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UMass Boston's Vision Studies MEd program earned recognition from U.S. News & World Report as a top online graduate education program. This specialized curriculum prepares educators and professionals to support individuals with visual impairments in reaching their objectives, whether in academics, career development, or independent mobility. The program caters to those committed to empowering visually impaired individuals to live safely, productively, and autonomously.
Students engage with innovative educational technologies and acquire real-world experience through fieldwork placements. These competencies can be applied across diverse environments - from school systems and veteran rehabilitation centers to nonprofit organizations and government agencies. Graduates qualify for Massachusetts teaching licensure and are prepared for national certification exams administered by the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation & Education Professionals.
The program offers four specialized concentrations: Orientation & Mobility (O&M), Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments (TVI), Vision Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT), and Assistive Technology for Visual Impairment (AT).
The O&M concentration focuses on assessing the needs of visually impaired individuals across all ages. Students master techniques for teaching mobility aids like long canes and low-vision devices, including working with guide dogs to foster confident, independent navigation. This track prepares candidates for ACVREP's national O&M certification examination.