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ACADEMIC PROGRAMS IN DISABILITY STUDIES
Steven J. Taylor and Rachael Zubal-Ruggieri
Center on Human Policy, Law and Disability Studies
Syracuse University

Updated July, 2012

This is a listing of Disability Studies programs in North American Academic Institutions. The title “Disability Studies” has become popular and is sometimes used to refer to programs in clinical or instructional fields. The programs in this listing meet the following criteria: (1) the sponsoring university offers a four-year undergraduate degree or Master’s or doctoral degrees: (2) the programs offer a formal academic program, including a degree, concentration, specialization, minor, major, or certificate in Disability Studies; (3) the programs include disability course work in non-clinical and non-instructional fields (e.g., the Humanities, Social Sciences, Literature, Law, Policy Studies, or the Visual or Performing Arts); and (4) information describing the programs can be found in written form or on a university web site. This listing does not include research or training centers that do not offer formal academic programs.

Academic Institution: California Baptist University
Program: Master of Arts in Disability Studies
Academic Unit: School of Education
Address: 8432 Magnolia Avenue
Riverside, CA 92504
Contact: Dr. Jeff McNair
Phone: (951) 343-4489
E-mail: jmcnair@calbaptist.edu  
WWW: http://www.calbaptist.edu/disabilitystudies/  
NOTE: This program is completely online.
Academic Institution: Chapman University
Program: Ph.D. in Education, Disability Studies Emphasis
Academic Unit: College of Educational Studies
Address: One University Drive
Orange, CA 92866
Contact: Joel A. Colbert, Ed.D., Director, Ph.D. in Education Program
Phone: (714) 744-7076
E-mail: colbert@chapman.edu  
WWW: http://www.chapman.edu/CES/PhD/disability.asp
Academic Institution: College of Staten Island, The City University of New York
Program: Minor in Disability Studies, Interdisciplinary Program
Academic Unit: Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work
Address: Psychology/Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work Building (4S), Room 236
2800 Victory Boulevard
Staten Island, NY 10314
Contact: David A. Goode, Ph.D.
Phone/TTY: (718) 982-3757
E-mail: goode@mail.csi.cuny.edu  
WWW: http://www.csi.cuny.edu/catalog/undergraduate/dan-331-332-333-334-private-study-in-dance-i-ii-iii-iv.htm#o6622  
Comment: This minor may be taken in combination with any baccalaureate degree.
Academic Institution: The City University of New York
Programs: Master of Arts in Disability Studies
Multidisciplinary Graduate Certificate in Disability Studies
Academic Unit: CUNY School of Professional Studies
Address: 101 West 31st Street, 7th Floor
New York, NY 10001
Contact: Mariette J. Bates, Ph.D.
Phone/TTY: (212) 652-2047
E-mail: Mariette.Bates@mail.cuny.edu  
WWW: http://sps.cuny.edu/static/disabilitystudies.html  
Academic Institution: Eastern Washington University
Program: Certificate in Disability Studies & Graduate Certificate in Disability Studies
Academic Unit: College of Social and Behavioral Sciences and Social Work
Address: Center for Disability Studies & Universal Access
208 Senior Hall
Cheney, WA 99004-2441
Contact: Dr. Romel Mackelprang, Professor and Director
Phone: (509) 359-4584
Email: rmackelprang@ewu.edu
WWW: http://www.ewu.edu/csbssw/programs/disability-studies.xml  
Academic Institution: Gallaudet University
Programs: Bachelor of Arts in Deaf Studies
Minor in Deaf Studies
Master of Arts in Deaf Studies with a concentration in Cultural Studies
Master of Arts in Sign Language Teaching
Academic Unit: Department of ASL and Deaf Studies
Address: Sorenson Language and Communication Center (SLCC) 1200
Hall Memorial Building, Room E-111
800 Florida Avenue, NE
Washington, DC 20002-3695
Contact: Dr. Arlene B. Kelly, Chair
Video Phone: 202-559-5624
FAX: 202-651-5476
E-mail: arlene.kelly@gallaudet.edu  
WWW: http://deafstudies.gallaudet.edu/  
Comment: Disability Studies is incorporated into History and other courses 
Academic Institution: Hofstra University
Program: Disability Studies Program (Undergraduate Minor)
Academic Unit: College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Address: Hempstead Turnpike
Hempstead, NY 11549
Contact: Karyn Valerius, Director of Disability Studies Program and Associate Professor of English Phone/TTY: 516-463-6817
Email: karyn.m.valerius@hofstra.edu  
WWW: http://www.hofstra.edu/Academics/Colleges/HCLAS/DSST/index.html  
Academic Institution: Kent State University
Program: Undergraduate Disability Studies and Community Inclusion Certificate
Academic Unit: College of Education, Health and Human Services
Address: School of Lifespan Development and Educational Studies
405 White Hall
Kent, OH 44242
Phone: 330-672-2294
Email: oss@kent.edu  
WWW: http://www.ehhs.kent.edu/ldes/  
http://www.kent.edu/catalog/2011/collegesprograms/eh/certs/c140.cfm
Academic Institution: Miami University
Program: Undergraduate Disability Studies Minor
Academic Unit: College of Arts and Sciences
Address: c/o Department of Sociology
Upham Hall
Oxford, OH 45056
Contacts: Dr. Marty Jendrek
Phone: 513-529-636
Email: jendremp@muohio.edu  
WWW: http://www.units.muohio.edu/sociology/DisabilityStudies4.shtml or http://www.scripps.muohio.edu/node/385  
Comment: Additional information on courses offered in his minor can be found at http://www.units.muohio.edu/reg/bulletins/GeneralBulletin2010-2011/. 
Academic Institution: National-Louis University
Program: Disability and Equity in Education Doctoral Program
Academic Unit: National College of Education
Address: 1000 Capitol Drive
Wheeling, IL 60090
Contact: Valerie Owen, Program Director
Phone/TTY: (847) 947-5049
E-mail: vowen@nl.edu  
WWW: http://www.nl.edu/academics/nce/programs/Doctoral/DEE.cfm  
Academic Institution: Northern Arizona University
Program: Undergraduate Minor in Disability Studies
Academic Unit: College of Social & Behavioral Sciences
Address: Institute for Human Development
P.O. Box 5630
Flagstaff AZ 86011-5630
Contact: Katherine Mahonsky
Telephone/TTY: (928) 523-5878
(928) 523-9127 Fax
(928) 523-1695 TTY
Email: Katherine.Mahosky@nau.edu  
WWW: http://www4.nau.edu/ihd/MinorinDisabilityStudies.asp  
Academic Institution: Ohio State University
Program: Undergraduate Minor in Disability Studies
Graduate Interdisciplinary Specialization in Disability Studies
Academic Unit: Arts & Sciences (Interdisciplinary)
Address: c/o Department of English
421 Denney Hall
164 West 17th Avenue
Columbus, OH 43210
Contact: Amy Shuman, Professor
Phone: 614-292-67555
E-mail: Shuman.l@osu.edu  
WWW: http://disabilitystudies.osu.edu/  
See also “A History: Disability at Ohio State” @ http://digitalunion.osu.edu/r2/summer06/kmetz/index.html  
Comment: Ohio State University hosts Disability Studies Quarterly.
Academic Institution: Pacific University
Program: Disability Studies in the Humanities and Social Sciences (Minor)
Academic Unit: College of Arts & Sciences
Address: Disability Studies/Humanities
2034 College Way
Forest Grove, OR 96116
Contact: Dr. Tim Thompson
Phone/TTY: (503) 352-2229
E-mail: thompsot@pacificu.edu  
WWW: http://www.pacificu.edu/as/disability/  
Academic Institution: Ryerson University
Program: Bachelor’s of Arts in Disability Studies
Academic Unit: School of Disability Studies
Address: Ryerson University
350 Victoria Street
Toronto, ON M5B 2K3
CANADA
Contact: Dr. Kathryn Church, Director
Phone/TTY: (416) 979-5000 (ext. 4592)
E-mail: k3church@ryerson.ca  
WWW: http://www.ryerson.ca/ds/  
Comment: Course-work can be taken via two-week on-site courses and distance education.
Academic Institution: Stony Brook University
Program: Disabilities Studies Concentration, Bachelor of Science in Health Science
Academic Unit: School of Health Technology & Management
Address: HSC – SHTM, L-2
Stony Brook, NY 11794-8200
Contact: Sharon A. Cuff, LMSW, Clinical Associate Professor
Phone/TTY: (631) 444-3242
E-mail: sharon.cuff@stonybrook.edu  
WWW: http://www.hsc.stonybrook.edu/shtm/bshs/nonclinical.cfm#ds  
Academic Institution: Syracuse University
Program: Graduate (Master’s and Ph.D.)
Graduate Certificate of Advanced Study (CAS) Program in Disability Studies
Joint Degree Program in Law (J.D.) and Education (Master’s and CAS in Disability Studies)
Undergraduate Minor in Disability Studies
Academic Unit: Cultural Foundations of Education, School of Education
Address: Center on Human Policy, Law, and Disability Studies
Syracuse University
805 South Crouse Avenue
Syracuse NY 13244-2280
Contact: Steven J. Taylor, Ph.D., Centennial Professor and Coordinator of Disability Studies
Phone:(315) 443-3851
E-mail: staylo01@syr.edu  
WWW: http://disabilitystudies.syr.edu/what/disabilitystudiesatSU.aspx  
Comment: The CAS in Disability Studies is available to students matriculated in any graduate program at Syracuse University as well as persons who are not otherwise enrolled in a university program.
For information on the Joint Degree Program in Law and Education, contact Professor Arlene Kanter, College of Law, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244 (kantera@law.syr.edu or 315-443-9551).
Academic Institution: Temple University
Program: Graduate Certificate in Disability Studies
Academic Unit: College of Education
Address: Institute on Disabilities
1601 North Broad Street
University Services Building, Suite 610
Philadelphia, PA 19122
Contact: 
Phone: (215) 204-3373; TTY (215) 204-1356
E-mail:
WWW: http://disabilities.temple.edu/programs/ds/  
http://ed.temple.edu//programs/certificate/iod_disabilitystudies.html  
Academic Institution: University at Buffalo
Program: Master of Arts (M.A.) in “Humanities – interdisciplinary” with a formal concentration in Disability Studies
Academic Unit: College of Arts and Sciences, Department of History
Address: Center for Disability Studies
564 Park Hall
Buffalo, NY 14260
Contact: David A. Gerber, Director
Michael A. Rembis, Associate Director
Phone: 716-645-8415; 716-645-8403
Email: dagerber@buffalo.edu; marembis@buffalo.edu 
WWW: http://disabilitystudies.buffalo.edu
Academic Institution: University of California at Berkeley
Program: Minor in Disability Studies in Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Studies
Academic Unit: Undergraduate and Interdisciplinary Studies
Address: Interdisciplinary Studies Field Major
UGIS
231 Evans Hall
Berkeley, CA 94720-2922
Contact: Carol Snow, Student Academic Advisor
Lead Faculty: Georgina Kleege
Phone/TTY: (510) 642-2628
For TTY/TDD access, call (510) 642-9900
E-mail: casnow@berkeley.edu; gkleege@berkeley.edu
WWW: http://ls.berkeley.edu/ugis/ds/
Academic Institute: University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA)
Program: Undergraduate Disability Studies Minor
Academic Unit: Division of Undergraduate Education, College of Letters & Science
Address: Box 951430, A316 Murphy
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1430
Contact: Kyle McJunkin, Academic Advisor for Disability Studies
Phone: (310) 825-3223
E-mail: disabilitystudies@college.ucla.edu  
WWW: http://www.disabilitystudies.ucla.edu  
Academic Institution: University of Delaware
Program: Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Minor in Disabilities Studies
Academic Unit: The College of Education and Human Development
Address: The Center for Disabilities Studies
461 Wyoming Road
Newark, DE 19716
Contact: Dr. Laura Eisenman, Disabilities Studies Minor Advisor
Phone/TTY: (302) 831-0532; TTY (302) 831-4689
E-mail: eisenman@udel.edu  
WWW: http://www.udel.edu/cds/disabilities_minor.html  
Academic Institution: University of Hawai‘i at Manoa
Program: Interdisciplinary Certificate in Disability and Diversity Studies
Academic Unit: Center on Disability Studies and Educational Foundations
Address: 1776 University Ave., UA 4-6
Honolulu, HI 96822
Contact: Norma Jean Stodden
Phone/TTY: (808) 956-4454
E-mail: nstodden@hawaii.edu  
WWW: http://www.cds.hawaii.edu/main/certificates/
Academic Institution: University of Illinois at Chicago
Program: Ph.D. in Disability Studies
Academic Unit: Department of Disability and Human Development
College of Applied Health Sciences
Address: 1640 W. Roosevelt Road (MC 626)
Chicago, IL 60608-6904
Contact: Carol J. Gill, Ph.D., Director of Graduate Studies
Phone/TTY: (312) 996-1508; TTY (312) 996-1233
E-mail: cg16@uic.edu  
WWW: http://www.ahs.uic.edu/dhd/academics/phd.php  
Academic Institution: University of Illinois at Chicago
Program: Master of Science in Disability and Human Development
Academic Unit: Department of Disability and Human Development, College of Applied Health Sciences
Address: Suite 436 IIDD
1640 W. Roosevelt Road
Chicago, IL 60608
Contact: Tamar Heller, Ph.D., Head
Glenn Fujiura, Ph.D., Director of Graduate Studies
Phone/TTY: (312) 413-1647; TTY (312) 413-0453
E-mail: DHD@uic.edu  
WWW: http://www.ahs.uic.edu/dhd/academics/ms.php   
Academic Institution: University of Iowa
Program: Undergraduate Certificate in Disability Studies
Academic Unit: School of Music, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Contact Person: Mary S. Adamek, PhD, Director, Music Therapy Program; Academic Coordinator for Certificate in Disabilities Studies
Address: 300 Communications Center
University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA 52242
Phone: 319-335-1643
E-mail: mary-adamek@uiowa.edu  
WWW: http://www.registrar.uiowa.edu/registrar/catalog/liberalartsandsciences/
music/#certificateindisabilitystudies; http://www.registrar.uiowa.edu/registrar/
catalog/liberalartsandsciences/disabilitystudies/  
________________________________________
Academic Institution: University of Maine
Programs: Undergraduate Minor in Interdisciplinary Disability Studies
Master’s and Doctoral Interdisciplinary Concentration in Disability Studies
Academic Unit: Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies
Address: 5717 Corbett Hall, Room 114
Orono, ME 04469-5717
Contact: Elizabeth DePoy and Stephen Gilson
Phone/TTY: (207) 581-1084 or (800) 203-6957
E-Mail: ccimail@umit.maine.edu  
WWW: http://www.ccids.umaine.edu/interedu/ids/default.htm  
http://factsheets.umaine.edu/files/2011/07/done-interdisciplinary-
disability-studies_Fact-Sheet.pdf  
NOTE: Graduate students may obtain a concentration in Interdisciplinary Disability Studies in conjunction with several master’s degree programs across campus, or in conjunction with the Interdisciplinary Ph.D., the individually designed Ed.D., and other doctoral programs throughout the university.
Academic Institution: University of Manitoba
Program: Interdisciplinary Master’s in Disability Studies
Academic Unit: Graduate Studies
Address: Room 128 Education Building
Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2
CANADA
Contact: Tanis Woodland
Phone/TTY: (204) 474-7017
Fax: (204) 474-6676
E-Mail: disability_studies@umanitoba.ca
WWW: http://www.umanitoba.ca/disability_studies
Academic Institute: University of Massachusetts Lowell
Program: Undergraduate Disability Studies Minor
Academic Unit: College of Arts and Sciences
Address: One University Avenue
Lowell, MA 01854
Contact: Charlotte Mandell, Coordinator
Phone: 978-934-3954
E-mail: Charlotte_Mandell@uml.edu  
WWW: http://www.uml.edu/catalog/undergraduate/colleges/arts_sciences/
psychology/Disability_Studies_Minor.htm  
http://faculty.uml.edu/ahillier/Minor_Brochure.pdf (brochure)
Notes: The Disability Studies minor is open to all undergraduates and consists of an interdisciplinary program of 18-24 credits of required and elective courses.
Academic Institution: University of Pittsburgh
Program: Graduate Disability Studies Certificate Program
Academic Unit: School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Department of Rehabilitation Science and Technology
Address: 5036 Forbes Tower
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
Contact: Katherine D. Seelman, Associate Dean of Disability Programs and Professor Rehabilitation Science & Technology
Phone/TTY: (412) 383-6727
E-Mail: Kds31@pitt.edu  
WWW: http://www.shrs.pitt.edu  
Comment: The Disability Studies certificate is part of the Masters in Health and Rehabilitation Sciences and the Ph.D. program in Rehabilitation Science.
Academic Institution: University of Toledo
Programs: Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Minor in Disability Studies
Master of Liberal Studies Program (MLS), Concentration in Disability Studies (DST)
Academic Unit: College of Arts & Sciences
Address: Disability Studies Program
University Hall 2100, Mail Stop 920
2901 W. Bancroft
Toledo, OH 43606-3390
Contact: Jim Ferris
Phone/TTY: (419) 530-7245
E-Mail: jim.ferris@utoledo.edu  
WWW: http://www.utoledo.edu/as/disability/  
Academic Institution: University of Utah
Program: Undergraduate Minor in Disability Studies
Graduate Certificate in Disability Studies
Academic Unit: Interdisciplinary Disability Studies
Address: Disability Studies
260 Central Campus Drive
Room 214
Salt Lake City, UT 84112
Contact: Cathy Chambless, Coordinator of Disability Studies
Phone: 801-585-0371
E-mail: cathy.chambless@cppa.utah.edu  
WWW: http://www.disabilitystudies.utah.edu/  
Academic Institution: University of Washington
Program: Individualized Studies Major in Disability Studies
Undergraduate Minor in Disability Studies
Academic Unit: College of Arts and Sciences
Address: Box 353530
Seattle, WA 98195-3530
Contacts: Mark Weitzenkamp
Phone/TTY: (206) 543-2396
E-Mail: lsjadv@u.washington.edu  
WWW: http://depts.washington.edu/istudies/faculty_designed/disability_studies  
http://depts.washington.edu/disstud/  
Academic Institution: University of Winnipeg and Red River College
Program: Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree (3-year, 4-year, or Honours) with a Disability and Community Support Diploma from Red River College.
Address: 515 Portage Avenue
Winnipeg, MB R3B 2E9
CANADA
Contact: Dr. Michelle Owen, Acting Coordinator
Telephone: (204) 786-9973
Phone: 204.786.9973
Email: m.owen@uwinnipeg.ca  
WWW: University of Winnipeg: http://www.uwinnipeg.ca/index/disability-studies; a Fact Sheet on this joint program can be downloaded at: http://www.uwinnipeg.ca/index/
cms-filesystem-action/pdfs/factsheets/factsheet-disability-studies.pdf  
Red River College Disability and Community Support Program: http://me.rrc.mb.ca/
Catalogue/ProgramInfo.aspx?RegionCode=WPG&ProgCode=DISCF-DP  
Academic Institution: University of Wisconsin-Madison
Program: Interdisciplinary Cluster
Academic Unit: College of Letters and Science
Address: South Hall
1055 Bascom Mall
Madison, WI 53706
Contacts: Ellen Samuels, PhD and Walton Schalick, MD, PhD
Phone/TTY: (608) 263-2190 and (608) 262-6470
E-Mail: ejsamuels@wisc.edu and schalick@wisc.edu  
WWW: http://www.clusters.wisc.edu/clusters/show/16/  
Comment: The University of Wisconsin-Madison does not yet have a formal
academic program in Disability Studies. However, the university has made
a commitment to the development of a program through a Cluster Hiring
Initiative. Four faculty have been hired in Disability Studies and a plethora of courses and programming are offered.
Academic Institution: University of Wyoming
Program: Minor in Disability Studies
Academic Unit: College of Health Sciences
Address: Wyoming INstitute for Disabilities (WIND)
Department 4298
1000 E. University Ave.
Laramie, WY 82071
Contact: Contact: Michelle Jarman, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Disabilities Studies
Phone/TTY: 307-766-5060 (voice)
307-766-2720 (TTY)
E-mail: mjarman@uwyo.edu  
WWW: http://www.uwyo.edu/wind/academic_opp/  
Academic Institution: York University
Program: Master of Arts in Critical Disability Studies
Ph.D. in Critical Disability Studies
Academic Unit: Faculty of Graduate Studies
Address: Room 409, HNES Building
4700 Keele Street
Toronto, ON M3J 1P3
Canada
Contact: Domenica Lam, Graduate Programme Assistant
Phone/TTY: (416) 736-2100 ext. 44494
WWW: http://www.yorku.ca/gradcdis/  
Comment: Being the first research-based graduate programs in Canada which critically study disability from an interdisciplinary approach, they contribute to emerging research examining the systemic social, political, legal and economic barriers to the full societal inclusion of persons with disabilities. Admitted full-time PhD students are "given" a financial support package. Subject to government funding, full-time Master's students are "eligible" for a financial support package. (Note that some conditions may apply.)