Disability Studies Minor

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Affiliation: Interdisciplinary Studies

Disability is a constant, pervasive, and deeply misunderstood element of human existence. While prevalence rates are unclear, at least 15-20% of all people have a disability. Virtually all people will have a disability at some point in their lives due to accident, disease, or old age. Few lives remain untouched by disability. We experience disability in our family, in our friends, in ourselves, and in every social, political, professional, or religious community. People with disabilities, throughout the world and in large numbers, remain disenfranchised, segregated, and oppressed. The systematic study of the world, through the lens of Disability Studies, addresses this injustice.

The field of Disability Studies examines disability as a social, cultural, and political phenomenon, and explores how disability is defined and represented. The Disability Studies Minor is an interdisciplinary approach to examining the interplay between the lived experience of disability and the social construction of disability. The Minor balances theoretical exploration with practical application, and provides students with a broad understanding of disability history, cultural representation, social justice and civil rights issues, policy concerns, and current ethical debates.

Program Requirements:

The minor requires the successful completion of 15 or more credits.
A grade of C or better is required for any class to count in the minor.
All courses may double count with a student’s major, minor, or LSP requirements.
No more than eight credits from any prefix may be counted for the minor.

Required Courses: 4 Credits

DS 120 - Introduction to Disability Studies Credits: 3
DS 480 - Disability Studies Capstone Credits: 1
Disability Capstone projects or papers can be completed in conjunction with a student’s major capstone experience with approval from the major supervisor and the DS capstone instructor during the project/paper proposal assignment.

Electives: 11 Credits

a. General Electives

CMDS 200 - Introduction to Communication Disorders Credits: 3
CMDS 475 - Sign Language Credits: 3
COMM 375 - Health Communication Credits: 3
DS 225 - Topics in Disability Studies: Credits: 1
DS 281 - Disability Studies Practicum Credits: 3
DS 310 - Readings in Disability Studies: Credits: 3
ES 369 - Physical Activity for Individuals with Disability Credits: 3
HLTH 265 - Drugs in Society Credits: 3
JINS 324 - Contexts of Disability Credits: 3
SED 530 - Psychology of the Exceptional Child Credits: 3

b. Program and Pre-requisite Limited Electives*

*These courses may not be appropriate for non-majors and few or no seats may be available for non-majors.

CMDS 578 - Augmentative & Alternative Communication Credits: 2
ES 347 - Motor Learning with Lab Credits: 3
ES 365 - Injury and Rehabilitation Psychology Credits: 3
HLTH 255 - Introduction to Community and Public Health Credits: 3
NU 250 - Lifespan Development Credits: 3
NU 425 - Community Mental Health Nursing Credits: 3
PSYC 337 - The Autism Spectrum Credits: 3
PSYC 366 - Psychology of Abnormal Behavior Credits: 3
PSYC 369 - Behavior Modification Credits: 3
PSYC 430 - Psychopharmacology: Drugs and Behavior Credits: 3
SED 581 - Learning Characteristics of and Curriculum for Students with Disabilities Credits: 3

c. Petitioned Courses (no more than 6 credits)

These courses are potentially eligible based on how a student chooses to complete assignments, projects, or service learning with a disability studies focus. The list below includes courses that have been identified as possibilities; however, other courses, internships, practicums, or service learning activities could be considered as well. Ideally, the semester the student is taking the course they will discuss with the instructor and Disability Studies Committee Chair what they plan to do and develop a contract. Upon evidence of successful completion, the course will be substituted for an elective. If the course has already been taken, then the student will have to provide evidence through copies of assignments and projects from the course that they did indeed incorporate a Disability Studies lens.

List of Current Possible Petition Courses

ED 389 - Foundations of Education - Sections with Dr. Julie Lockbaum
ENG 415 - Literature for Children - based on project and assignment focus
ENG 211 - Critical Explorations of Literature and Film - based on project and assignment focus
ENG 434 - Queer Theory
JINS 349 - Bodylore/Brainlore: Thinking with the Body - based on project and assignment focus
SED 535 - Counseling, Collaboration, and Consultation with Parents and Families