Graduates with dual certification can integrate skills acquired from both the teacher of the visually impaired (TVI) and orientation and mobility (O&M) components of the specialization into a more comprehensive service; these dually certified graduates are highly desirable to potential employers in school systems. A teacher who has earned Pennsylvania Department of Education certification as a TVI and national professional certification in O&M from the Academy
for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation & Education Professionals (ACVREP) will have a stronger background in motor development, sensory training, concept development, and movement. Coursework begins in mid-May (Summer Term) or the end of August (Fall Term) only. In this hybrid model, the TVI courses are offered on-line with one weekend workshop per course per term at the University of Pittsburgh's Oakland campus. The O&M certification courses will combine both web-based and
campus-based coursework in the summers. During the first two summers, students complete O&M coursework (possibly concurrent with TVI courses) on-line (mid-May through June) as well as on-campus (Summer Session II). The five week Summer on-campus experience is a full-time five-day-a-week commitment. A 10-12 week, 350-clockhour O&M Internship is scheduled at the completion of the two summers of O&M coursework. The completion of coursework for this dual certification program takes
approximately two and one-half years.
Students completing academic and clinical requirements of the O&M curricula must also pass a national certification in O&M (see the ACVREP website for details) in order to become eligible for O&M certification.
Students may also add a Master's of Education degree to their certification program of study by completing an additional 12 credits of graduate level general education courses.
Contact Information
Lynn Fox
EMAIL: alderson@pitt.edu
PHONE: 412-648-7308
Admission Inquiries and Application Materials should be directed to:
School of Education Office of Admissions and Enrollment Management
5500 Wesley W. Posvar Hall
230 S. Bouquet St.
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
PHONE: 412-648-2230
FAX: 412-648-1899
EMAIL: soeinfo@pitt.edu
ONLINE (preferred): Inquiry Form
APPLICATION: Admissions Application
