Program Overview

Certificate in Disability and Neurodiversity

The undergraduate Certificate in Disability and Neurodiversity provides an interdisciplinary understanding of individuals across the lifespan with disabilities and is relevant to majors and careers in health, education, rehabilitation, and human service professions. Students will explore how disabilities interact with health, life outcomes, family, society, stigma, and the physical environment, and intersect with identities such as race and gender. This certificate consists of basic coursework as well as experiential learning through research or field experiences. This certificate is open to students in all majors.

Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of this certificate, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of the history, philosophy, definitions, and rights related to disabilities and developmental disabilities.
2. Use content knowledge to investigate or optimize the development, health, and well-being of individuals with disabilities.
3. Acquire knowledge regarding the causes, outcomes, and interventions of commonly occurring disabilities and health conditions (e.g., congenital disabilities, diabetes, spinal cord injuries).
4. Describe concepts related to independence, inclusion, ableism, stigma, self-determination, empowerment, access, identity politics, and inclusion of individual differences as they relate to disability, life stage, and culture.

Requirements

• A minimum of 9 credits must be upper division.
• Some elective courses are restricted to majors, minors, or honors students.
• Other related courses may be substituted upon approval of the certificate advisor.
• Students may double-count a maximum of 6 credits towards this certificate from any of the following programs of study: HDFS or Early Childhood Education majors, the HDFS Minor, the Certificate in Youth Mentoring with Campus Connections, the Certificate in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health, the Certificate in Adaptive Exercise, or the Interdisciplinary Minors in Gerontology and American Sign Language.

Course List

• Required Course:
  • HDFS 315: Disability Across the Lifespan and Culture (3 credits)
• Select 6 credits from the following:
  • ANEQ 351: Techniques in Therapeutic Riding
  • ETST 270: Introduction to Critical Disability Studies
  • ETST 420: Disability, Race, Gender in the Environment
  • HDFS 275: Foundational Helping Skills
  • HDFS 317: Disabilities in Early Childhood Education
  • PSY 460: Child Exceptionality and Psychopathology
  • HDFS 410: Wonder Years-Socioemotional Journey Ages 3-8
  • HDFS 412: Mental and Physical Health in Adulthood
  • HES 345: Population Health and Disease Prevention
  • HES 354: Theory of Health Behavior
  • HES 427: Inclusive Fitness Training
  • LASL: American Sign Language
  • MU 241: Introduction to Music Therapy 1
  • OT 355: The Disability Experience in Society
• One course from the following may count:
  • HDFS 101: Lifespan Development (GT-SS3)
  • HDFS 310: Infant and Child Development in Context
  • HDFS 312: Adult Development-Middle Age and Aging
  • HDFS 318: Baby Steps-Development from 0-3 Years
• Select a minimum of 3 credits directly related to disabilities from the following:
  • AHS 487B: Human Services Internship: Gerontology (3 credits)
  • EDCT 485: Student Teaching (2 credits)
  • EDUC 485A: Student Teaching: Elementary (2 credits)
  • EDUC 485B: Student Teaching: Secondary (2 credits)
  • EDUC 485C: Student Teaching: Early Childhood (2 credits)
  • HDFS 286A-E: Practicum
  • HDFS 372/AGED 372: Inclusive Mentoring for Neurodiverse Peers
  • HDFS 470A: Campus Connections: Youth Mentor
  • HDFS 488A-E: Internship (1 credit)
  • HDFS 498A: Research: Human Development
  • HES 486: Practicum–Wellness Program Management (1 credit)
  • HONR 499: Senior Honors Thesis (4 credits)
  • SOWK 488: Practice-Based Learning (1 credit)

Program Total Credits

• The total credits required for the program is 12 credits.