Contacts

Breana Nieves Vergara, Assistant Director of Graduate Admissions, 150 Huntington Hall, bknieves@syr.edu

Alan Foley, 350 Huntington Hall, 315-443, 3343 afoley@syr.edu

Faculty

Alan Foley, Michael Gill

Program website: disabilitystudies.syr.edu

Disability Studies at Syracuse University applies social, cultural, historical, and philosophical perspectives to disability in society. Building on the proud tradition of Syracuse University’s School of Education with faculty from across campus, the program is designed to help students understand disability and to prepare them to work to overcome barriers to full participation of all people in society.

The Disability Studies program focuses on disability as social phenomenon, social construct, metaphor, identity, and culture. Consistent with the Syracuse tradition, this program stands at the forefront of the development of the theoretical, research, educational, and advocacy models necessary to remove the legal, physical, policy, and attitudinal barriers that exclude people with disabilities from society.

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Describe, summarize the social, cultural, and political situation of people with disabilities
2. Describe foundational social, cultural, historical, and philosophical perspectives in the study of disability in society
3. Analyze and critique cultural representations and stereotypes of people with disabilities
4. Develop skills in disability research, policy, and advocacy
5. Explain the development of disability rights movements

Certificate Requirements

The Certificate of Advanced Study (CAS) program includes 15 semester-hours of graduate  courses in Disability Studies and related areas. The CAS program is ideally suited for students who want to demonstrate that they can teach, conduct research, or work in the area of disability studies, along with  other fields in which they are studying or have studied (e.g., special education, rehabilitation counseling, law, the social sciences).

You do not need to be enrolled in a graduate degree program at SU to enroll in the CAS in Disability Studies. The CAS is designed to provide career enhancement opportunities to non-degree program students.

Program of Study

The Disability Studies CAS. may be completed through one of two format options:

1. classes on the Syracuse University campus, possibly mixed with some online classes; or
2. entirely through online classes.

Each student develops a program of study in consultation with a Disability Studies faculty advisor The program must be completed within 5 semesters, and all 15 credits for the CAS must be earned through Syracuse University. The program of study must include:

•  At least 9 (of the 15) credits (3 classes) with the DSP prefix;

A CAS examination (taken in the last semester of coursework)