Category: Let's talk
Hello,
Everyone should know my name, but if not, it is Nathan. This year, I am coming up on my junior year, and have been taking the required prerequisite classes that everyone does. Now, however, I really want to get serious in finding a major that is right for me. I am interested in computers, and this is truly my passion, but am horrible at math. I can't even add and subtract three or two digit numbers very well. I want to major in computers, but am scared I won't be able to handle the math, such as calculus and statistics. Can any of you give me advice here? Also, am interested in history, teaching it. Does anyone know another blind person who is working in any of these majors I have listed, and how, if I did choose computers, which one has the least math, and how would I finish it? Thanks, looking for serous help only.
Hi Nathon.
What part of computers are you looking at doing? That's a very vvague statement. If you are looking to be a programmer, you will want to major in Computer Science I suspect, but if you want to teach technology, that requires a different skill set altogether. Have you passed the general requirements for math at least? If not, you will have to do that no matter which path you take.
Hi there.
I am working towards passing the general requirements for math; as in the developmental courses, I think they are called. Teaching technology would be good; any idea what that type of major is called?
Nathan. Not sure whether or not that has as much math as say computer science does. Also, in such a degree, such as teaching technology, they will be instructing everyone to use the mouse instead of the keyboard, and who would I teach? Sighted people? Not sure how that would work.
Thanks for your help so far.
Well, I have no clue how that works on regular college campuses, but I'm taking the IT Essentials course from Cavi. I just signed up, and am waiting for them to schedule an interview. Since it's a more focused course, I doubt there will be much math involved, which is great for me since I really suck at math, lol. But, since you're already in college, the only thing I can really suggest is to maybe peruse your college's course catalog, and see if there are any majors described in there that fit what you would like to do.
Teaching technology would require a teaching degree and training. Or I'd say the teaching degree would help.
If you are going to work in the computer field, you'll need computer science.
There are blind persons working as teachers with both degrees.
It is my opinion that a degree for a blind person, doesn't mean that person will work in that field, unless it is specific, like teaching.
A blind person can teach technology to both the blind and sighted, but this work is normally specificly done for blind to blind.
I think if I liked history, I'd do that, and get training for the technology if math is going to be a problem.
Teaching will be a college degree, so when applying for other type jobs, like in any business, the degree may help.
Is Liberty University accredited?
Check this out.
My daughter and her Xian friends wanted to go to some parochial unaccredited college because of its Xian leanings. At that time was one of the few times I had a serious fit and chewed the lot of them out.
You use your parents' or benefactors' money on an unaccredited college, and you will suffer later.
You can sometimes get your prereqs transferred, like what you have now. I do know many Xian places are accredited, some rather large ones. Even some extremely fundagelical ones. But being the parochial nature of the institution you attend, I would seriously get that checked out.
What accreditation does for you is ensures that your employer will take your degree seriously. Parochial institutions or training centers with no accreditation? No employer will give two shits on a nipple for any of that.
That isn't your fault, by the way. They're not always too forward with this. Fortunately, in the Daughter's case, the website for that Xian place had a huge rant that looked like something from a truckstop rag about how accreditation wasn't worth it for them, and they were better than that, some kind of special. Well, this here father didn't buy any of it, nor would another college benefactor of hers.
But in your case at least, even if I put you off a bit, at least there won't be tears as a result of my saying this.
Oh, and that falling out was a couple years ago now. Now that she is in college? I won't go so far as to say she thanked me for my outburst, but agrees with my premise about those places and accreditation.
I never can understand why anyone would get a degree from a college that is not accredited. It doesn't make any sense at all.
Bob
I think they don't check, and just assume if you attend a college, it is a college.
Plus, who advises you? How does a high school student know this is important unless told?
Hi,
I am revisiting this somewhat old topic, as I have still a lot of unresolved thoughts, floating around my brain tonight. Leo: To answer your question: Yes, liberty is accredited. If you go to their web page, at liberty.edu, I believe there is a section on accreditation.
Still, I am having second thoughts on what I want to major in; particularly, because I don't want my undergraduate degree, especially my concentration, to be mundane and uninteresting. Thus far, I have taken a lot of prereqs, but the thing is, I'm not sure if I really enjoy
history all that much to teach it. Admittedly, I find the education book to be very interesting, but am having difficulty even locating materials for studying for these licensure teaching tests in an accessible format from the Educational Testing Service, or www.ets.org. I think that's what they're called. Since I am enrolled in an introduction to education class, which is part of my Social Science degree, I am required to purchase a background check, as well as some portal thing to be able to submit my application for teaching or something. I just don't really see myself teaching history, and I don't want to get a degree, especially, an undergraduate or otherwise, in a field I don't think I would like to do. Honestly, my dream degree would be special education with an emphasis in blindness or visual impairment. Only a few schools have this particular major, and I would have to have transferable credit, as well as get VR's approvial to pay for an out-of-state college. I mean, the thing is, even with the special education degree, what type of job could I get? Especially with that concentration in blindness? Doesn't that limit me? I mean, one of the most confusing aspects of college is trying to decide on a major. Our academic advisors suck; once, they put me in the wrong class, but have never tried our Career Conselors before. I might just do that. I'm not sure why I'm at Liberty; i have learned a lot, but now, it's just seeming like sort of a waste of time.
Oh, so now I am adding some more to this topic.
I could definitely see myself teaching history, though not to 30 plus students each day, every day. If I did teach history, I would prefer to teach it at a school for the blind. The class size is small, only 4 to 5 students at a time, plus, I can relate history to the blind more than the sighted for some reason. Since I have a hearing impairment, it would be difficult, but not impossible, to continuously supervise 30 plus kids all the time. Not sure if there is a method to request where you will be placed during Student Teaching, but if I couldn't teach in a school for the blind, then I believe I would have a difficult time. Any thoughts?
Helllo:
If your dream job is special education with emphasis on the blind then why not do it? It is much more practical than my dream major and job which I am currently pursuing. After to failed majors and conforming to society. Everyone ranted at me and claimed that English was a waste of time and I'd be jobless. I attempted two other majors and found neither were my type of major.
What are your hobbies and interest? What is some fascinating and enjoyable activities you take pleasure for when you have the time?
I have a degree, it's history. There is a lot of reading, but somehow I stay sane.
oh do you? So, you finally found one? That is good.
Hi! After numerious numerious major changes/switches.. (and getting kicked out of a major--Psychology because I'm totally blind) loooooong story! I'm going back to school to be a vocational rehabilitation counsellor. (after taking 4 years off) I decided that this is what I want to do and+ I want to work in blind field services, cause obviously I can relate to that population best since I am blind, and understand the disability community since I have a disability myself lol. I probably shouldn't have explained that, since that's pretty much self-explanitory but lol.. anyways, if your state VR will pay for it--and since you want to work with the blind population, I don't see why not. You'd relate to them and vice versa.. I feel you on the general education requirements though. I too am having a difficult time with the math requirment... I have to take statistics for my major--since I am looking to major in rehabilitation studies... but it's getting through the pre-algebra/algebra/intermedite-algebra that I'm going to have a major problem with, especially because in high school, I basically took pre-algebra all 4 years because I suck at math.. so your not the only one... the only GE requirements I don't have are math/science... everything else I pretty much have.... just need to get up to 60 credits and I can transfer... but math for sure will be a challenge. good luck with whatever you decide to do!
No offense, but how do you get kicked out of Psychology as a major just because you're totally blind. I'm totally blind. Three of my friends are totally blind and they graduated with a psych major; it's one of the easiest subjects for a blind person to major in. I know. I did for a while until I transfered to writing and journalism, but purely of my own accord.
Unless you faced some unfortunate discrimination in your college, I truly doubt you were "kicked out" of majoring in psych because of your total blindness. I don't say this to be a snob or a know-it-all, but because by saying you couldnt' make it in a major because of your blindness, you are misleading anyone who might be blind and looking into majoring in that field.
These boards are public; they can be viewed through google.
So let's just clear something up: A major in psychology is totally doable by a completely blind person. If you failed out of it or had to leave, I'd wager it was due to your individual circumstances, not to being blind in general.
And no offense, really, but judging by the way you wrote this last post, I'm convinced your blindness alone had nothing to do with having to leave the major.
One last thing: just because a person is blind doesnt' guarantee that they would make a successful or affective TVI. Just because you might have the same disability isn't an automatic ticket to relating with or communicating with blind kids effectively.
Good TVI's have to be resourceful, excellent educators, good with kids exhibiting multiple skill levels and varying ages, they have to be able to tooter the kid in any subject necessary (yes, this includes math if the situation calls for it).
there's much more to being a TVI than just relating to another blind person as a blind person yourself.
If that's your main reason for going into that field, I'd strongly rethink that, because if that's all you have to offer your future students (and their parents), you're going to be doing them an extreme disservice.
Too many blind people go into being TVI's just because they feel like they might succeed in that field due to their disability, and too many of them are far from cut out for it.
Ok; I'm off my soap box. Call me an ass if you will, but I've said my piece, and if it doesnt' help the original poster and the previous poster as well, maybe someone else might gain some perspective from it.
My bad; I misread the post prior to my last one. Being a VR counselor is certainly much less challenging and demanding than being a TVI. And it has more to do with advocacy and resourcefulness than anything else. Screw the math in that case. My bad.
But I do rest my case regarding the psych major.
Write away mmakes some good points. Even as a rehab counselor, you have to do much more than relate to people. It involves a lot of relationship building with employers, a lot of thinking outside the box, and mountains upon mountains of paper work, etc. Also, if you wish to pursue a degree, if you do want to be a VR counselor, you may want to revisit psychology or another one of the social sciences for an undergrad degree. Being blind on its own is not a qualification, or at least, it shouldn't be. You will still most likely require a masters degree, and many states now also require that you at least be eligible to get an official certification as a rehab counselor. TO sit for this exam, you must have a certain number of hours in the field of rehabilitation counseling as an intern, and/or a masters in a related field. I wish you both the best of luck!
Hi! To clear something up-- I was kicked out of the major by the department. they told me I couldn't do Psychology.. same thing happend with socialwork.. and yes I do realize that you have to build relationships with people, etc, etc. It was a small school with no support, so maybe that's why I was forced out. who knows... but accademically, I'm a good student, so it had nothing to do with that... I tried like hell to explain my case to them.. but when you have nobody to advicate for you--in my case, I was my own self-advicate- so I'd definitely be able to advicate for folks when they need it when I become a VR counsellor.... because I know how it feels to not get books, technology, mobility training, and the list goes on lol...