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Special Education (Visual Impairment) ,BAE

Special Education (Visual Impairment), BAE

Academic programs / Undergraduate degrees / Special Education (Visual Impairment)

Education, Special Needs, blind, disabilities, special education, teaching, visually impared

Moment by moment, day by day and person by person, educators ignite minds and strengthen communities. Prepare to advocate for and educate blind and partially sighted learners in a wide variety of educational settings.

Program description

The BAE program in special education with a concentration in visual impairment provides a strong foundation in evidence-based, high-leverage practices in special education. The visual impairment concentration focuses on diagnostic assessment, orientation and communication skills, and specific teaching methodologies for students with visual impairments. It includes a strong focus on assistive technology to advance learning in the classroom and in daily life.

Students are taught to collaborate with parents, classroom teachers and related service personnel to meet the needs of learners with visual impairments. The curriculum is aligned with Arizona and national standards consistent with the Council for Exceptional Children.

Starting in the fifth term, the program is delivered in partnership with the Foundation for Blind Children in Phoenix, Arizona. Courses are taught by Foundation for Blind Children faculty associates and full-time ASU faculty to provide candidates with theoretical and practical perspectives on teaching and learning for individuals with visual impairments.

Some professional experiences take place at the Foundation for Blind Children and within a local school district, providing experiences that prepare students to teach in both self-contained and inclusive settings.

Graduates earn an institutional recommendation from ASU for Arizona teacher certification in Visually Impaired Special Education, birth-grade 12 and an endorsement in Structured English Immersion, preK-12. Certifications and endorsements are issued by the Arizona Department of Education. To teach in an Arizona public school, graduates must pass the appropriate professional knowledge or subject knowledge educator exams: National Evaluation Series or Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessments.

At a glance
  • Second language requirement: No
  • First required math course: MAT 142 - College Mathematics
    OR MAT 117 College Algebra
  • Math intensity: Generalprogram math intensity general

Required courses (Major Map)
Concurrent program options
Students pursuing concurrent degrees (also known as a “double major”) earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. Working with their academic advisors, students can create their own concurrent degree combination. Some combinations are not possible due to high levels of overlap in curriculum.
Admission requirements

General university admission requirements:

All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
First-year | Transfer | International | Readmission

Tuition information
When it comes to paying for higher education, everyone’s situation is different. Students can learn about ASU tuition and financial aid options to find out which will work best for them.
Change of Major requirements

A current ASU student has no additional requirements for changing majors.

Students should visit the Change of Major form for information about how to change a major to this program.

Transfer options

ASU is committed to helping students thrive by offering tools that allow personalization of the transfer path to ASU. Students may use MyPath2ASU® to outline a list of recommended courses to take prior to transfer.

ASU has transfer partnerships in Arizona and across the country to create a simplified transfer experience for students. These pathway programs include exclusive benefits, tools and resources, and they help students save time and money in their college journey.

Global opportunities
Global experience

Because of climate change, geopolitical instability or economic factors, the United Nations and other institutions predict that migration will increase globally for the foreseeable future. Learners will migrate to new communities. Increasingly, educators will be asked to meet the needs of students who speak languages other than English and who bring a variety of cultures into classrooms and learning environments. Education students participating in study abroad programs can prepare for this reality. By engaging in Global Education programs, students can expand their notion of normal schooling and deepen their understanding of how to foster inclusive and inspiring learning environments.

Career opportunities

Graduates of Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College are highly sought-after teachers in public, charter and private education institutions. Graduates with this special education degree can teach the visually impaired in a variety of special education settings, such as resource rooms and self-contained classrooms, and they can coteach with general educators.

Career example titles and salaries listed below are not necessarily entry level, and students should take into consideration how years of experience, geographical location, and required advanced degrees or certifications may affect pay scales.


Career *Growth *Median salary
3.7%
$66,930
0.0%
$62,390
0.5%
$63,560
-0.2%
$62,990
11.5%
$93,180
* Data obtained from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET) under sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA).

Bright OutlookBright Outlook

Professional licensure

ASU programs that may lead to professional licensure or certification are intended to prepare students for potential licensure or certification in Arizona. Completion of an ASU program may not meet educational requirements for licensure or certification in another state. For more information, students should visit the ASU professional licensure webpage.

Contact information
What are accelerated programs?
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.

3 year programs

These programs allow students to fast-track their studies after admission and earn a bachelor's degree in three years or fewer while participating in the same high-quality educational experience of a 4-year option. Students should talk to their academic advisor to get started.

Accelerated master's

These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).

Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Acceptance to the graduate program requires a separate application. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master’s during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
What are concurrent programs?
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
What are joint programs?
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.

What constitutes a new program?
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the “New Programs” option.
What are online programs?
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
What is the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE)?
The Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) is a program in which residents of western states (other than Arizona) may be eligible for reduced nonresident tuition. See more information and eligibility requirements on the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) program.

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