College of Education

Visually Impaired Learner (VIL)

A child feeds paper into a braille typewriter

Quick Facts

  • 35–65 credits depending on program of study
  • Flexible hybrid model:
    • Begins with one week of face-to-face workshops during summer term
    • Fully online courses after the first summer
  • Cohort program, with the next cohort starting in 2024
  • Field placements in your local community in itinerant school agency settings or residential schools for the blind

Visually Impaired Learner Overview

There's a nationwide demand for Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments (TSVIs), especially in rural areas with limited resources. Become part of the solution with Portland State University's unique VIL program—the only one in the Pacific Northwest.

Whether aiming for an add-on endorsement or pursuing a master’s degree with initial licensure, our program equips you to serve students birth to 21 years old with visual impairments, ensuring they access a quality education.

Program Coordinator

Holly Lawson
askcoe@pdx.edu
503-725-4619

Admissions Advisor

Stefanie Randol
askcoe@pdx.edu
503-725-4689*
Book an appointment

*You can text me!

Program Benefits

  • Learn to assist students with visual impairments to fully access the general education curriculum
  • Study coursework needed to apply for licensure in special education with a TSVI Specialization in visual impairment
  • VIL programming can be combined with initial licensure, endorsements, and/or master’s degree
  • Experience incredible value: Learn from experienced teachers who have scholarly expertise and advanced degrees—and do so in convenient locations and at an accessible price
  • Gain practical experience via field placements in local educational agencies or at residential schools for the blind
  • Explore multiple ways of educating with small-scope projects across a diverse range students with vision loss, including those with multiple disabilities

Program Specifics

  • Participate in part-time, two year program for working professionals
  • Enjoy convenient, hybrid scheduling for working professionals, including face-to-face and online learning environments where students learn individually and in groups
  • Benefit from your peers’ knowledge and experience in our unique cohort model

About the program

PSU is the regional university preparation program for the Pacific and Northwest Consortium for Vision Education (PNWCVE). With a focus on consortium member states Oregon, Washington, Hawaii, Alaska, Idaho, and Montana, the VIL program prepares TSVIs and leaders in both  rural and urban areas to meet the critical shortage of professionals.

Students admitted to degree completion programs may apply for and receive financial aid and are eligible for scholarships while fully admitted and enrolled in no fewer than five credits per term. Students falling beneath the five credit/term threshold will not receive financial aid for any terms that a “credit load” falls under five credits. The College of Education offers specific scholarships to students in COE degree programs. Applications open in October annually.

In addition, we recommend checking with your State Department of Education as they often have scholarships available for educators serving low-incidence populations. School districts may also be willing to fund part of your education with a commitment to return to the school district.

Our master’s core offers a unique experience to engage in innovative research with mentorship from faculty.

Professionals who do not require licensure may take individual courses to satisfy a personal development plan with the permission of the instructor. Be aware that by taking individual courses, you will not satisfy program and licensure requirements.

Our graduates

Most of our graduates are TSVIs working as itinerant professionals, overseeing a caseload of students with vision loss across multiple schools within an educational agency. Several of our alumni serve in leadership positions, such as school principals at residential schools or as outreach coordinators. Graduates are also early intervention specialists working with infants and toddlers who are blind and visually impaired.

Why PSU?

PSU is at the forefront of preparing leaders in diverse fields, such as this one. It has prepared teachers in the field of visual impairment since 1964. At PSU, our deep welcome and inclusive environment unlocks the hidden potential in students of all life stages, viewpoints, and backgrounds. Our individual support resources and real- world applications incorporate the needs of the whole person. This nurtures in students the strong convictions and fearless confidence critical to academic success. PSU has held this philosophy—and practice—since the University’s beginning.