Vision Studies: Vision Rehabilitation Therapy (Graduate Certificate)

Certificate: Vision Rehabilitation Therapy (28 cr.)

This certificate-qualifying program provides students with a sequence of coursework, field-based experiences, and practicum-fulfilling requirements prescribed by the University Review Standards of the Association for the Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AERBVI) for those students with an existing bachelor’s degree in a related field. Integrated prepracticum hours and a practicum composed of a minimum of 350 hours supports candidate preparation as well as community engagement. Successful completion of the curriculum, along with faculty recommendation, qualifies students to sit for the international professional examination in vision rehabilitation therapy offered by the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals (ACVREP).

Courses required for the Vision Rehabilitation Therapy Certificate (28 cr.) include:

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 Admission only:

Online Application. Applicants are accepted into the VRT certificate program once a year for the fall semester. Deadline is June 1. Specify that you are applying to the MEd in Vision Studies: Vision Rehabilitation (VRT) track, certificate only.
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: GRE, MAT, or MTEL. Complete all testing required by the university. If you do not have a master’s degree, you will be required to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), Miller Analogies Test (MAT), or Massachusetts Test for Educator Licensure (MTEL). Please contact sgisd@umb.edu for questions regarding eligibility to waive scores.
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 Vision Rehabilitation Therapy, 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).