Admissions | Visually Impaired Learner

The Blindness and Low Vision/Visually Impaired Learner program is committed to attracting, enrolling, and retaining a diverse student body who want to educate all levels of students with visual impairments, including those with deafblindness. We prepare educators who want to have an impact, promote progress, and support student goals in a diverse range of schools, universities, rehabilitation settings, and community organizations.

Admissions Timeline
Application Opens	September 1, 2025
Priority Application Deadline*	January 15, 2026
Final Application Deadline	May 15, 2026
Final Application Materials Due**	June 5, 2026
Prerequisite Deadline	By the start of the program
Program Start	Summer 2026 This program admits every other year in even-numbered years.

Additional Timeline Information:

*Submitting your application by the priority deadline will allow you access to the scholarship application due by February 1st.

**Recommendations can sometimes take longer to arrive. You can submit your application before these have arrived. This deadline is to allow a short grace period for your recommendations to arrive, if necessary.

Enrollment in each cohort is limited and the earlier you apply, the better your chance of being admitted to the upcoming cohort. Applications are reviewed as they are received and will close once the cohort is full.

Applications are reviewed as they are received, once all materials have arrived and the application is complete. Once complete, your application will be reviewed by staff and faculty. We make every effort to communicate admissions decisions within 4 weeks of application completion.

Pre- or Corequisite Coursework

SPED 418/518 Survey of Exceptional Learners

If you have not already taken a similar course, please note that this course can be completed prior to starting the program or during your first year in the program.
If you are pursuing the Graduate Certificate + MS, you must complete this course at the graduate level (SPED 518).
If you have a current license in Special Education, SPED 418/518 Survey of Exceptional Learners is waived.
If you have a current license in General Elementary Education or General Secondary Education, or you are working toward Oregon Initial Licensure, you may have completed a similar course. Review the equivalent prerequisites to determine if the course you completed is pre-approved. If the course you completed is not on this list but you believe the course is equivalent, please submit a special education substitution form to have the course evaluated.

Required Application Materials

Below is the list of the materials and information you will need to provide as part of your online application. We recommend preparing these materials in advance of submitting your application.

Unofficial Transcripts: from your bachelor’s degree-granting institution and from any institution at which you have earned graduate-level credit
English Language Proficiency: Automatically assessed in your application materials. Learn more about your options for proving proficiency.
Résumé.
Statement of Purpose: Please answer the following questions in no more than 500 words each. We recommend you provide examples when appropriate. Your answers should reflect how your background, beliefs, and experiences have prepared you for this program.
- Our ideal student is flexibility, responsibility,commitment to fairness and equity, collaboration; please provide examples of your experience working with educators (e.g. special education teachers, teachers of blind and low vision students, faculty in higher education) that demonstrate how you meet these dispositional requirements.
- Describe how this program fits your educational and long-term career goals and the difference you intend to make in your field. Explain how your college education will help you achieve these. As needed, convey additional information explaining your previous academic performance and readiness for the program.” and “Reflect on a time when you faced a significant challenge or setback. How did you manage your emotions, time, and resources to overcome the obstacle, and what did you learn from the experience?”
Recommendations: Submit contact information for at least two references via the application. Portland State University will contact your references and provide them with instructions for submitting recommendation forms.

Admissions Review Process

We review your application for the following:

Academic Requirements: Via your transcripts, we assess whether you meet the university’s minimum admissions requirements.
Résumé: Reviewed for work and volunteer experience with individual(s) with a disability or who are blind or visually impaired (B/VI).
Two Recommendations: If possible, at least one of these should come from someone who has seen you work with youth. Your references will submit a questionnaire that you send them via the application portal.

Ready to apply?

Review the PSU Graduate School’s minimum admissions requirements.
Create an account or sign into the Portland State University Admissions Application system.
Select "Start New Application"
Then select "Graduate Application"
For the college, select "College of Education"
For the program of study, select from:
"Blindness and Low Vision Endorsement, Graduate Certificate"
"Visually Impaired, MS and License"
Select the term you plan to start the program

Questions? Contact Stefanie!

Post-Admissions

You will be notified of your admission decision to the program via an email and formal digital letter from the Graduate School. After admission, you will be assigned a faculty advisor and staff student success advisor, both of whom will support you through your program. The college provides an online orientation module to help you take your next steps to begin your program. You will also be invited to a live orientation session to ensure that you’re fully prepared to begin.

A few additional things to keep in mind:

All students must submit their official transcripts to the Graduate School after admission.
If you’re still completing a bachelor’s degree, you must apply for your degree, and it must be awarded by the term before you begin your graduate program. (Ex: if the program begins summer, the degree must be awarded by the end of spring term).
You must register for coursework in the term that you are admitted in order to validate admission to the program. If you do not, your admission status will be canceled.