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.
Registration
After admission to the program, degree-seeking students can
register
for courses online.
Students not already admitted to the University of Minnesota and who
do not wish to apply to a degree program should complete a
First-Time Registration for
Non-Degree Seeking Students packet [.pdf]. Packets are available at
the college’s office of Student Services, 110 Wulling Hall, 86 Pleasant Street S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455; 612-625-6501;
or cehdgrad@umn.edu.
For questions about registration, contact Student
Services at
612-625-5815.
Note:
Certificate coursework completed with undergraduate
student status cannot be applied to graduate-level degree
programs.
Tuition
Tuition varies depending on a student's degree program, student
status, and residency. Students seeking the certificate only pay
the CEHD departmental master's tuition rate. Students enrolled in
Graduate School programs pay Graduate School tuition rates; students
enrolled in undergraduate programs pay undergraduate tuition rates.
The University of Minnesota Board of Regents determines tuition rates
annually before fall semester. For current tuition rates and reciprocity
policies, check the college’s tuition and fees
page.
Residents of Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Manitoba may
be eligible for
special tuition reciprocity rates comparable to
Minnesota resident rates.
General financial aid advising and information are available from
the University’s
Office of Student Finance (OSF),
200 Fraser Hall, 106 Pleasant Street S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455;
612-624-1111.
For graduate assistantship/scholarship information (for students
enrolled in graduate degree programs), contact the
Graduate Assistant
Office, 200 Donhowe (for mail) or 100 Donhowe (for walk in),
Minneapolis, MN 55455, 612-624-7070, fax: 612-625-9801.
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
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