Program Options

In January of 2008 a partnership between Utah State University and The Hadley School for the Blind was officially created to provide preservice education in the area of blindness. As a result of this partnership, a new online program of study has been developed which will lead to a USU Associates Degree in General Studies with a Focus in Blindness or a Certificate in Blindness. The coursework has been designed for paraprofessionals who work with children and youth who are blind or visually impaired. It is also available to parents, professionals, and blind consumers. Four of the six courses are available now and you can register for them for Fall Semester 2009. The other two courses will be available Spring Semester 2010. The two courses available in January are: Introduction to Multiple Disabilities and Introduction to Low Vision. All of the courses will be fully accessible.

The training program includes the following options:

Certificate of Completion

Level I: 9 semester credit hours of coursework + practicum hours

• Introduction to Blindness and Visual Impairment
• The Role of Paraeducators with Individuals Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired
• One additional course in blindness depending upon the student’s program emphasis
• Practicum

Level II: 18 semester credit hours of coursework + practicum hours

• Introduction to Blindness and Visual Impairment
• Human Eye and Visual System
• Introduction to Low Vision
• The Role of Paraeducators with Individuals Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired
• Introduction to Multiple Disabilities
• Introduction to Braille
• Practicum

Associates Degree in General Studies with a Focus in Blindness

• 30 semester hours of general education courses
• 30 hours of coursework in blindness and other related topics (60 credit hours total)

The courses in blindness include:

The courses can also be taken for graduate credit as listed below:

Undergraduate tuition is $211/credit hour with no out-of-state fees. Graduate tuition is $268/credit hour with no out-of-state fees.

For more information please contact Linda Alsop, SKI-HI Institute, (435) 797-5598, linda.alsop@usu.edu.