A new interdisciplinary graduate certificate program centered on disability studies is being offered for the first time at the U.
The 15-credit-hour certificate is offered to graduate students from all disciplines at the U.
The introductory course required for the certificate explores disability studies from a variety of perspectives and examines topics on disability, from public policy to first-hand accounts of living with a so-called disability in today’s world.
“Prior views of disability saw a disability as something wrong with the person,” said Cathy Chambless, co-instructor of the course. “We often think that a label defines the being, but it may have little to do with who they are as a person and their everyday life.”
The graduate certificate requires students to first enroll in the introductory course.
Then students are expected to fulfill between five and nine credit hours in graduate-level classes among allied course listings. For their capstone experience students are expected to conduct research or community service projects approved by a departmental advisor.
Chambless explained that the first class will focus on the architectural, economic and attitudinal barriers that prevent individuals with disabilities from full inclusion in society.
The required introductory course is cross-listed in the College of Health and the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences as PADMN 6350 or OC TH 6350.
The course includes a focus on service learning and requires students to work with a community organization of their choice that assists disabled individuals. Some community organizations students can work with include the Disability Law Center and the Utah Independent Living Center, as well as the Disability Resource Center, which is located on campus. In addition to regular lectures, guest speakers will talk to the class about issues relating to disabilities
With the experiences students gain from working with these organizations, the instructors hope students can take the lessons they learn about the disabled into their professional and everyday lives.
“This class is supposed to increase the students’ understanding of disability and go beyond students’ second-hand perspective or generalizations about disability,” said Pollie Price, who also teaches the course.