Tell me about your program. |
| UNL's Department of Special Education offers a course of study where you are given the knowledge necessary to work with students who are visually impaired. The program matches the Council for Exceptional Children standards & competencies for visual impairments & the National Council on Accreditation of Teacher Education. We find that since you are admitted as a "cadre" and continue your studies with the same colleagues, you will find camaraderie and a support system which is available throughout your career in the UNL program. |
How long might this take? |
Most people who are full time teachers, complete the requirements in about three years, working around their employment. The VI endorsement is 33 hours which include:
9 core courses
6 hours of electives
3 hours of student teaching (Individualized experiences to meet VI skill competencies.) |
Do I have to move to Lincoln and quit my job? |
| Our program was designed to allow you to continue to live in your home and teach or work full time. We provide online courses so that there is no traveling for each course. So you need not move to Lincoln to start your learning! (For more information, see the next question.) |
Will all my classes be taken on a computer? |
| The majority of courses are provided online via the internet using Blackboard. On-campus site requirements vary with each course.
Fall and Spring: Most of the courses during the fall and spring semesters are completed using distance education (online). Some weekend sessions may be held as needed.
Summer: All summer-required classes have on-site participation in Nebraska City, Nebraska with the possibility of some travel to surrounding cities such as Lincoln or Omaha. Carpooling will be an option if we travel to other locations.
Summer courses are usually offered in first summer session, which runs from the second week of June until the first week of July. Required on-site dates will usually be less than 2 weeks within that time frame. Students admitted to the program must arrange their schedules to be available for two consecutive summers. Specific dates will be set by spring of the upcoming summer.
Sometimes a summer course may be offered in an 8 week session, which would run June through the first week of August. Participants would be asked to be on campus at the beginning and the end of the 8 week session.
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When can I apply to be admitted to the VI program? |
Applications to the program are available every year. Application materials are posted in summer and are due by April 1.
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Who can apply to the program? |
We invite persons who currently hold a special education teaching certificate or are eligible to obtain a current special education teaching certificate to apply to our VI program. Those with a general education subject or field teaching endorsement may apply. Priority is given to those with a special education certificate.
If you do not have a special education certificate or your special education courses are older than 10 years, you will be required to take at least two prerequisite courses to obtain background information pertaining to special education. Students from Kansas and Nebraska will be given priority for admission. |
How do I find out if I am accepted? |
| Application materials are screened by a faculty committee. Candidates will be notified if they have or have not been selected to enter the program in late spring. |
What skills should I possess in order to be a successful distance education student? |
| Distance education students need to have excellent reading comprehension skills. Most of the instructional materials are presented in written form. Students must be self-directed and capable of working independently. Students must take initiative to follow distance education course requirements. |
I heard that classes are free. Is that true? |
| For students admitted into the program, tuition waiver has been provided in the past for the core VI courses. Financial assistance is based upon the availability of state and federal funds. We hope to continue to provide this assistance. |
Are there any agreements that I have to make if I accept financial assistance? |
Yes. Candidates who are selected to receive financial assistance are asked to sign a letter affirming their commitment to achieve course grades of at least a B and maintain a GPA of B or better. People whose course average drops below a B could lose their financial support and/or be dropped from the program.
In addition, VI students will sign an agreement affirming their commitment to teach in the VI field upon graduation or to repay their financial award.
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Are there some courses not covered by the tuition waiver? |
| Courses that are not eligible for the financial assistance are the 6 credits of electives and 3 credits of student teaching. These courses are the student's financial responsibility. If prerequisite special education courses are required, the tuition waiver does not cover these courses. |
What expenses do students pay? |
| Students pay their student fees each semester. These fees (usually $48-$50 per semester) include: student technology fees, distance education fee, library fee and registration fees. This depends upon how many credits you are taking during the semester. Updated student fee information.
Students are also responsible for purchasing their books and course materials. Book charges vary with each course but average about $100-$350 per semester. Some books are used in more than one course.
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Is there any special equipment that I will need? |
| Students will need to have access to the following pieces of equipment: slate/stylus, Braille paper, Braillewriter, and abacus. If you do not have access to a Braillewriter please inquire at your state school concerning loaning a braille writer to you while you are in the program. UNL staff will help locate this equipment. |
Where could I stay during the required on-site summer sessions? |
| Lodging will be offered for the on-site sessions in Nebraska City. Dormitories will be available for a nominal cost of approximately $10 per day. Cafeteria services are not available during the summer months, but kitchens are available containing a refrigerator, stove and microwave. |
Can I take a course and not be admitted to the program? |
| Yes, in some cases special permission can be obtained to enter a course. Generally this involves students who are completing a program in another institution. Pre-requisite courses will be evaluated to determine eligibility. Tuition waivers may not be available. Contact the program director, Ellin Siegel, esiegel1@unl.edu for specific information pertinent to you. |
