WELCOME TO THE VISUAL IMPAIRMENT AND BLINDNESS PROGRAM

California State University, Los Angeles offers an Educational Specialist Credential in Visual Impairment (VI) and a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in Special Education with an emphasis in Visual Impairment. Courses in both the VI credential and M.A. program promotes educational equity, collaboration, reflective practice, while maintaining mastery of the body of knowledge for the specific discipline of interest.


Graduates of the VI credential and M.A. program may work as itinerant, resource room, and special classroom teachers, or as teachers at specialized schools for students with visual impairments and blindness. They also may serve as consultants and support professionals to public school teachers in elementary, middle, or high schools.

The purpose of the credential program is to prepare teachers to work with infants, toddlers, children and youth who are blind and visually impaired, including those with multiple disabilities, to teach in a diverse urban society. Credential candidates learn to teach academic and functional skills, including reading and writing braille. Students learn instructional strategies and methods for adapting materials for learners who are visually impaired. They also develop skills to assess functional vision and determine learning media. Emphasis is placed on preparing candidates to provide instruction in independent living skills, low vision efficiency, use of assistive technology, leisure/recreation skills, vocational/transition, and social skills. For more information on courses and how to apply click on the following link: Education Specialist Credential in Visual Impairments | Cal State LA 

The purpose of the MA degree is to provide students with higher education learning. One major focus of the MA program is on analyzing and conducting educational research in the field of visual impairment and blindness. Students in the MA program must complete one of two options as their culminating experience: 1) pass the MA comprehensive examination in Visual Impairment and Blindness or 2) complete a thesis project. Before applying to the M.A. program, you must first apply for the Educational Specialist Credential in Visual Impairments program, and once admitted, you must schedule an appointment with Dr. Cheryl Kamei-Hannan, the VI program advisor, at 323-343-6297 or ckameih@calstatela.edu.  

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Applications for Spring 2025 Admissions are now open through October 31, 2024

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FAQ

Credential candidates learn to teach academic and functional skills, including reading and writing braille. Students learn instructional strategies and methods for adapting materials for learners who are visually impaired. They also develop skills to assess functional vision and determine learning media. Emphasis is placed on preparing candidates to provide instruction in independent living skills, low vision efficiency, use of assistive technology, leisure/ recreation skills, vocational/transition, and social skills. Program graduates may work as itinerant teachers, resource room teachers, and special classroom teachers, or as teachers at specialized schools for visually impaired children and youth. They may also serve as consultants and support professionals to public school teachers in elementary, middle, or high schools. 

Generally speaking, to earn an Education Specialist Credential in Visual Impairments students must commit to two years of full-time study to earn a Preliminary Education Specialist Credential in Visual Impairments, followed by an additional set of course work to complete a Clear Education Specialist Credential in Visual Impairments. However, some students may have taken courses at CSULA or from another institution while pursuing other teaching credentials. Some of these courses may be transferred and advisement should be sought for a determination of transferable credit.

Students entering the Education Specialist Credential in Visual Impairments must meet subject matter requirements. This may be done by passing both exams, the CBEST and CSET, prior to entering the program. However, students who have met the subject matter requirement in an alternate way (e.g., possession of a single subject credential) may not need to pass the CSET, please visit the following link for additional information and/or contact your advisor for further clarification of subject matter requirements. Options to Meet the Basic Skills Requirement - Additional Resources (ca.gov)

International students may apply to CSULA and work towards earning a MA in Special Education with an emphasis in Visual Impairments.

Yes. In fact, many credential candidates are working full time as teachers of students with visual impairments. Generally, courses are offered in the evenings, and some are offered on weekends. Also, many courses are offered using distance modalities including webinar and technology driven methods.

Please meet with your program advisor to create a program plan. The program plan will assist you in course planning. It is recommended to meet with your advisor each semester to help you to stay on track and ultimately lead to timely completion of the program.  

If you already have a valid, clear California teaching credential there may be some courses that you would not be required to take. You will need to meet with the VI advisor to determine which courses would not be required. 

Students with an O&M credential are required to meet the subject matter requirement or pass the California Subject Exam for Teachers (CSET). While there may be some courses previously taken to earn an O&M credential, additional courses will need to be taken. Meet with your advisor to determine which additional courses are required.

All students enrolled in the Education Specialist Credential in Visual Impairments are required to complete 2 fieldwork practicums. The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing requires a total of 600-750 hours of fieldwork practicum.

Cal State L.A. offers an Educational Specialist Credential in Visual Impairment and a M.A. degree in Special Education. Students interested in applying to the MA program in Special Education with a specialization in Visual Impairments should apply to the program prior to taking 9 units of MA coursework. Please check with your advisor for advisement about the MA program.

Students enrolled in the VI Program may obtain an Education Specialist Credential in Visual Impairments independent of an MA degree, or students may choose to concurrently earn a Master of Arts degree (MA) in Special Education with a specialization in Visual Impairments.

Students who are working towards their MA degree in Special Education with an emphasis in VI must also earn or possess an Education Specialist Credential in VI. Exceptions are sometimes made for international students.

Yes, you can take EDSP 4000 and EDSP 4010 through Open University/Extended Education while waiting on formal acceptance to the university. 

You may take some specialized courses before you are formally admitted. However, it is recommended that you meet the subject matter requirements prior to beginning specialization coursework. Also, because some courses are offered once a year, and pre-requisite requirements vary, it is recommended that you frequently meet with your advisor to determine which courses you are eligible to take.

Courses in the VI program vary in the manner in which they are offered. Many courses are offered fully online using a variety of virtual online tools. Some courses are hybrid courses, meaning they meet partially online and face-to-face, and other courses, such as the lab courses meet face-to-face. Additionally, many courses meet on Saturdays. For more information about course modality, please contact your program advisor. 

CSULA offers a BA degree in Urban Learning. As part of the Urban Learning program, you may take some courses that will count towards earning your Education Specialist Credential in VI. For more information on possible courses you will need to meet with the Urban Learning advisor, Jesus Arellano at jarela9@calstatela.edu. 

The Education Specialist Credential Program in VI is a program for graduate students. However, students who are enrolled in the Urban Learning program at CSULA may take courses in Special Education while they complete their BA.

An abundant number of job opportunities are available in the VI field. Although visual impairments are considered a low incidence disability, at a national level, highly qualified teachers of students with visual impairments are scarce. Job listings are commonly posted on Edjoin. Please visit their website at: https://www.edjoin.org/Account/Login

For information regarding the Education Specialist Intern Credential Program, please visit the Intern Program Website Education Specialist Intern Program | Cal State LA to book an appointment with an advisor.

Resources

  • Ballyland Magic App
  • Blindfold Games 
  • Blindfold Air Hockey
  • Blindfold Bowling
  • Blindfold Pool

Contact Informaion

For more information on the programs offered or to make an appointment with Dr. Cheryl Kamei-Hannan, the VI program coordinator, please call 323-343-4400 or email ckameih@calstatela.edu.

 

 

Staff

Dr. Cheryl Kamei-Hannan, Professor and Program Coordinator
Seanarae Smith, PIPP Grant Coordinator
Gina Mitchell, Adjunct Faculty
Ramona McLaughlin, Adjunct Faculty
Jeanine Interiano, Adjunct Faculty