Our vision program is nationally accredited by the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER) and the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), both of which advance excellence in educator preparation by assuring academic quality and supporting continuous improvement. The vision program is led by faculty who are Certified Teachers of the Blind/Visually Impaired (TVI) and Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialists (COMS) and collectively have more than 100 years of experience working with individuals with visual impairments.
Special Education: Vision Studies (M.S.Ed.)
Help people with visual impairments live more fulfilling, independent lives.
People who are blind or have visual impairments are able to manage the world around them, learn and participate in school and perform everyday activities. However, they need someone to teach them to harness their potential. Our M.S.Ed. program’s specializations in vision studies will prepare you to become that person. We offer one of the nation's preeminent programs for preparing professionals to provide educational and rehabilitation services for persons of all ages with visual impairments.
Our program is approved by the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired, the Council for Exceptional Children and the Illinois State Board of Education.
Apply for Admission
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Get Grant Funding
You may qualify for grant funding that covers tuition, all fees, student health insurance and provides a yearly stipend.
At a Glance
30-36 credit hours
In person
Full or part time
Start in the fall semester
Choose a Focus Area
| Program | Length of Program | Certification/Licensure Information | Ages Served |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teacher of the Visually Impaired |
Four semesters plus up to six licensure courses |
Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) Professional Educator License (PEL) for Teacher of Students who are Blind or Visually Impaired (228) pre-K-22 years of age |
Children pre-K through 22 years of age |
| Orientation and Mobility |
Four semesters |
Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals (ACVREP) |
All ages (e.g., birth through any age of senior citizen) |
| Visual Rehabilitation Therapy |
Four semesters |
Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals (ACVREP) |
High school transition-aged learners, adults, and senior citizens of all ages |
| Assistive Technology for Persons with Blindness or Visual Impairment |
Four semesters |
Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals (ACVREP) Certified Assistive Technology Instructional Specialist for People with Visual Impairments (CATIS) |
All ages (e.g., birth through any age of senior citizen) |
Many students choose to complete multiple specializations to bolster their resume.
Testimonial
My professors in the vision program have always been by my side and guided me in the path toward success since the second I started at NIU.
Career Outlook for M.S.Ed. in Special Education
Average mid-career salary for alumni:
Top job titles for alumni:
Top employers for alumni:
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How to Apply
You’ll apply through the Graduate School.
- Fall application deadline: July 15 (May 1 for international applicants)
- Spring deadline: Dec. 10 (Oct. 1 for international applicants)
- Summer deadline: June 1
Costs and Funding
Our competitive tuition and fees helps ensure an excellent return on the investment of your time and resources. Learn about additional funding opportunities for graduate students.
Grant Funding
We routinely receive grant funding that covers tuition (in-state or out-of-state), all fees and student health insurance. The funding also provides a yearly stipend of $9,500, distributed semimonthly, which can be used for expenses such as rent, transportation and books/course materials.
Grant funding is awarded annually on a first-come, first-served basis to qualified applicants. For more information, contact Stacy Kelly, grant project director, at skelly@niu.edu.
Assistantships
Many NIU graduate students have an assistantship, which provides financial support (typically a tuition waiver and stipend), as well as career preparation.
Application Materials
You’ll need to submit:
- Your application to the Graduate School
- Your official transcripts (our faculty select those applicants who are most qualified, typically requiring a GPA of 3.0 or higher for the last two years of your undergraduate work) and test scores
- Two letters of recommendation from your employers, supervisors or professors
- Your personal statement of why you're applying and your goals for a career in special education
Curriculum and Requirements
Your program requirements depend on the specialization you choose to pursue. Many students complete multiple specializations to bolster their resume.
Faculty
Our faculty bring diverse experiences, backgrounds, scholarship and expertise from various areas across special education. They’re committed to facilitating engaging learning experiences in and outside the classroom.
- Stacy Kelly, professor
- Molly Pasley, associate professor
- Gaylen Kapperman, professor emeritus
Frequently Asked Questions
TVIs instruct and provide support services to enable children who are blind or visually impaired to participate in school. They work not only with children who are visually impaired and their families but also with school personnel, most often as itinerant or resource room teachers.
Orientation and Mobility instructors teach techniques for safe, independent travel, often using a white cane, to individuals who are blind and visually impaired. They prepare their learners to travel in a variety of environments, from self-contained residential programs to fully independent travel in unfamiliar environments including urban, suburban and rural areas
VRTs teach techniques for safe, independent self-care, home management, adaptive kitchen skills and communication skills (including braille) to individuals who are blind or visually impaired. They teach life skills in people's homes as well as in center-based rehabilitation programs.
Yes, it is possible to be licensed to teach students with visual impairments, and/or certified for orientation and mobility, vision rehabilitation therapy, and/or assistive technology for people with visual impairments. It is possible to combine multiple areas of licensure/certification together.
Classes are offered during fall, spring and summer semesters at our DeKalb campus. Many courses are offered in the evening to accommodate students' work schedules. Students are usually enrolled in a cohort; however, you may take courses at your own pace so long as you complete degree requirements specified in the graduate catalog.
The prospects for now and the foreseeable future are excellent. Research has shown that, at the current rate of graduation of specialists in the field, we will not be able to keep up with the needs of visually impaired individuals. In fact, many of our graduates are recruited by the personnel at the sites where they are student-teachers or interns.
The Department of Special and Early Education (SEED) has a minimum requirement of 3.0 on a 4-point scale.
Upon acceptance, M.S.Ed. students will be assigned to a staff advisor, and Ed.D students will be assigned a faculty advisor. They will be notified of who their advisor is in a letter from the SEED Department. You should reach out to your advisor before enrolling in classes as a degree-seeking student in the program. The advisor will provide important information about course requirements and planning. They will also discuss creating a program of study, which is required in order for you to graduate.
Most students begin their coursework in the fall semester, but under certain circumstances, you might be encouraged to begin in the summer session. Deadlines for receipt of all application materials can be found at the undergraduate admission or graduate admissons webpages.