Endorsements in VIL or O&M for Children, Youth, and Adults Certificate through Portland State University
These program pathways are for candidates with an existing Hawaii special education teaching license who are seeking their VIL or O&M teaching endorsement.
The University of Hawaii at Mānoa is a member of the Pacific and Northwest Consortium for Vision Education (PNWCVE), which allows HIDOE licensed teachers to apply and receive priority admissions and federal grant funding when available through Portland State University’s (PSU) VIL or O&M program. Portland is known as a leader in accessibility discussions, and PSU supports this by offering the only VIL and O&M program in the Pacific Northwest.
Blindness and Low Vision/VIL Graduate Certificate/Endorsement
There’s a nationwide demand for Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments (TSVIs), especially in rural areas with limited resources. Become part of the solution with Portland State University’s unique VIL program—the only one in the Pacific Northwest. Please visit the PSU program website directly for most up-to-date information.
- 35 – 47 credits (9 credits overlap with O&M courses)
- 6 terms over two years (Summer – Fall – Winter – Spring – Summer – Fall)
- Flexible hybrid courses using online synchronous/asynchronous and summer face-to-face regional cohorts
- Requirements include 10+ field placement hours during certain semesters. See program details below for more information
Orientation and Mobility Graduate Certificate
Nationwide, there is a critical shortage of orientation and mobility specialists. O&M specialists educate students with visual impairments, including those with deafblindness. The need for evidence-based instruction for individuals with visual impairments in all geographic areas is great. It is a particular need in rural and remote communities where there are too few O&M Specialists. Providing quality O&M services to people, regardless of geography, is a matter of equity. In fact, O&M is recognized in special education and rehabilitation laws, including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the Rehabilitation Act (RA) of 1973. O&M skills have been associated with higher rates of education, employment and quality of life. O&M specialists teach people how to travel safely, efficiently, and with purpose in a variety of environments. The O&M program is an extension of the Visually Impaired Learner (VIL) program. VIL has been preparing teachers of students with visual impairments (TSVIs) since 1964. Please visit the PSU program website directly for most up-to-date information.
- 36 credits (9 credits overlap with VIL courses)
- 5-6 terms (Summer – Fall – Winter – Spring – Summer – Fall)
- Flexible hybrid courses
- Requirements include 400 internship/supervision hours, requiring field placement working with individuals with visual impairments
- Optional: Can also lead to a Master’s in Special Education through Portland State University for 9 additional credits and two more terms. Funding does not cover costs for additional master degree requirements.
Blindness and Low Vision/VIL Program Details
Who Is This Program For: Candidates with an existing special education teaching license who are seeking their VIL teaching endorsement.
Standards Alignment: National Accreditation CAEP
State Requirements for VIL Licensure: Praxis Exam, Special Education: Teaching Students with Visual Impairments (5282)
Prerequisites:
- SPED 418/518 Survey of Exceptional Learners (3)
- SPED 548 Positive Behavior Support in the Classroom (3)
- SPED 514 Legal and Ethical Foundations (3)
- SPED 520 Collaboration (3)
If you have taken a similar course at another post-secondary institution, you will need to submit a course substitution form and a copy of the course syllabus/course description. Upload the completed course substitution form(s) and documentation via the VIL Program Course Substitution Qualtrics form to initiate the course review process. Your course substitution request is reviewed and a decision is rendered within three to four weeks.
VIL Program Courses & Sequence (35 credits; Subject to Change)
Summer I
- SPED 540: Foundations (3 credits)*
- SPED 545: Intro to O&M (3 credits)*
- SPED 575: Braille III (AT) (3 credits)*
*Hybrid course with face-to-face workshop days in Portland
Fall I
- SPED 541: Implications of Vision Problems (3 credits)
- SPED 576: Visually Impaired Learners with Additional Disabilities (3 credits)
Winter I
- SPED 509: Practicum I (3 credits)+
- SPED 546: Braille I (3 credits)
+Minimum 10 hours/week of field placement working with school aged students with visual impairments in school settings.
Spring I
- SPED 547: Braille II (2 credits)
- SPED 542: Assessment of Visually Impaired Learner (3 credits)
Summer II
- SPED 543: Reading and Literacy K-12: VIL (3 credits)
Fall II
- SPED 509: Practicum II (3 credits)+
- SPED 544: Methods VIL (3 credits)
+Minimum 10 hours/week of field placement working with school aged students with visual impairments in school settings.
Orientation & Mobility Program Details
Who Is This Program For: Candidates seeking to obtain their master’s degree in Special Education and a Graduate Certificate in O&M.
Standards Alignment: National Accreditation ACVREP, AERBVI
National Requirements for ACVREP O&M Graduate Certificate
- 350 hours internship – PSU’s program is 400 hours
- Supervision of an ACVREP COMS
- ACVREP exam
Prerequisites
- Bachelor’s degree
- Have volunteer, employment or personal experience working with individual(s) with a disability or who are blind or visually impaired (B/VI)
- Official program admission
O&M Program Courses & Sequence (36-45 credits; Subject to Change)
O&M students must complete 12 credits of SPED 554 and 400 hours of practicum. SPED 554 courses can be scheduled in multiple terms depending upon student’s availability and practicum site locations.
+Overlapping coursework with VIL program
*Hybrid courses with required face-to-face instruction (generally 5 days/week, mid/late June-mid/late July)
**Minimum 400 hours of field placement working with individuals with visual impairments; credit hours may span across multiple terms for those who are unable to complete a full-time practicum placement
Summer I
- SPED 540: Foundations (3 credits)+
- SPED 545: Intro to O&M (3 credits)+
- SPED 510: STEM (or other topics TBA) (2 credits)
Fall I
- SPED 549: Methods of Instruction in O&M (3 credits)
- SPED 541: Implications of Vision Problems (3 credits)+
Winter I
- SPED 550: O&M Assessment & Instruction- Children (3 credits)
Spring I
- SPED 551: O&M Assessment & Instruction- Adults (3 credits)
Summer II
- SPED 552: Advanced O&M Techniques (4 credits)*
- SPED 554: O&M Practicum (3 credits)**
- Optional towards Master’s Degree: SPED 596: Survey of Research (3 credits)
Fall II
- SPED 554: O&M Practicum (9 credits)**
Optional Continuation toward Master in Special Education
Note: To earn the MA/MS degree, you must complete a total of 45 credits and it may not include student teaching. Obtaining the master’s degree must be completed within a 7-year window of time.
Winter II
- SPED 597: Issues and Practices in Visual Impairments (3 credits)
Spring II
- SPED 506: Special Projects (3 credits)
How to Apply
ADMISSIONS INSTRUCTIONS
Please refer to the PSU program website PSU program website for most up-to-date admissions information on your specific program interest:
VIL Application Website
O&M Application Website
- Check the application deadline for your program.
- Make sure you have everything ready from the Application Checklist.
- Create an account or sign into the Portland State University Admissions Application system.
- Select “Start New Application” and then “Graduate Application.” Do not select “Non-degree”. You will not be able to upload the necessary documents with the non-degree application, and your application will not be considered.
- For the college, select “College of Education”
- For the program of study, select either:
- “Blindness and Low Vision Endorsement, Graduate Certificate“
- “Orientation and Mobility for Children, Youth and Adults, Graduate Certificate“
To validate your admission you must take a course during the term in which you have requested to be admitted. Should you not take a course in that term, your application will be cancelled and you will need to reapply to the next cohort.
Questions about the application process?
If you have questions about the application process, contact askcoe@pdx.edu.
APPLICATION CHECKLIST
- Unofficial transcripts are accepted by the College of Education for the program application. You only need to submit transcripts from institutions that you earned a degree from and where any graduate coursework was taken. Additional unofficial transcripts may be sent in if it significantly improves your application GPA. If admitted, you must send in official transcripts from each degree-granting school and any graduate school. More information on submitting official transcripts can be found on the Graduate Admissions page.
- Acceptable unofficial transcripts are:
- Web-based transcripts downloaded from an institution: institution and student name must be visible on transcripts
- Photocopies of official transcripts: these must include the front and back of all pages, including transcript key
- Previous applicants:
- If you’ve previously submitted official transcripts to PSU, you are still required to upload unofficial transcripts to complete your application.
- After you are admitted, you must submit official transcripts to:
- The Graduate School
Portland State University
PO Box 751
Portland, OR 97207 – 0751
Electronic official transcripts should be sent to graddocs@pdx.edu
- Personal statement (writing prompt provided within application)
- Résumé
- Two recommendation forms (forms are provided within application)
- Prerequisites courses (prerequisites vary depending on O&M Program admission option)
- There will be a candidate interview
- Investigate VIL program grants and scholarships
- Apply for FAFSA
To validate your admission you must take a course during the term in which you have requested to be admitted. Should you not take a course in that term, your application will be cancelled and you will need to reapply.
RETENTION OF STUDENT DOCUMENTS
All application documents submitted to PSU become the property of the University and may not be copied or returned to a student. Transcripts from other institutions cannot be copied.
