Preliminary Education Specialist Credential in Visual Impairment

The Education Specialist Credential in Visual Impairment (VI) prepares highly qualified teachers using research-based curricula and pedagogy to provide quality educational services to students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Students with visual impairments are a heterogeneous population, requiring the availability of a wide range of curricular and placement options in order to foster participation in the home, school, and community in ways that meet the particular needs of individual learners. The program stresses the development of instructional programs utilizing a variety of approaches to meet the range of potential placement options and curricular needs of learners with visual impairments.

Candidates are expected to demonstrate skills in working with an array of professionals as well as families in order to facilitate learner participation and growth within the context of their educational experience. Learners with visual impairments benefit from educational experiences that take into account their unique learning needs requiring the acquisition of knowledge and skills in alternative ways including tactile, visual, and auditory.  Candidates are expected to demonstrate competence in assessment and instruction to promote functional literacy in Braille, print, and auditory methodologies and to design educational environments utilizing the most appropriate media to promote learning.

Currently, SFSU has two Visual Impairment (VI) programs that are running concurrently. The credential coursework and program requirements differ for the two VI programs. The previous VI credential has been replaced with the new VI credential. The new VI credential follows the 2018 program standards and Teaching Performance Expectations and includes requirements around clinical practice hours and passing a Commission-approved Teaching Performance Assessment (TBD). Students should select the required credential coursework and program which matches the time of their admission (before or after July 1, 2022).