Disability Studies Certificate

For undergraduate students wishing to develop an understanding of the interdisciplinary field of disability studies, we offer an undergraduate certificate of specialization.

The Disability Studies certificate is useful for students planning careers in the private sector and educational institutions, including social work, graduate and professional schools, community action organizations, and social services.

Completion of the certificate provides evidence of specialized study, which can be beneficial for enhancing future career options and interests.

This certificate is designed for students who wish to:

• Develop understanding in the interdisciplinary field of critical disability studies
• Provide evidence of specialized study
• Indicate preparedness for graduate school
• Increase their appeal for a wide variety of employers and educational institutions, including social work, graduate and professional schools, community action organizations, and social services.

• Complete four courses/12 credit hours

To earn this certificate successfully, students must complete both WEST 1010 Introduction to Social Justice Studies and SOC 4230 Foundations of Disability Studies plus three electives (9 credit hours) of the options below with a minimum grade of 2.0 or better:

• SPED 3000: Disability Studies in Education
• COUN 3200: Professional Orientation and Case Management in Rehabilitation
• WEST 3400: Contemporary Theory in WEST
• SOC 4010: Sociology of Military, disability, and Trauma
• SOC 4010: Disability and Impairment
• SPED 4020/WEST 4020: Significant Support Needs
• WEST 4030: Bodies, Genders & Sexualities
• COUN 4100: Medical and Psychosocial Aspects of Disability
• SOC 4120: Body, Culture, and Power
• SOC 4240: Sociology of Dis/Ability
• SOC 4650: Sociology of Mental Illness

Additional disability studies related special-topic courses may be offered that can be counted toward the graduate certificate. These courses must be approved in advance by the certificate coordinator, Dr. Heather Albanesi.

For additional details on program coursework, please visit the Academic Catalog.

General Admissions

To learn more about admission requirements and the application process, please visit the UCCS Admissions page.

Additional resources for Admissions:

• Tuition Rate
• Cost of Tuition Estimator
• Financial Aid
• Scholarships

Intent & Completion Applications for Program Admission

Once admitted to UCCS, students choosing to pursue a certificate must submit a Certificate Declaration Form.

After completing the program requirements, the student must submit the Certificate Completion Form with all supporting documents uploaded where indicated on the form. Students planning to pursue multiple certificates will need to submit separate declaration and completion forms for each certificate.