Overview
"Not only did Trevecca prepare me to be the best educator that I can be, but the School of Education pushed me to grow in my walk with Christ."
The Vision Institute at Trevecca offers candidates the opportunity to add a Teacher of the Visually Impaired (TVI) endorsement to their current teaching certificate. This rigorous 13-month master’s program begins each July with a new cohort. Candidates who complete the program are equipped to work with special needs children with all disabilities. Trevecca and the Tennessee School for the Blind in Nashville are in partnership to bring theory and practice together. Knowledgeable and experienced professors provide students with hands-on practical skills that culminate in graduates who are prepared practitioners.
Tennessee Endorsement Code: Special Education Vision PreK-12 (462)
Completion of this program will enable graduates to:
- Be knowledgeable about special education law;
- Know fundamentals of visual impairments;
- Read and write Braille;
- Expand cultural competencies;
- Implement interdisciplinary and differentiated teaching strategies;
- Understand anatomy of the eye and issues of visual learning;
- Use expanded core curriculum;
- Conduct assessments for visual impairments; and
- Work effectively with students with visual impairments.
Scholarships for tuition and fees, funded through a grant from the Tennessee Department of Education, are available for a limited number of participants. If a student is accepted for the scholarship, that student must fulfill the Tennessee Student Service Agreement.
If a student is not accepted for the scholarship, or would prefer to not be required to fulfill the service agreement, a student may be accepted into the program at the regular tuition rates and fees. Individuals who are not awarded the scholarship might check the TEACH grant for funding possibilities.
Contact us today to learn more about our Vision Institute. Email us at sllembo@trevecca.edu or call us at 615.248.1766.
Faculty
General Resources
News
Core Classes
Special Education and Visual Impairments
VIS 6010
Provides fundamentals of physical, cognitive, perceptual, and psychological development of individuals with varying exceptionalities with a focus on individuals with visual impairments and multiple exceptionalities. Includes a focus on research-based theories, relevant laws and policies, diverse and historical points of view, and issues in special education.
Course Hours: 3
Diversity in Classrooms and Schools
EDU 6075
Provides an overview of the diverse educational needs, challenges, opportunities, and rewards that teachers encounter as they seek to effectively meet the needs of learners in diverse classrooms and schools. Candidates will examine diversity research on topics such as socioeconomics, exceptionalities, race and ethnicity, linguistics, learning styles, and genders. A focus will be on the at-risk student and equipping students with tools to make choices. Candidates will be equipped with tools and instructional strategies to effectively create learning opportunities and a positive classroom environment that fosters student achievement.
Course Hours: 2
Advanced Braille
VIS 6030
Provides advanced skills in reading and writing Braille using a Braille writer and slate and stylus as well as methodology for teaching Braille reading and writing. Includes a focus on teaching and using Braille within content areas.
Course Hours: 3
Interdisciplinary Teaching
EDU 6080
Examines strategies to effectively support interdisciplinary instruction and assessment to address the complex challenges of providing quality instruction to a class of diverse learners. Candidates will explore interdisciplinary curriculum and learn effective strategies integrating all content areas for enhanced instruction. The focus will be on individuals with visual impairments both in a specialized classroom and in a full inclusion environment.
Course Hours: 3
Differentiated Teaching
EDU 6085
Examines strategies to effectively support differentiated instruction and assessment to address the complex challenges of providing quality instruction to a class of diverse learners. Focuses on providing students with multiple options for learning, applying information, and expressing what they learn. Candidates will explore the research on differentiated instruction and learn effective strategies for managing flexible groups, providing students with a variety of options to maximize learning, and planning strategically for classroom management issues. The focus will be on individuals with visual impairments both in a specialized classroom and in a full inclusion environment.
Course Hours: 3
Expanded Core Curriculum
VIS 6060
Provides an understanding that students with visual impairments require a curriculum beyond content standards to meet independent and functional living goals. Candidates will gain understanding and practical experience with orientation, mobility, and specialized supports. Instruction will include increasing self-awareness, self-management, self-control, self-reliance, and self-advocacy of students with visual impairments and multiple exceptionalities in the home, community, and school. In addition, a focus will include awareness, acceptance, and appreciation for students with visual impairments and multiple exceptionalities in the home, community, and school.
Course Hours: 3
Nemeth Code
VIS 6065
Focuses on Nemeth Code to study mathematics and other content areas that include mathematics such as science, geography, and others.
Course Hours: 3
Assessment for Visual Impairments
VIS 6070
Examines and explores the unique educational needs of individuals with visual impairments with a focus on individuals with multiple exceptionalities. Candidates will explore and use various techniques for assessment individuals in a full array of educational and community settings. Included is the planning of an education program for students with visual impairments.
Course Hours: 3
Braille Reading and Writing
VIS 6015
Provides fundamentals in reading and writing Braille and using a Braille writer. Methodologies in teaching, reading, and writing Braille will be a focus. Includes a component of teaching Braille within the content areas. There will be a focus on developing strategies for teaching pre-Braille tactile readiness and higher level techniques of Braille reading and writing.
Course Hours: 3
Braille Basics
VIS 6025
Provides an introduction to Braille and using a Braille writer. Candidates will gain basic knowledge of Braille, basic methods of using a Braille writer, and gain beginning concepts to reading and writing Braille.
Course Hours: 1
Anatomy and Issues of Visual Learning
VIS 6045
Provides an understanding of the physical structures of the eyes and their functions. Includes an understanding of the pathologies that affect the visual system and how they impact the functioning of an individual. A focus will include understanding visual assessments and interpretation of clinical reports.
Course Hours: 3
Exit Assessment
VIS 6090
Presentation of portfolio.
Admissions
Admissions Requirements
- You must have a current teaching license
- List of three references with contact information
- Score report on the MAT (minimum 378) or GRE (minimum 290 current format)
- Signed Nomination and Support letter
Steps to Apply
- Complete the online application (it's free!).
Need help applying? Read the step-by-step instructions here! - Fill out FAFSA to be considered for financial aid.
- Request a copy of your official transcript from your undergraduate institution.
- An admissions counselor will contact you with the next steps.
More Questions?
Please contact SGCS Admissions with any further questions: sllembo@trevecca.edu or 615.248.1766
Financial Aid and Costs
Worried about the future? We’ve got you covered!
At Trevecca, we understand we’re in unprecedented times. We believe you should be free to follow your dreams without fear. If you’re unable to complete a course due to COVID-19, we’ll refund the course cost to you. Full details can be found here.
How am I going to pay for it?
- Federal loans are available to all eligible students who complete a FAFSA
- Employer tuition reimbursement opportunties
- Monthly payments through Trevecca make fulfilling tuition requirements more manageable
- Military benefits such as Yellow Ribbon and GI Bills are accepted by Trevecca University
How do I qualify?
- Fill out your FAFSA. Based on your income, you will know how much federal financial aid you are eligible to receive.
- Talk to your employer about tuition reimbursement opportunties
- For military benefits, contact the Academic Records Office at 1.615.248.1268
How much will it cost?
Master's Degree
| Tuition | Credit Hours | Program Length | Tuition Costs |
| $435/credit hour | 30 | 13 months | $13,050 |
Endorsement Only
| Tuition | Credit Hours | Tuition Costs |
| $435/credit hour | 15 or 18* | $6,525 or $7,830* |
*Dependent on current licensure
$50 fee assessed per course. Books are not included.
Endorsement Only
For teachers who are currently not interested in obtaining the master's degree, Trevecca offers an add-on endorsement option. To add an endorsement in Special Education Vision PreK-12 to an existing teaching license, fifteen to eighteen hours of coursework, which is dependent on current licensure, and a passing score on the Praxis exam are required.
Financial Aid and Cost
| Tuition | Credit Hours | Tuition Costs |
| $200/credit hour | 15 or 18* | $3,000 or $3,600* |
*Dependent on current licensure
$50 fee assessed per course. Books are not included.
Courses
- Anatomy and Issues of Visual Learning
- Braille Reading and Writing
- Expanded Core Curriculum
- Differentiated Teaching
- Assessment for Visual Impairment
- Special Education and Visual Impairments*
*Only for those teachers that do not already hold a special education license.
Admissions Requirements
- You must have a current teaching license
- List of three references with contact information
- Score report on the MAT (minimum 378) or GRE (minimum 290 current format)
- Signed Nomination and Support letter
Steps to Apply
- Complete the online application (it's free!).
Need help applying? Read the step-by-step instructions here! - Fill out FAFSA to be considered for financial aid.
- Request a copy of your official transcript from your undergraduate institution.
- An admissions counselor will contact you with the next steps.
More Questions?
Please contact SGCS Admissions with any further questions: sllembo@trevecca.edu or 615.248.1766
Overview
"Not only did Trevecca prepare me to be the best educator that I can be, but the School of Education pushed me to grow in my walk with Christ."
The Vision Institute at Trevecca offers candidates the opportunity to add a Teacher of the Visually Impaired (TVI) endorsement to their current teaching certificate. Candidates who complete the program are equipped to work with special needs children with all disabilities. Trevecca and the Tennessee School for the Blind in Nashville are in partnership to bring theory and practice together. Knowledgeable and experienced professors provide students with hands-on practical skills that culminate in graduates who are prepared practitioners.
Tennessee Endorsement Code: Special Education Vision PreK-12 (462)
Completion of this program will enable graduates to:
- Be knowledgeable about special education law;
- Know fundamentals of visual impairments;
- Read and write Braille;
- Expand cultural competencies;
- Implement interdisciplinary and differentiated teaching strategies;
- Understand anatomy of the eye and issues of visual learning;
- Use expanded core curriculum;
- Conduct assessments for visual impairments; and
- Work effectively with students with visual impairments.
Contact us today to learn more about our Vision Institute. Email us at sllembo@trevecca.edu or call us at 615.248.1766.