Head: Dr. Nancy E. Hansen
General Office: 128 Education Building
Telephone: (204) 474-7017
Fax: (204) 474-6676
Email: disability_studies@umanitoba.ca
Web: umanitoba.ca/disability_studies
Graduate Program Assistant: Tanis Woodland
Academic Staff
Program Information
The focus of the program allows students to examine the policies and practices of all societies in order to understand the social, rather than the physical or psychological determinants, of the experience of disability. This focus shifts the emphasis from a prevention, treatment, remediation paradigm to a social, cultural, political one.
We offer an interdisciplinary Master's Degree Program in Disability Studies. We also offer a graduate level Option in Disability Studies that is available to both Master's and Doctoral students.
Students in the Master's Program will have the opportunity to apply their undergraduate degrees and work experience to pursue advanced interdisciplinary research and scholarship. Students taking the Option in Disability Studies will complement their major program area of study with course work which analyses the social construction of disability.
M.A./M.Sc. in Disability Studies
Admission
Admission requirements are those of the Faculty of Graduate Studies found in the Graduate Studies Regulations Section of this Calendar. Graduates of honours or equivalent programs at the University of Manitoba (or equivalent from other recognized universities) with a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 in the last 60 credit hours, are eligible for direct admission to a course of study leading to the Master's degree. Students who have completed a University of Manitoba Pre-Master's program with a minimum GPA of 3.0 are also eligible for admission. Pre-Master's programs taken at other universities may be accepted.
Students who wish to pursue the M.Sc. are required to have an undergraduate degree in Science.
Students with undergraduate degrees from a wide range of disciplines - such as Architecture, Arts, Education, Human Ecology, Engineering, Law, Management, Medical Rehabilitation, Medicine, Nursing, Kinesiology and Recreation Management, Science, Social Work and Women's Studies - will be considered eligible to apply if they meet the above requirements.
Students who do not meet current admission requirements may contact Disability Studies for advice on appropriate options.
Application Deadlines
The deadline for receipt of the program application form and supporting documents in the department for a September admission is March 1 for International students and June 1 for Canadians and Americans as well as permanent residents. For January admission, the deadlines are July 2 for International applicants and October 1 for Canadian applicants. Students who wish to apply for scholarships and fellowships need to have their applications in by February 1 (for a September admission) or one month prior to the University's deadline for the scholarship application.
Program Requirements
Program Requirements
Minimum program requirements of the Faculty of Graduate Studies are found in the Graduate Studies Regulations Section of this calendar.
The Master’s Degree in Disability Studies requirements are twenty-four credit hours; eighteen credit hours of required course work, six credit hours of elective course credit, plus a thesis. The six credit hours of elective courses can be taken from a list of approved courses at the 3000, 4000, 5000 or 7000 level.
M.Sc. students will be required to take at least six hours of elective credit hours at the 7000 level in science subjects in those Faculties participating in the M.Sc. The student’s Advisory Committee or the Disability Studies Graduate Program Committee may require other additional science courses at the 3000 or 4000 level. It should be noted that students will normally be required to fulfil 7000 level course prerequisites before enrolling in 7000 level courses.
All academic programs must be approved by the Disability Studies Graduate Program Committee. This is normally done on the recommendation from the student’s advisor and/or Advisory Committee following consultation with the student.
Option in Disability Studies
Admission
The Option in Disability Studies is offered to students in faculties and departments that currently have a graduate program. Upon completion of the requirements, a concentration in Disability Studies will be recorded on the student's transcript. For information concerning the option, interested students are directed to their student advisor or to the Director of Disability Studies.
Program Requirements
The Option in Disability Studies requirements are DS 7010 (6) Disability Studies and either DS 7020 (3) The History of Disability or DS 7030 (3) Evaluation and Application of Research Methods in Disability Studies.
