Mar 29, 2024  
2017-2018 Catalog and Handbook 
    
2017-2018 Catalog and Handbook [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Bachelor of Arts in Disability Studies


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Academic Director: Mariette Bates, PhD
CUNY School of Professional Studies
119 West 31st Street, 2nd Floor
New York, NY 10001
Email Contact: disabilitystudies@sps.cuny.edu ​

The Program

Disability Studies is an emerging academic field which explores disability and society using overlapping perspectives from the social sciences, humanities, science, and the law. The online BA in Disability Studies offers both a strong foundation in disability theory and history as well as opportunities for in-depth study in one of four concentrations.

Students in the online Bachelor’s Degree in Disability Studies will:

  • Learn the history that many textbooks overlook;
  • Acquire new ways of thinking about disability;
  • Explore socio-medical aspects of disability and the social and physical barriers to full inclusion and integration;
  • Learn how to interpret disability law and policy;
  • Read first-hand experiences of people with disabilities; and
  • Explore what it means to live with a disability.

Admissions Criteria

Applicants must possess at least 24 transferrable credits from an accredited institution with a minimum GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. Applicants need to demonstrate basic proficiency in reading, writing, and math.

Program Requirements


120 credits are required for the online Bachelor’s Degree in Disability Studies.

  • General Education - See below
  • Required Disability Studies Courses - 33 credits
    • Level I: 6 credits
    • Level II: 12 credits
    • Level III: Concentration - 12 credits
    • Level IV: Integration -  3 credits
  • Free Electives - 45-51 credits.

Note: The required number of College Options credits and free elective credits each student will be required to take will be dependent upon his/her transfer credit evaluation.

General Education Requirements


General Education    

  • 12 credits Required Core
  • 18 credits Flexible Core
  • 6-12 credits College Option

Level III: Concentrations: Exploration and Application


Students select one of the following four concentrations:

Level IV. Integration


Students must complete three credits in the following courses:

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