| Total credits | Estimated resident cost | Estimated Washington border cost | Estimated non-resident cost |
|---|
| Master's Degree - 65 | $37,194 | $37,194 | $37,194 |
| Graduate Certificate - 35 | $20,332 | $20,332 | $20,332 |
Program cost estimates are based on 2025/26 PSU tuition and fees only. This chart is provided to help you estimate the minimum tuition and fees for program completion. Additional fees may apply depending on the course of study that you choose to pursue and the specific courses for which you enroll, so you may also find it useful to review detailed tuition and fee information and the full cost of attendance for PSU programs. Financial aid and scholarship options may be available to offset program costs. Visit COE Scholarships for specific details on how to qualify and apply. |
Curriculum
The Blindness and Low Vision (BLV) / Visually Impaired Learner Program prepares educators to work effectively with students who have visual impairments, including those with additional disabilities. The curriculum integrates foundational coursework in special education and visual impairment with hands-on field experiences. Students begin with an introduction to the foundations of special education, orientation and mobility, and legal frameworks, followed by intensive study in Braille literacy, access technology, and the implications of visual impairments on learning and development. Advanced courses address assessment, instructional methods, literacy for K–12 learners with visual impairments, and positive behavioral supports. Throughout the program, students engage in practicum placements to apply theory to practice, culminating in full-time student teaching and a capstone experience that synthesizes research, collaboration, and evidence-based instructional practices. Students often also combine this program with our Orientation and Mobility graduate certificate program.
Course descriptions
For full course descriptions, please consult the Bulletin or Class Schedule.
Program format
Modality
First or Second Summer: In-Person: This portion of the program is held in person with classes held on-campus.
Rest of the program: Online, scheduled meetings and no scheduled meetings: The rest of the program is held entirely online. Some classes have required meeting times, others have no required meeting times.
Part-time and Full-time (varies by term)
Time to completion (master’s plus initial license): 2 years
Time to completion (graduate certificate/endorsement): 1 ½ years
Scheduling
Daytime: In the first summer term, classes are held in-person in Portland. These classes take place during the day.
Evening: For the rest of the program, classes are held online. Synchronous class times are primarily in the later afternoon and evening (in the Pacific time zone).
Weekly Estimated Time Commitment
The PSU Credit Hour Policy defines 1 credit hour as requiring a minimum of 3 hours of student time per week over the course of the term. PSU operates on the quarter system, and terms last 10 weeks.
Graduate school is a big commitment; please consider this information as a starting tool to help you gain a sense of the time commitment. Students learn differently and you may find that it takes you more time to complete the coursework on a weekly basis. Generally, a graduate program is more intensive and should require more time on homework than undergraduate courses; therefore, we recommend planning for more time than the minimum.
Students in this program generally take 6-9 credits of coursework per term and should expect to spend at least 18 hours per week outside of classroom time on homework and related activities.
Students will begin their practicum experience in the third term. The practicum requires a minimum of 10 hours per week of daytime field experience in schools serving students with visual impairments.
Student teaching (master’s students only) takes place in the second winter term and requires 40 hours/week student teaching during daytime hours.
Program of Study
Please note - this program of study is under revision as the program will begin in Fall 2026. This is meant to give you an idea of pacing and structure as the fall start will not impact the number of overall classes or pacing of the program. (10/29/2025)
Cohort: This program operates as a cohort model, meaning that students follow a set program of study with a group of peers, learning together and providing a peer-support network. The program of study below outlines these classes term-by-term.
Program of Study - Master’s Degree with Initial Licensure
| Year 1 | CR |
|---|
| Summer |
| SPED 540 Foundations | 3 |
| SPED 545 Intro to O&M | 3 |
| SPED 514 Legal Foundations | 3 |
| SPED 575 Braille III (Access Technology) | 3 |
| Fall |
| SPED 541 Implications of Vision Problems | 3 |
| SPED 576 Visually Impaired Learners with Additional Disabilities | 3 |
| Winter |
| SPED 546 Braille I | 3 |
| SPED 509 Practicum I | 3 |
| Spring |
| SPED 547 Braille II | 2 |
| SPED 542 Assessment of the Visually Impaired Learner | 3 |
| Year 2 | CR |
| Summer |
| SPED 596 Survey of Research | 3 |
| SPED 543 Reading & Literacy K-12 | 3 |
| SPED 548 Positive Supports in the Classroom | 3 |
| Fall |
| SPED 509 II Practicum II | 3 |
| SPED 544 Methods VIL | 3 |
| Winter |
| SPED 597 Issues and Practices in Visual Impairments | 3 |
| SPED 525 Student Teaching | 12 |
| Spring |
| SPED 506 Special Projects | 3 |
| SPED 520 Collaboration | 3 |
| Total Program Credits | 64 |
Program of Study - Graduate Certificate/Endorsement
Please note - this program of study is under revision as the program will begin in Fall 2026. This is meant to give you an idea of pacing and structure as the fall start will not impact the number of overall classes or pacing of the program. (10/29/2025)
| Year 1 | CR |
|---|
| Summer |
| SPED 540 Foundations | 3 |
| SPED 545 Intro to O&M | 3 |
| SPED 575 Braille III (Access Technology) | 3 |
| Fall |
| SPED 541 Implications of Vision Problems | 3 |
| SPED 576 Visually Impaired Learners with Additional Disabilities | 3 |
| Winter |
| SPED 546 Braille I | 3 |
| SPED 509 Practicum I | 3 |
| Spring |
| SPED 547 Braille II | 2 |
| SPED 542 Assessment of the Visually Impaired Learner | 3 |
| Year 2 | CR |
| Summer |
| SPED 543 Reading & Literacy K-12 | 3 |
| Fall | CR |
| SPED 509 II Practicum II | 3 |
| SPED 544 Methods VIL | 3 |
| Total Program Credits | 35 |