Vision Studies, MEd (Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments)

MEd in Vision Studies: Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments (37 cr.)

This degree track offers matriculated students a specialized 37-credit sequence of coursework, including 100 hours of monitored prepracticum, field-based experiences, and a practicum (300 clock-hours minimum), leading to initial licensure as a Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments. To receive initial licensure, K-12, students must meet additional Department of Education requirements, as described in the section titled “State Licensure Requirements” below.

Courses required for the TVI track include:

Note:

Students in the TVI track must submit a capstone portfolio, normally in the final semester of their program. 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.

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.

Admission Requirements

Please see the general statement of admission requirements for all graduate studies programs in the Admissions section of this publication, and the “Special Instructions for Applicants to Individual Programs” section of the application for admission to graduate study.

Send the following admissions materials to the Office of Graduate Admissions only:

Online Application. Applicants are accepted into the TVI program once a year for the summer semester. Deadline is March 1. Specify that you are applying to the MEd in Vision Studies, Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments track.
Transcripts. Official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended. A 3.0 undergraduate GPA is required.
Three Letters of Recommendation. Use the forms provided by the Office of Graduate Admissions. Emphasis should be on academic and professional references.
Test Scores: MTEL: Communication and Literacy; Foundations of Reading; General Curriculum. You will be required to pass the Massachusetts Test for Educator Licensure (MTEL) Communication and Literacy exam for admission. This is one of three tests that are eventually required for TVI licensure. The other two must be completed as soon as possible after admission into the program.
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 teaching students with visual impairments, 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). We will contact qualified candidates.
International Applicants Only: TOEFL Scores. International applicants are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).