Online Special Education Master's Degree for Teaching Those with Visual Impairments

Our Special Education Master of Arts – Visual Impairment Concentration program will give you the skills and knowledge to help students with visual impairments meet their potential in academic and social areas of their lives. This program prepares you to work with students from birth to age 21 with a special emphasis on the needs of early childhood and elementary-aged students. You will also complete meaningful field-based experiences with visually impaired students in your home community.

Courses are delivered entirely online, which allows you to continue working while obtaining your master's degree.

This program is designed for...

  • Teachers
  • Paraeducators
  • Those looking for a career change – if you are not currently a teacher, talk to the Program Coordinator about any additional requirements.

School Orientation & Mobility (O&M) Endorsement: UNC also offers an Orientation and Mobility Endorsement program that can be added to this master's degree, or taken as a standalone program. Please see the details below in the Course of Study section.

A History of Excellence

The School of Special Education at the University of Northern Colorado has a long history of excellence in the preparation of special education teachers. The school is fully accredited by the Colorado Department of Education and the Colorado Higher Learning Commission.

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Fully Online Master's Degree

The Special Education MA – Visual Impairment program is delivered fully online, and you can start the program any fall, spring or summer term. If you add the School Orientation & Mobility Endorsement noted below, there will be some on-campus requirements.

Coursework (42 Credit Hours or Less)

Note: if you are already licensed as a special education teacher, you will likely be able to complete this master's degree with 33 credit hours because you may be able to waive three courses.

For an example of upcoming courses, visit the Current Students page for this program.

For full program requirement details, see the official program listing in the UNC Graduate Catalog.

School Orientation & Mobility (O&M) Endorsement

UNC also offers a School Orientation and Mobility (O&M) Endorsement (Ages 0-21yrs).

Eligibility

  • If you are applying to the Special Education MA – Visual Impairment program, you will have the option to add the O&M Endorsement/coursework.
  • If you would like to take the O&M Endorsement only, you will need to meet the eligibility requirements noted for the MA program, and will need to have completed (or be in the process of completing) a Visual Impairment master's degree program.

Location

  • Spring term: online.
  • Summer term: four weeks in-person on campus in Greeley, Colorado.
  • Practicum experiences: can be done near where you reside.

You can start the program any academic term, and the time to completion will be based on when you start the program and how many practicum credits you take each term. Contact the Program Coordinator for additional information.

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