Certificate Program for Graduate Students and Returning Professionals
Recognizing that training leaders in the field of disability studies is a national agenda and that there is no advanced training programs in Missouri, The Center for Disability Studies of UMKC Institute for Human Development (Missouri’s only federally recognized Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities) is offering an Interdisciplinary Leadership Certificate in Disability Studies program to graduate students and returning professionals. The certificate is to be awarded by School of Graduate Studies upon completion of a certificate program as described below
Faculty from different disciplines with shared interests for cooperative research, teaching and service involve in the certificate program and create an interdisciplinary nature of the program.
The Interdisciplinary Leadership Certificate in
Disability Studies is offered through UMKC School of Graduate Studies, and
administered by the Center for Disability Studies of the Institute for Human
Development. The certificate is available to students enrolled in masters and
doctorate programs from various disciplines so they can earn this certificate in
the process of earning their professional and graduate degrees.
Interdisciplinary Certificate in Disabilities Studies
Required Courses
Law 815S: Leadership in Disability Studies: A Multidisciplinary Approach
Psych 541: Life Span Issues in Developmental Disabilities
Field Work in Disability Studies
Elective Courses
Psych 542: Interdisciplinary Process in Dev. Disabilities/Human Services
Hum 490: Images of
Disability in Lit. Film
Law 815R: Disability and the Law (3 hrs)
Soc 556: Aging & Dev. Disabilities (2 hrs)
Soc 557: Practicum
Additional Course Options:
Education 489: School-Linked Services
Education 529: Government & Legal Aspects of Education
EDUL 556: The College Student
EDUL 551: Student Affairs Adm. In Higher Education
EDUL 557: Legal Aspects of Higher Education
Nursing 513: Health and Society
Nursing 514: Policy, Organization & Financing of Health Care
Nursing 526: Health Promotion Across the Life Span
Nursing 566P: Chronic Child Health Care
Health Admin 575: Long-Term Care Policy & Admin
Law 761R: Mental Health Law
EDUL 549: Interagency, Interdisciplinary course in Mediation
All works toward the certificate must be completed in 4 years.
What
is Disability Studies?
Disability Studies is a relatively new, interdisciplinary field focused
on the social and cultural context of disability. Often compared to women
studies or African American studies, this field considers disability as a
social minority group with an emphasis on the way in which disability is
constructed culturally, politically, economically, rather than the traditional
emphasis on the physiology of impairment.
Purpose of the Certificate
Through the certificate program, students will collaborate with and learn
directly from persons with disabilities and professionals in the field as well
as from an interdisciplinary perspective. Students who receive the certificate
will be expected to be able to provide leadership in their chosen occupations
such as scholars, administrators, policymakers, government officials, writers
and commentators, corporate officers, advocates.
Program Requirement
A minimum of 12 credit hours is required for the certificate, 9 hours to
be obtained from the required courses and 3 hours to be obtained from the lists
of elective courses and additional course options.
At least 60% of the course works must be made at or above the 500 level
Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA while enrolled. The minimum acceptable grade for 400 level courses is B, and for 500 level and above courses is B-
Application
Application for admission must be made
to the UMKC School of Graduate Studies
A baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution is required.
Financial Aids
Fellowships may be available for a few students interested in the field
of disability as a career.
Other stipends or paid internships may also be available.
Links
For more information, please contact
816-235-6335
