- Students must complete a course from the Introduction to Visual Impairment in the first semester or have taken an equivalent course approved by Western Michigan University (WMU).
- Braille Code and Communications (I) must be completed prior to enrolling in Braille Code and Communications (II).
- Subsequent courses may be taken in any order and students may opt to take more than one course at a time.
- Students must take a course from each of the following areas (course titles and credit hours may vary depending on the university offering the course):
- Introduction to Visual Impairment
- Braille Code and Communications (I)
- Anatomy and Physiology of the Eye
- Assistive Technology for Visual Impairment
- Instructional Strategies and Assessments for Students with a Vl
- Braille Code and Communications (II)
- Methods of Teaching Students with a VI
- Principles of Orientation and Mobility
- Implications of Low Vision
- Practicum
- The practicum is the final course in this program. Students must obtain approval from WMU in order to begin the supervised practicum experience.
- Students are expected to maintain a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 overall.
- Students must pass the practicum according to standards set by the university.
- Students must pass the Praxis test Special education: Teaching Students with Visual Impairments (5282) before the state will issue an endorsement. Preparation materials for the Praxis test are available online. Contact Robert Wall Emerson at [email protected] regarding partial reimbursement for the cost of the test.
- The advisor will determine if a course taken outside of the consortium is an acceptable replacement for one of the mandated courses.
- A transfer of course form must be completed by the advisor and retained in the file for the final audit.
Process Steps
- Student interested in attaining additional endorsement in Visual Impairment (VI).
- Student contacts WMU; WMU advises on program requirements.
- Student provides WMU with documentation required for acceptance into program.
- Once student is approved to join consortium program, WMU notifies other member institutions on new student.
- Plan of study with schedule of course offerings at each university given to student by host university.
- Student enrolls in courses at any of the approved universities/colleges.
- Practicum Application is filled out and given to WMU.
- Student must register and pass Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) for VI toward completion of program.
- Student must meet with WMU to have audit done when program is complete.
- Student applies through Michigan Online Educator Certification System (MOECS).
- Student sends all application and plan of study materials and official transcripts to Office of Special Education (OSE) and requests that each university send official transcript to OSE.
- OSE does final audit and provides Office of Professional Preparation (OPPS) with audited student file to add endorsement.
- OPPS adds endorsement to student's teaching certificate.