Disability Studies is a multi-disciplinary field that investigates, critiques, and enhances Western society’s understandings of disability. The Disability Studies Program's Minor, Major, and Graduate Certificate will introduce you to a critical framework for recognizing how people with disabilities have experienced disadvantages and exclusion because of personal and societal responses to impairment, and for exploring how disability activists and scholars have re-conceptualized disability from a more empowering social-political and human rights perspective as an element of human diversity and a source of community.
Education
UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION
Disability Studies is a multi-disciplinary field that investigates, critiques, and enhances Western society’s understandings of disability. The Disability Studies Program's major, and minor will introduce you to a critical framework for recognizing how people with disabilities have experienced disadvantages and exclusion because of personal and societal responses to impairment, and for exploring how disability activists and scholars have re-conceptualized disability from a more empowering social-political and human rights perspective as an element of human diversity and a source of community. Disability Studies focuses on three sub fields rights, policy, and inequality, global/historical perspectives, diversity, representation and identity. Disability Studies is a minimum admission major, accepting applications at any time. Eligibility requirements are a 2.0 UW GPA, minimum of 45 credits earned, and completed DIS ST/LSJ/CHID 230: Introduction to Disability Studies with a minimum grade of 2.0. The Disability Studies minor requirements are 30 credits with a minimum of 15 credits must be at the 300 or 400 level.
GRADUATE EDUCATION
Disability Studies is an emergent scholarly program that is directly engaged in expanding societal understandings of diversity. Disability Studies scholars view disability as a social construct. In doing so, Disability Studies scholars often challenge the traditional medical view of disability as an individual deficit by uncovering the ways through which society creates social, legal, and political barriers that prevent persons with disabilities from participating in society on an equal basis with others. This critical approach to disability has been instrumental in understanding inequality in society and identifying remedies, including civil rights legislation and human rights instruments that address the barriers that people with disabilities face around the world. The Disability Studies Graduate Certificate is a concentration available only to students already enrolled in a graduate program.
CONTACT
Disability Studies Program
Mailing address: Box 353565, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-4380
Advising Telephone Number: (206) 543-4762
Fax: (206) 685-5186
Advising Email: disstadv@uw.edu