UI Disability Studies Program Update

Just wanted to provide a brief update on the disability studies program I'm working on developing. I presented the proposed structure and sequence of the certificates to our Community Advisory Council a couple of weeks ago and they were all supportive and, actually, very enthusiastic about getting this program off the ground.

We then went to meet with the Dean of the College of Ed to ask about getting a separate course prefix for the CDHD. I'm quite adamant that these courses and the DS program not be stuck under the Special Education program. DS is not Special Ed, and in fact is almost antithetical to many of the traditional premises in SPED. So, I have insisted that these courses have their own course prefix or else be offered through an appropriate program like Sociology or Interdisciplinary Studies.

During our meeting with the Dean , he actually took my proposal one step further than I did and suggested that we just develop an undergraduate minor instead of a certificate program...so that was pretty cool. We're just waiting to hear back on the course prefix before we proceed with the next steps, which include filing a Notice of Intent to develop a new program with the University Curriculum Committee and then the State Board of Education. There's still those two hurdles to cross, but I'm optimistic.

I thought I'd just post my proposed structure for the three proposed programs here and see what feedback I receive:

Proposed Structure and Sequence for Undergraduate Minor in Disability Studies

Credits Required for Certificate: 12 credits (6 cr. DS Core Courses; 6 cr. DS Electives)

Required Courses:

1. Core Discovery 122 (4 cr.) What is Normal Anyway?: Disability, Difference, and Society OR Introduction to Disability Studies (3 cr.)
2. Core Discovery 172 (3 cr.) What is Normal Anyway?: Disability, Difference, and Society OR Disability in the Humanities (3 cr.)

Elective Courses:

1. The History of Disability (3 cr.)
2. Disability Policy in the U.S. and the World (3 cr.)
3. Disability Studies in Education (3 cr.)
4. Practicum in Applied Disability Studies (1-3 cr.)
5. Interior Design 343 Universal Design (3 cr.)
6. American Studies 201 Introduction to Ethnic Studies (3 cr.)
7. Anthropology J462/J562 Human Issues in International Development (3 cr.)
8. Core Discovery 103/153 Race,Ethnicity, and Identity (7 credits)
9. Core Discovery 120/170 Art, Artists, and Madness: An exploration of the linkages between creativity and mental illness (7 credits)
10. Family and Consumer Sciences 462 Eating Disorders (2 cr)
11. Journalism and Mass Media 340 Cultural Diversity and the Media (3 cr)
12. Physical Education 424 Physical Education for Special Populations (2 cr)
13. Philosophy 365 Biomedical Ethics (3 cr)
14. Philosophy 472 Social and Political Philosophy (3 cr)
15. Psychology 470/570 Introduction to Chemical Addictions (3 cr)
16. Recreation 110 Recreation for People with Disabilities (3 cr)
17. Recreation 467/567 Recreational Therapy for People with Developmental Disabilities (3 cr)
18. Sociology 240 Introduction to Social Services (3 cr)
19. Sociology 301 Introduction to Diversity and Stratification (3 cr.)
    
20. Sociology 314 Society and Self (3 cr.)
    
21. Sociology 320 Sociology of Substance Abuse (3 cr)
22. Sociology 423 Social Stratification (3 cr.)
    
23. Sociology 424 Sociology of Gender (3 cr.)
    
24. Soc 431 Personal and Social Issues in Aging (3 cr)
25. Special Education 351 Family and Community Involvement (2 cr).
26. Womens Studies 201 Women, Culture, and Society: Introduction to Women's Studies (3 cr)

Proposed Structure and Sequence for Graduate Certificate in Disability Studies

Credits Required for Certificate: 15 credits (9 cr. DS Core Courses; 3 cr. DS Elective Courses)

Required Courses:

1. Introduction to Disability Studies (3 cr.)
   
2. The History of Disability (3 cr.) OR Disability Policy in the U.S. and the World (3 cr.)
3. Disability in the Humanities (3 cr.) OR Disability Studies in Education (3 cr.)
   

Elective Courses:

1. Practicum in Applied Disability Studies (1-3 cr.)
2. Disability Studies in Context: Creating Effective Inclusive Classrooms (3 cr.)
   
3. Anthropology 462/562 Human Issues in International Development (3 cr)
4. Counseling and School Psychology 519 Social and Cultural Foundations (3 cr.)
   
5. Counseling and School Psychology 531 Psycho-social Aspects of Disability (3 cr)
6. Recreation 467/567 Recreational Therapy for People with Developmental Disabilities (3 cr)
7. Special Education 542 Families: Issues of Disability and Culture (3 cr)
8. Special Education Consulting Teacher (3 cr)
9. Psychology J470/J570 Introduction to Chemical Addictions (3 cr)

Proposed Structure and Sequence for Certificate in Disability Studies in Education

Credits Required for Certificate: 9 credits of required coursework

Required Courses:

1. Introduction to Disability Studies (3 cr.)
   
2. Disability Studies in Education (3 cr.)
3. Disability Studies in Context: Creating Effective Inclusive Classrooms (3 cr.)