilities. In addition, candidates must pass GS 731, the TVI Comprehensive Examination. In general, students who are seeking to complete the Master’s Degree on a part time status may do so in approximately two years and two semesters, depending upon the semester in which they begin classes. A student seeking to complete the Master’s Degree on a full time status may be able to complete it within a year and two semesters, again depending upon when the student enrolls.