Disability Studies and Community Inclusion Minor, B.A., B.A.A., B.S.
The minor in Disability Studies and Community Inclusion will enable students to move from sympathetic to empathetic approaches of empowerment and engagement with people that have disabilities from diverse backgrounds and diagnoses. Students interested in this minor will learn to view disability through the lenses of the social and biopsychosocial models of disability as well as to focus on improving community inclusion. The Disability Studies & Community Inclusion minor is designed to complement undergraduate majors in health professions (pre-med, pre-PT, pre-OT), social work, communication disorders, therapeutic recreation, psychology, special education, business, hospitality, journalism and other areas of study.
Students interested in this academic program should contact an advisor in the Department of Recreation, Parks and Leisure Services Administration or the Department of Counseling and Special Education.
Admission Requirements, Retention and Termination Standards
Any undergraduate student admitted to CMU may apply. A 2.5 GPA is required for admission as well as a written statement of interest.
A grade of C (2.0) or better in the minor is required for graduation.
Program Requirements
Required Courses I (12 hours)
| RPL 110 | Experience of Disability & Social Marginalization | 3(3-0) |
| RPL 210 | Introduction to Therapeutic Recreation | 3(3-0) |
| SPE 210 | History of Disability | 3(3-0) |
| SPE 370 | Disability and Society | 3(3-0) |
Required Courses II (3 hours)
Select from the following:
| RPL 312 | Disability in Southeast Europe | 3(3-0) |
| SPE 375 | Disability Studies Capstone | 3(3-0) |
Note: One of these courses must be completed to fulfill the Required Course II requirement; the remaining course may be counted toward the required elective hours.
Total: 20-21 semester hours
Electives (5-6 hours)
Select from the following:
| ASL 100 | Introduction to the Deaf Community and Deaf Culture | 3(3-0) |
| CSD 230 | Introduction to Speech, Language, and Hearing Disabilities/Differences | 3(3-0) |
| DBI 101 | Introduction to Deafblindness and Intervention | 3(3-1) |
| HDF 110 | Oppression: Roots and Impact on Human Development in the United States | 3(3-0) |
| HDF 247 | Introduction to Gerontology | 3(3-0) |
| RPL 209 | Inclusive Recreation with Diverse Populations | 2(2-0) |
| RPL 312 | Disability in Southeast Europe | 3(3-0) |
| RPL 340 | Therapeutic Recreation: Developmental Disabilities | 3(3-0) |
| RPL 341 | Therapeutic Recreation: Physical Disabilities | 3(3-0) |
| RPL 342 | Therapeutic Recreation: Behavioral Health | 3(3-0) |
| RPL 345 | Therapeutic Recreation:Gerontology | 3(3-0) |
| SPE 375 | Disability Studies Capstone | 3(3-0) |