Plan Your Education
How to Apply
In addition to the criteria listed below, applicants must also meet general graduate admission requirements.
- Transcripts. Official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended. A 3.0 undergraduate GPA is required.
- Three Letters of Recommendation. Emphasis should be on academic and professional references.
- Statement of Interest and Intent (Required Writing Sample). Submit a two-part essay:
- Explain your reasons for wishing to pursue graduate studies (approximately 300 words).
- Indicate your specific interest in AT, O&M, TVI, or VRT, and discuss the type of work you would like to do in this field (at least 1,200 words).
- This statement will be reviewed for both your overall message and your ability to write at the graduate level. Proofread your writing carefully; it is ranked according to its clarity, grammar, and syntax.
- Personal Interview with Faculty Member. When the Office of Graduate Admissions has notified us of your completed application, we will contact qualified candidates to arrange an interview (either in person or via teleconference).
Deadlines & Cost
Deadlines:
- O&M and TVI tracks: February 15 for summer
- VRT and AT tracks: June 15 for fall
Application Fee: The nonrefundable application fee is $75. UMass Boston alumni and current students that plan to complete degree requirements prior to graduate enrollment can submit the application without paying the application fee.
Estimate Your Program Cost: Get a feel for your expected program costs using the Graduate Program Cost Calculator.
Program Cost Information: For more detailed information on costs, please visit the Bursar's website.
Curriculum - Assistive Technology Track
Required Courses (37 Credits)
- VISN 601 - Physical and Functional Aspects of Visual Impairments 3 Credit(s)
- VISN 602 - Education of Students with Visual Impairments 3 Credit(s)
- VISN 603 - Braille I 3 Credit(s)
- VISN 604 - Eye Anatomy and Disease 3 Credit(s)
- VISN 605 - Clinical and Functional Assessment of Vision 3 Credit(s)
- VISN 640 - Psychosocial Aspects of Visual Impairment 3 Credit(s)
- VISN 660 - Introduction to Assistive Technology for People with Visual Impairments 3 Credit(s)
- VISN 661 - Assistive Technology Assessment and Instruction for People with Visual Impairments 4 Credit(s)
- VISN 662 - Configuration and Exploration of Assistive Technology solutions for People with Visual Impairments 4 Credit(s)
- VISN 663 - Technological Methods of Accessibility and Accommodations for People with Visual Impairments 4 Credit(s)
- VISN 669 - Assistive Technology for People with Visual Impairments Practicum 4 Credit(s)
Curriculum - Orientation & Mobility Track
Required Courses (37 Credits)
- VISN 601 - Physical and Functional Aspects of Visual Impairments 3 Credit(s)
- VISN 602 - Education of Students with Visual Impairments 3 Credit(s)
- VISN 603 - Braille I 3 Credit(s)
- VISN 604 - Eye Anatomy and Disease 3 Credit(s)
- VISN 605 - Clinical and Functional Assessment of Vision 3 Credit(s)
- VISN 621 - Orientation and Mobility Assessment and Instructional Strategies: Children 4 Credit(s)
- VISN 622 - Orientation and Mobility Assessment- Adult 4 Credit(s)
- VISN 625 - Methods of Orientation and Mobility 3 Credit(s)
- VISN 628 - Orientation and Mobility Praxis Lab 1 Credit(s)
- VISN 629 - Orientation and Mobility Practicum 4 Credit(s)
- VISN 640 - Psychosocial Aspects of Visual Impairment 3 Credit(s)
- VISN 646 - Introduction to Audiology and the Human Auditory System 3 Credit(s)
Curriculum - Teacher of Students with Visual Impairment Track
Required Courses (37 Credits)
- VISN 602 - Education of Students with Visual Impairments& 3 Credit(s)
- VISN 603 - Braille I 3 Credit(s)
- VISN 604 - Eye Anatomy and Disease 3 Credit(s)
- VISN 605 - Clinical and Functional Assessment of Vision 3 Credit(s)
- VISN 610 - Braille II 3 Credit(s)
- VISN 612 - Orientation and Mobility and Independent Living Skills 4 Credit(s)
- VISN 613 - Assessment of Students with VI Including Those with Additional Disabilities 4 Credit(s)
- VISN 614 - Assessment & Instructional Strategies for Students with VI Including Those with Additional Dis II 4 Credit(s)
- VISN 619 - Teacher of the Visually Impaired Practicum 4 Credit(s)
- VISN 648 - Cortical/Cerebral Visual Impairment 3 Credit(s)
- VISN 660 - Introduction to Assistive Technology for People with Visual Impairments 3 Credit(s)
State Licensure Requirements
The licensure of educational personnel requires a bachelor’s degree and the completion of a program that has been approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, with course and field work that include at least 75 hours of pre-practicum field observations and a supervised student teaching experience or internship. In addition, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education requires satisfactory performance on a test of proficiency in written and spoken English, and on competency examinations in a field of knowledge. A For individuals seeking licensure as Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments, applicants must pass the Communication and Literacy Test to demonstrate written and spoken English competency. The field of knowledge is covered in the General Curriculum Test, which addresses the range of subjects covered in the elementary curriculum.
Candidates must also pass a Foundations of Reading Test. Individuals who have completed such a program and have passed the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL) will be granted “Initial Licensure” and are eligible to teach in a public school.
Those holding initial licensure have up to five years from the time they are first employed to complete the additional requirements for Professional Licensure. These include a master’s degree and successful teaching experience. Professional Licensure is renewable every five years; re-licensure requires the accumulation of Professional Development Points and the payment of a fee. More details concerning licensure and re-licensure are available in a booklet available from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, 350 Main Street, Malden, Massachusetts 02148-5023, or at www.doe.mass.edu.
Curriculum - Vision Rehabilitation Therapy Track
Required Courses (37 Credits)
- VISN 601 - Physical and Functional Aspects of Visual Impairments 3 Credit(s)
- VISN 603 - Braille I 3 Credit(s)
- VISN 604 - Eye Anatomy and Disease 3 Credit(s)
- VISN 605 - Clinical and Functional Assessment of Vision 3 Credit(s)
- VISN 630 - Introduction to Vision Rehabilitation Therapy 4 Credit(s)
- VISN 631 - Methods of Vision Rehabilitation Therapy I 4 Credit(s)
- VISN 632 - Methods of Vision Rehabilitation Therapy II 4 Credit(s)
- VISN 639 - Visual Rehabilitation Therapy Practicum 4 Credit(s)
- VISN 640 - Psychosocial Aspects of Visual Impairment 3 Credit(s)
- VISN 646 - Introduction to Audiology and the Human Auditory System 3 Credit(s)
- REHAB 612 - Vocational Rehabilitation and Placement 3 Credit(s)
Graduation Criteria
AT Track
Complete 37 credits from eleven required courses.
Capstone: Completion of a portfolio during the practicum semester.
Statute of limitations: Five years
O&M Track
Complete 37 credits from twelve required courses.
Capstone: Completion of a portfolio, normally during the final semester, as part of VISN 629.
Statute of limitations: Five years.
TVI Track
Complete 37 credits from eleven required courses.
Capstone: Completion of a portfolio, normally during the final semester, as part of VISN 619.
Licensure: Students seeking initial licensure must pass all teaching test requirements (MTEL, Communication/Literacy; Foundations of Reading; General Curriculum) and the Braille Proficiency Exam before being placed in a practicum.
Statute of Limitations: Five years.
VRT Track
Complete 37 credits from eleven required courses.
Capstone: Completion of a portfolio, normally during the final semester, as part of VISN 639.
Statute of limitations: Five years.
Contact
Graduate Program Director Laura Bozeman
laura.bozeman [at] umb.edu
781.588.4274
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UMass Boston programs are designed to meet the requirements for licensure or certification in Massachusetts. Please contact your state licensing or certification board to determine whether the program meets the requirements for licensure or certification in other states.
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