Academic Catalog

Vision Rehabilitation Therapy (Rehabilitation Teaching)

The College of Health Sciences, Education and Rehabilitation offers a certificate program and a master of science (MS) (Vision Rehabilitation) degree program in Vision Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT).

Both programs prepare professionals with expertise in related fields (for example, occupational therapy, social work, gerontology, rehabilitation, special education in visual impairment, O&M, et cetera) to provide comprehensive vision rehabilitation therapy services (adaptive activities of daily living/independent living skills) to blind or visually impaired adults/older adults by providing the course work and supervised field experiences required for Vision Rehabilitation Therapist certification by the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals (ACVREP).

Both the Master of Science degree and certificate programs in Vision Rehabilitation Therapy require didactic coursework in addition to supervisory field practice and a full-time off-campus internship.

The College of Health Sciences, Education and Rehabilitation offers part-time VRT master’s degree and certificate programs online, with on-campus attendance required during a single, intensive, ten-week Summer Institute for all methodology and hands-on coursework.

All didactic coursework must be completed prior to entry into the off-campus internship. Each student designs an Individualized Program of Studies (IPS) to ensure appropriate course sequencing and integration.

Course Schedule

Master of Science Degree and Certificate Program Sequence of Courses
Spring Semester
Course Number Course Title Delivery Credits
BLVS-5000 Foundations of Education & Rehabilitation Blended 2.00
BLV-5001 Clinical Foundations & Implications of Visual Impairment Distance Education 3.00
BLV-5002 Psychological & Social Dynamics of Visual Impairments Blended 1.00
BLV-5500 Principles of Vision Rehabilitation Therapy Blended 3.00
BLV-5004 Critical Analysis of Research Distance Education 2.00
Summer
Course Number Course Title Delivery Credits
BLV-5102 Introduction to Orientation & Mobility On-Campus 1.00
BLV-5103 Introduction to Assistive Technology Blended 3.00
BLV-5106 Braille Literacy On-Campus 0.50
BLV-5130 Low Vision Assessment & Intervention 1 Blended 3.00
BLV-5131 Low Vision Assessment & Intervention 2 Blended 2.00
BLV-5502 Independent Living Skills for VRTs Blended 4.00
BLV-5504 Communication Skills for VRTs Blended 1.00
BLV-5503 Teaching Literacy for Adults with Visual Impairments Distance Education 2.00
Fall
Course Number Course Title Delivery Credits
BLV-5104 Neurological Visual Impairments in Adults Distance Education 1.00
BLV-5105 Literacy Braille Code Distance Education 3.00
BLV-5201 Visual Impairment & Multiple Disabilities Distance Education 2.00
Upon Completion of Didactic Courses
Course Number Course Title Delivery Credits
BLV-6501 VRT Internship Blended 6.00
Master of Science in Vision Rehabilitation Therapy Total Credits 41.50 credits