Disability policy and services

Certificate program

Program

The certificate in disability policy and services is designed to allow graduate and undergraduate students, as well as community professionals, to study policies and services that affect the lives of children, youth, and adults with disabilities.

The 12-credit program surveys the spectrum of education, health, and social services available to individuals with disabilities and their families, and examines the public and private networks of disability services from an interdisciplinary perspective. While the program addresses the needs of people with all types of disabilities, it emphasizes developmental disabilities across the lifespan.

The program’s individualized learning experience (ILE) requires students to integrate theory with practice by completing a disability-related research project or working directly with people with disabilities in settings such as schools, recreation centers, or human-service agencies.

Completion of certificate requirements will be noted on the student's transcript. The certificate has been approved as training for designated coordinators by the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS). Candidates for state certification must complete additional requirements.

The certificate program is a collaborative effort of the Department of Educational Policy and Administration (EdPA) and Institute on Community Integration (ICI) in the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD). ICI is a federally-designated University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, committed to improving community services and social supports for persons with disabilities and their families.

Admission

Program admission is open to degree seeking or non-degree seeking students who meet the following criteria:

• Be a graduate-level student or undergraduate-level student who has completed at least 60 undergraduate semester credits of coursework or equivalent. Students must have completed a two- or four-year college degree or equivalent coursework.
• Have a minimum 2.50 grade point average (GPA)

Applicants must submit an unofficial transcript and completed Disability Policy and Services Certificate Program Application Form [.pdf]. The form is available from ICI, 103 Pattee Hall, 150 Pillsbury Drive S.E., Minneapolis MN 55455; 612-624-6830; e-mail: mcbri001@umn.edu.

Students must complete all program requirements within five years after program admission, and must maintain a minimum 3.00 GPA. To stay in good program standing, students must carry no more than three credits of incomplete coursework and must respond to an annual survey updating their current status in the program.

Curriculum

The certificate program has three required components, listed in the following text. Students are encouraged to work with their advisers and the ICI training coordinator to plan their programs. Coursework applied to the certificate must be taken A-F.

Required course (3 cr)

EDPA 5356—Disability Policy and Services (3 cr)
This course provides a broad overview of disability policy and services, and introduces students to philosophical approaches to service provision, the evolution of policies and services affecting people with disabilities, and contemporary approaches to providing services to people with disabilities throughout the life cycle. This course is offered twice annually.

Specialized coursework (6 cr)

This component broadens the student's level of knowledge in disability policies and services. Students must choose from courses offered across the University focusing on disability policy, disability services, and/or interdisciplinary teaming, such as communication disorders, family social science, kinesiology, nursing, public affairs, or social work.

A list of more than 50 approved courses is available from the ICI training coordinator.

Individualized learning experience (ILE) and interdisciplinary reflection groups (3 cr/200 hours)

This component allows students to integrate and apply the information they have learned in coursework. Students work with the ICI training coordinator to design an individualized learning experience (ILE) in which they work with persons who have disabilities in settings like schools, recreation centers, health clinics, or human-service agencies. Students with considerable direct experience may alternatively design a project focusing on disability-related research, policy advocacy, governmental services, or other agency activities. The ILE can be completed in one or two semesters, but must total at least three credits and at least 200 hours.

Students also participate in at least six, one-hour interdisciplinary reflection groups to discuss relevant topics and ways to integrate field experiences with coursework. Reflection groups are offered throughout the year, including the summer session.

Note: For course descriptions and schedules, refer to the University of Minnesota Class Schedule.

For more information

For more information about this program, contact:

Marijo McBride, training coordinator
Institute on Community Integration
University of Minnesota
103 Pattee Hall
150 Pillsbury Drive S.E.
Minneapolis MN 55455
612-624-6830
e-mail: mcbri001@umn.edu

ICI Web site

Revised March 2008