Orientation and Mobility (O&M) Program
Get prepared for a unique career allowing you to work with people of all ages who have visual impairments. As a student in orientation and mobility (O&M), you’ll learn a multitude of competencies to help individuals with visual impairments access training that supports safe, efficient and independent travel skills.
Program Features
Learn through coursework addressing special education policy, laws, resources, learning theories, service delivery models, meeting the needs of diverse consumers, including those with additional disabilities, environmental analysis and psychosocial aspects of blindness and visual impairment.
Gain knowledge in visual impairment, with specialization in orientation skills, movement, anatomy and physiology of the eye, conceptual development, use of senses, assessment, and relevant medical information that supports instruction, assessment and on-going training.
Hands-on learning opportunities and diverse internship experiences that support application of knowledge in real-world settings, providing a well-rounded experience to facilitate future job prospects.
Program prepares you for a culminating exam leading to professional certification as a certified orientation and mobility specialist (COMS) through the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals.
Coursework may be used towards a master’s degree specializing in sensory impairment and inclusion. Upon enrollment, please inform your advisor if you are interested in this advanced degree.
Career Paths
A COMS may work in a variety of settings, including schools, early intervention programs serving infants, toddlers, and their families, educational service centers, residential schools for the blind, rehabilitation centers, adult services, veterans administration hospitals, or as private contractors serving a multitude of clients.
Licensure Requirements
Prerequisite
Bachelor's degree
Minimum Program hours
23
Deadline to apply
April 1
Program Start
Summer
Non-Coursework Requirements
Opioid Module
- State-required set of modules required for all ODE seeking licensure students who do not complete Ohio Standards for Educators prior to submitting a licensure.
Complete this module
Computer Science Computational Thinking Module
- State-required set of modules. Students who do not complete student teaching are required to complete this requirement prior to licensure application. Required for all students admitted AU22 and beyond.
Complete this module
Ohio Standards for Pupil Services and Endorsements
- State-required set of modules for all students seeking pupil services type licenses or endorsements. These students should complete this prior to applying for ODE licensure.
Complete this module
Each module carries a $5 fee, which supports the technical infrastructure needed to deliver and maintain the modules—ensuring secure access, regular platform updates and reliable digital resource management.
Students are required to send their certificates of completion for each module to tles@osu.edu prior to applying for endorsement.
Licensure Disclosure
Ohio State academic programs are designed to prepare students for licensure or certification in Ohio. If you plan to pursue licensure or certification in a state other than Ohio, please review state educational requirements for licensure and certification at go.osu.edu/onground.
The Department of Teaching and Learning at The Ohio State University is home to Ohio’s only Orientation & Mobility (O&M) Program, of the individuals currently certified through ACVREP as orientation and mobility specialists (COMS) within the state of Ohio, 44.8% of these individuals are graduates of the OSU Program in O&M. This number does not fully reflect the full impact of OSU O&M Program completers as many are providing services outside of Ohio or are providing services within Ohio by working through Ohio Department of Education and Workforce Development (ODEW) with an O&M Pupil Services License.
On average, it takes scholars one (1) year to complete the O&M licensure program; 100% of our graduates from the program are employed in aligned professions in P-12 schools and other settings, with over 80% of these graduates working specifically in the field of blind rehabilitation.
For additional program data, please visit the Accreditation, Placement and Licensure (ALP) site.*
*In Ohio, educator preparation program data are not publicly reported when fewer than 10 individuals complete a program to protect participant privacy and confidentiality.
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