This program prepares students to teach all age ranges of individuals who are blind or visually impaired to travel safely and efficiently through their environment. Completion of the program will allow students to apply for certification with the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals (ACVREP) as a Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS).
The final requirement is completion of a 350-hour COMS-supervised internship in Orientation and Mobility that meets ACVREP specifications. Full completion of the program leads to a certificate in Orientation and Mobility. Students must successfully complete the full program to be qualified to teach as Orientation and Mobility specialists.
Path 1
For individuals with a background in the visual impairment field who have the required prerequisite courses or approved equivalents, the O&M Certificate is comprised of 15 credits taken in person over two summers and online in between.
Students who wish to become Orientation and Mobility Specialists for the blind and visually impaired can do so via two path choices, depending on prior experience and coursework.
Path 1: 15 Credits
Requirements
- Applicant has a completed bachelor’s degree or higher
- Applicant has successfully completed the following pre-requisite courses (or approved equivalents) in visual impairment (e.g. through an approved teacher of students with visual impairments program, vision rehabilitation program, etc.)
- EPSE 540: Seminar in Low Vision
- EPSE 541: Braille Reading and Writing
- EPSE 536: Foundations of Education for Students with Visual Impairments – OR –
EPSE 320: Classroom Inclusion of Students who are Blind and Visually Impaired – OR – EPSE 545 Teaching the Expanded Core Curriculum to Students with Visual Impairments - EPSE 513: Foundations of Orientation & Mobility for Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments
{Note: 455: Introduction to Orientation and Mobility for the Blind is also acceptable}
- Applicant is committed to completing the full O&M 15-Credit program including the 350-hour supervised internship (note: this may require taking time off from regular employment responsibilities).
Application Notes
The number of students we can take in each cohort is restricted, so acceptance into the program may be competitive. For detailed information, please review the Admissions section.
Course Schedule
TERM | COURSE |
Starting Summer: July, Even year (e.g. 2022, 2024) |
EPSE 514: Advanced Orientation and Mobility Techniques (6 Credits) On-campus, 4 weeks | mid-July to mid-August; M-F; 5 hrs/day (allows for built in break and travel time) |
First Winter: September, Even year (e.g. 2022, 2024) |
EPSE 537: Programming in Orientation and Mobility (3 credits) Online, 13 weeks | September–December |
Second Winter: January, Odd year (e.g. 2023, 2025) |
EPSE 538: Seminar in Orientation and Mobility (3 credits) Online, 13 weeks | January–April |
Start date and length dependent on placement after course completion | EPSE 598: Internship (3 credits) In the field | 350-hour internship |
**Students can take up to two consecutive terms to complete the 350-hour internship. Additional time may require registering for EPSE 598 a second time.
Path 2
For individuals who do not have background in visual impairment, 12 additional credit hours of prerequisite courses are required prior to beginning the 15-credit program. Students who wish to become Orientation and Mobility Specialists for the blind and visually impaired can do so via two path choices, depending on prior experience and coursework.
Path 2: 27 Credits
Requirements
- Applicant has a completed bachelor’s degree or higher.
- Applicant is missing one or more of the following pre-requisites or approved equivalents:
- EPSE 540: Seminar in Low Vision
- EPSE 541: Braille Reading and Writing*
- EPSE 536: Foundations of Education for Students with Visual Impairments (preferred) – OR –
EPSE 320: Classroom Inclusion of Students who are Blind and Visually Impaired – OR – EPSE 545 Teaching the Expanded Core Curriculum to Students with Visual Impairments - EPSE 513: Foundations of Orientation & Mobility for Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments
{Note: 455: Introduction to Orientation and Mobility for the Blind is also acceptable}
- Applicant is committed to completing the full O&M 15-Credit program including the 350-hour supervised internship (note: this may require taking time off from regular employment responsibilities).
*Discuss possible course/training alternatives to complete the braille requirement with the O&M Certificate Coordinator.
Application Notes
The number of students we can take in each cohort is restricted, so acceptance into the program may be competitive. Please note that Path 2 applicants beginning pre-requisites are not guaranteed acceptance into the O&M cohort.
- Notify the program coordinator, Kim Zebehazy, if you are registering for the pre-requisites.
To be eligible to enter the O&M cohort that begins in summer of even years, applicants on Path 2 must first complete the pre-requisite courses. These can be taken at UBC or another approved institution that has equivalent programming in visual impairment. By applying to be an unclassified student at UBC starting in summer of the odd year (year before next cohort start), it is possible to complete the prerequisites on time (see course table below).Please note that Path 2 leads to the same graduate certificate. However, up to 12 credits of the prerequisite courses could be applied to a Masters in Special Education Blindness and Visual Impairment concentration if you have a teaching certificate (a requirement for entry into that Masters program), or some elective credits may be able to be applied to another special education Masters. In addition, a Masters in Special Education with a concentration in orientation and mobility is available (speak to the O&M program coordinator about this possibility). Applicants interested in Path Two must start the prerequisites in the summer of the odd year before a new cohort starts, and will need to apply as an “unclassified” student and pay unclassified student fees to complete these courses. You may then apply for the O&M Certificate program when the application opens.
- You can apply for admission as an “unclassified” student in order to register for the prerequisite courses. For admission inquiries and assistance, contact Matthew Duckworth (604-822-5242)
- You must notify the program advisor, Kim Zebehazy if you are registering for the prerequisites with the intent to apply for Path 2.
- Your tuition per course will be assessed tuition fees at the prevailing graduate per credit rate, plus any authorized student fees.
Course Schedule
EPSE 514: Advanced Orientation and Mobility Techniques (6 Credits)
On-campus, 4 weeks | mid-July to mid-August (begins after EPSE 513 ends); M-F; 5 hrs/day (allows for built in break and travel time)
TERM | COURSE |
Prerequisite Summer: July, Odd year (e.g. 2023, 2025) |
EPSE 540: Seminar in Low Vision (3 credits) On-campus, 4 weeks | First 4 weeks in July; M-F; 2.5 hrs/day EPSE 541: Braille Reading and Writing (3 credits) |
Prerequisite Winter: September, Odd year (e.g. 2023, 2025) |
EPSE 536: Foundations of Education for Students with Visual Impairments (EPSE 536 is the preferred prerequisite course) (3 credits) Online, 13 weeks | September–December |
(EPSE 320: Foundations of Education for Students with Visual Impairments) (3 credits) Available in multiple terms |
|
Starting Summer: July, Even year (e.g. 2022, 2024) |
EPSE 513: Foundations of Orientation and Mobility for Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments (3 credits) On-campus, 3 weeks | first 3 weeks in July; M-F; 2.5 hrs/day EPSE 545 Teaching the Expanded Core Curriculum to Students with Visual Impairments (3 credits; Option in place of EPSE 536 or 320) EPSE 514: Advanced Orientation and Mobility Techniques (6 Credits) |
First Winter: September, Even year (e.g. 2022, 2024) |
EPSE 537: Programming in Orientation and Mobility (3 credits) Online, 13 weeks | September–December |
Second Winter: January, Odd year (e.g. 2023, 2025) |
EPSE 538: Seminar in Orientation and Mobility (3 credits) Online, 13 weeks | January–April |
Start date and length dependent on placement after course completion | EPSE 598: Internship (3 credits) In the field | 350-hour internship |
**Students can take up to two consecutive terms to complete the 350-hour internship. Additional time may require registering for EPSE 598 a second time.
Applicant Requirements
All students must meet the admission and application requirements of both Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies , and the program, which include:
- A completed four-year undergraduate degree, and at least a 76% average on all senior-level credits
- Evidence of adequate preparation, ideally through a combination of academic and professional experience, to undertake graduate level study in this area
- Evidence of completion of prerequisite courses (or approved equivalents; see below for course listing)
Required application materials for this program include:
- Completed online application form (apply here) .
- One official (sealed) transcript from all post-secondary institutions (except from UBC)
- Note: Applicants currently enrolled in the M.Ed./M.A. special education Masters in blindness and visual impairment do not need to resubmit transcripts.
- Three electronic letters of reference
- An electronic copy of an up-to-date resumé
Prerequisites
The following courses (or approved equivalents) are prerequisites for the Graduate Certificate in O&M (see Path 2/About tab for more information):
EPSE 540: Seminar in Low Vision |
EPSE 541: Braille Reading and Writing |
EPSE 536: Foundations of Education for Students with Visual Impairments – OR – EPSE 320 – OR – EPSE 545 |
EPSE 513: Foundations of Orientation and Mobility for Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments – OR – EPSE 455 (Note: Can be taken in the same summer as the start of the O&M cohort) |
Online Application Form
Students will be asked to respond to the following question on the application form:
- Please provide a 500-word statement of your academic and professional goals, indicating how you think this program can help you enhance your professional learning and practice.
- Please provide a 500-word description of academic and/or professional experience that you feel have prepared you to take up graduate-level work in this area of study.
- Please discuss any other information you feel would be important to the Admission Committee in evaluating your application to the Faculty of Graduate Studies (optional; only if there is something you have not had an opportunity to highlight)
Transcripts should be sent to:
The University of British Columbia
Faculty of Education
2523 – 2125 Main Mall
Vancouver, B.C., V6T 1Z4
Application Status: Open!
Application Deadline: March 1, 2022
Program starts: July 2022*
*The program begins in July 2022, if you need pre-requisites (Path 2), please contact the program coordinator for information
Online Application: Click here
Application Procedure:
Please disregard the introductory information on the application site as it for all applications and does not apply directly to this program. To begin your application:
- Visit: https://secure.grad.ubc.ca/AccountC/instructions.asp
- Select create account (link on the left)
- Create your account
- Click new application (link on left after creating your account)
You can then use the drop-down menu to select Certificate in O&M and get started!
Course Registration
All students enrolled in this graduate certificate program will be enrolled into the program’s required or core courses. You do not register yourself.
Registering in Prerequisite Courses
If you are taking prerequisite(s) for this program, you will need to self-register in each course:
- Using your CWL ID and password, log in to the Student Service Centre (SSC).
- You can apply for admission as an unclassified student to take the prerequisites and apply for the O&M Certificate program when the application is open. For admission assistance, contact Matthew Duckworth (604-822-5242) in the Teacher Education Office.
- Pay the registration deposit.
- Follow the prompts to register in your course section(s).
For additional information on registering for courses, please visit UBC Courses & Registration.
Course Program Fees
- Domestic students: $378.95 / credit rate
- International students: $796.06 / credit rate
(Effective May 1, 2021)
These fees do not include the student fees paid by all UBC students (e.g. Athletic fee, U-Pass, etc.). Learn more about student fees.
Tuition fees are in Canadian dollars, are reviewed annually by the UBC Board of Governors, and are subject to change. Please reference the UBC Calendar for published tuition fees.
The program fees for the 15-credit certificate will be charged on a per-credit basis.
Application Fees
A non-refundable application fee of $45.50 is required at the time of application.