ADVANCE YOUR CAREER. CREATE SPECIALIZED LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS FOR EXCEPTIONAL STUDENTS. Earn your blindness and low vision graduate certification 100% online. Build on your bachelor’s degree to specialize your area of expertise. Study in an intensive, research-based program to learn how to assess blindness and low vision and create successful teaching environments. After earning your certificate, you will be equipped to teach birth to grade-12 blind and low vision students. If you live or work outside of Missouri, you can transfer your certification back to your home state. We will collaborate with your state to arrange certification where you are, through our program.
ONLINE
WE’RE HERE TO HELP CONTACT US Dr. Shari Scott sscott@missouristate.edu
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN EDUCATION OR GRADUATE CERTIFICATION SPECIAL EDUCATION BLINDNESS, LOW VISION
IMPACT YOUR STUDENTS
EMPOWER VISUALLY IMPAIRED STUDENTS
417-836-3142 Park Central Office Building 136 901 S National Ave Springfield, MO 65897
AN EDUCATION YOU CAN BUILD UPON. Is this is an added area of certification? Completing the 24 credit hours of blind and low vision coursework may be all you need. Is this an ‘initial’ area in your state? • Complete all 24 credit hours • Meet other requirements. • Complete the Missouri Content Assessments (MoCA) for Blind & Partially Sighted #047 & Mild/ Moderate Cross Categorical Special Education #050. • Complete 29 credit hours of basic professional education courses. A transcript analysis determines what professional education requirements you’ve already completed. Not a Missouri resident? Contact your state education office. Two years is the average time to completion (dependent on your state’s certification requirements). BACHELOR’S DEGREE NOT IN EDUCATION? You can still earn this certificate, even if you aren’t a certified teacher. You’ll need to complete 29 hours of professional education coursework. Complete your courses at any four-year institution in Missouri. Or, complete courses in a DESE-accredited teacher education program in your home state.
Missouri State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Minority/Female/Veterans/Disability/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity Employer and Institution.
online.missouristate.edu/msspedblindness
WHY MISSOURI STATE ONLINE? EDUCATING EDUCATORS IS OUR LEGACY Our top-notch faculty have educated educators for over 100 years. The program has accreditation from the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).
WE PUT THE COST OF YOUR DEGREE WITHIN REACH Missouri State’s costs are lower than most other universities in the state and well below the national average. This program was ranked #5 by SR Education Group for affordability in 2018. In addition, we have scholarships and financial aid specifically for qualifying students pursuing this degree.
PURSUE YOUR DREAMS. ONLINE CLASSES MAKE IT HAPPEN.
TIFFANY HUGGINS ALUMNI
Tiffany Huggins is a teacher of the visually impaired (TVI). She works at a school for the blind. Her job is to provide students and adults with life-changing self-sufficient academic and social skills. She earned a bachelor’s in business management and ended up working as a social worker. Tiffany wanted to become a teacher. In 2014, at the age of 24, Tiffany took a leap and pursued a careerchange by enrolling in MSU’s 100% online Blindness and Low Vision Program. For Tiffany, clear program expectations and proactive communications from faculty smoothed the path for success. “The expectations and deadlines were provided in the electronic syllabus before class started, so this provided each student with ample amount of time to mark their calendars and do whatever they felt was necessary in order to ensure that their submissions were in on time.” Despite the program being 100% online, she still had plenty of hands-on experience. One learning opportunity that really stands out to her was a video lesson she had to make for a class assignment. “I had to record different lessons of me teaching someone, under the blindfold, different skills such as labeling medication bottles, dispersing their medications in a weekly medicine container, preparing food, and orienting themselves around an unfamiliar room, just to name a few.” Tiffany earned her certification from the University in July of 2017, and in December of that same year, she earned her master’s. The program’s appeal and flexibility provided Tiffany with the means to earn both her certification and master’s 100% online. When asked how she enjoys the field she replied, “I LOVE what I do!! I honestly cannot see myself doing anything else!”
GET STARTED MAKING A DIFFERENCE To apply, you must hold a bachelor’s degree and have a minimum 2.75 cumulative GPA. The program begins in the fall semester. Application deadline is March 15, every year.
1. APPLY FOR ADMISSION. Teacher Certification only
missouristate.edu/certification/blv-programapplication-process.htm
Teacher Certification & MSED graduate.missouristate.edu/futurestudents/Apply.htm
2. REQUEST YOUR TRANSCRIPTS. Have your transcripts sent to MSU. Please direct them to tco@missouristate.edu, or graduateadmissions@missouristate.edu
3. GET REGISTERED!