Program Overview

Disability Studies Certificate Program

The Disability Studies Certificate program is an interdisciplinary focus of academia that uses a cross-disability, intersectional approach to understand disability as a social and cultural construct and people with disabilities as a protected minority.

Program Description

This program draws upon diverse disciplines including history, sociology, law, policy studies, economics, anthropology, geography, philosophy, theology, gender studies, media studies, architecture, and the arts to understand the social, cultural, and political situation of disabled cultures and people with disabilities globally.

At a Glance

• College/School: The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Location: Tempe

Curriculum

The program requires students to complete 15 credit hours with at least 12 hours completed at the upper-division level. A minimum grade of "C" (2.00 on a 4.00 scale) is required for a course to count toward the certificate.

• Required Courses:
  • JUS 235 Disability, Justice and Advocacy (CIVI) - 3 Credit Hours, Minimum Grade: C
  • JUS 437 The Social Construction of Disability and Justice (HUAD) - 3 Credit Hours, Minimum Grade: C
• Elective Courses:
  • Upper Division Electives:
    • AFR 317 / JUS 317 Genes, Race and Society (SOBE)
    • AFR 375 Race, Gender and Sport (SOBE)
    • APA 330 / WST 331 Asian Pacific American Genders and Sexualities (SOBE)
    • APA 350 / AFR 350 / CDE 350 / SOC 350 / TCL 360 / JUS 365 Inequality and Diversity in Education (CIVI)
    • APA 355 Asian American Psychology (SOBE)
    • CRD 302 Inclusive Community Development (SOBE)
    • DST 322 Social and Cultural Implications of the Many Forms of Disability (SOBE)
    • DST 458 Disability and Communication Advocacy
    • EDS 301 Sustainable Community Design and Practices (SUST)
    • ENG 484 Internship
    • GER 494 Topic: Posthumanism and the Ends of Man
    • JUS 303 Justice Theory (CIVI)
    • JUS 305 Principles of Justice Studies (HUAD)
    • JUS 370 Cultural Diversity and Justice (CIVI)
    • JUS 375 Justice and the Mass Media (SOBE)
    • JUS 432 Racial Justice (CIVI)
    • JUS 438 Human Differences: Dilemmas of Justice (CIVI)
    • JUS 440 Prisons, Power and the Punishments of the Past
    • JUS 469 Political Deviance and the Law
    • MHL 447 Music and Healing (HUAD)
    • MUE 441 Psychology of Music
    • PRM 453 Inclusive Community Sport
    • RTH 364 Foundations in Recreational Therapy (SOBE)
    • RTH 440 Advocacy in Therapeutic Recreation (GCSI)
    • RTH 455 Recreational Therapy and Play with Children, Youth and Families
    • SHS 367 Language Science (SOBE)
    • WST 313 Women and Sexuality (SOBE)
    • WST 371 Sex and the City: Women, Sexuality, and Popular Culture (HUAD)
    • WST 380 Race, Gender, and Class (SOBE)
    • WST 477 Gender and Violence
  • Minimum Grade: C, 9 Credit Hours

Enrollment Requirements

In addition to all other majors, students enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts or minor in disability studies offered by the New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences are permitted to add this certificate. A student pursuing an undergraduate certificate must be enrolled as a degree-seeking student at ASU. Undergraduate certificates are not awarded before the award of an undergraduate degree. A student already holding an undergraduate degree may pursue an undergraduate certificate as a nondegree-seeking graduate student.

Program Learning Outcomes

Program learning outcomes identify what a student will learn or be able to do upon completion of their program. This program’s learning outcomes include the following:

• Employ and critically assess core theories, models, and perspectives that have contributed to the development of disability studies.
• Understand and identify representations of disability as historically specific and culturally contingent.
• Apply disability studies perspectives in the construction of social policy, engagement, and advocacy.

Career Opportunities

Graduates who have combined the certificate in disability studies with their major program of study may become more marketable to employers. They often decide to pursue employment in law, education, public service, and human welfare and social work. Advanced degrees or certifications may be required for academic or clinical positions.