Master of Science in Disability Services in Higher Education

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

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the MS in Disability Services in Higher Education will be able to:

1. Analyze disability experience, both individual and social, using a multidisciplinary approach
2. Explain requirement of applicable laws and apply legal frameworks and principles used provide equal access in a higher education setting and determine compliance with applicable laws and policies
3. Categorize commonly used forms of assistive technology and explain the use(s) of each
4. Describe the functions of a disability service office and its associated tasks and practices
5. Analyze and formulate strategies to support student success in classroom, co-curricular and residential settings.
6. Engage in advanced critical thinking, speaking and writing about the role of disability service professionals in advancing social justice and accessibility in higher education

The Program

The MS in Disability Services in Higher Education is the first program of its kind in the country and will equip students with the knowledge and skills they need to provide legally mandated accommodations to students with disabilities in higher education settings. The coursework includes theoretical, conceptual, and practical information that will provide students with sound philosophical grounding in addition to building skills that they will apply in the field.

The curriculum for the degree was developed with the participation of disability service office directors, lawyers familiar with the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendment Act (ADA/AA) as it applies to colleges and universities, assistive technology specialists, and educators to ensure that graduates will be prepared to assume significant responsibility in providing accommodations to post-secondary students with disabilities.

Admission Criteria

In addition to the admission criteria for graduate degree programs, experience in providing disability services is valuable but not essential. Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.