Advanced Certificate in Disability Studies

Format: Online
Application Deadlines
  • Fall 2024 Priority Deadline: April 4, 2024
  • Fall 2024 Regular Deadline: May 16, 2024

The field of Disability Studies fosters a new understanding of contemporary culture, not only for people with disabilities but for society as well. The Advanced Certificate in Disability Studies provides an overview of this emerging discipline, including its philosophy and key concepts. In this certificate program, students will explore the impact on services and supports, and their delivery, to people with disabilities. They will also examine the importance of disability research, and its influence in the formation of public policies for people with and without disabilities.

Disability Studies offers a unique opportunity to examine disability from an interdisciplinary perspective, including the social sciences, humanities, science, social policy, and the law. Designed around the a fundamental belief that the direct experience of individuals with disabilities is paramount, and using the social model perspective of disability the advanced certificate program incorporates overlapping lenses through which students discover a new understanding of disability and society.

Career Prospects

The Advanced Certificate in Disability Studies prepares a new generation of leaders in community-based or governmental agencies. The certificate provides students with the skills to begin or advance in a career working with and for people with a wide range of disabilities. The program is also ideal for administrators, social service professionals, educators, advocates, as well as people with disabilities and their family members. Certificate credits may be applied towards the MA in Disability Studies degree program.

Meet Our Faculty

Admissions Criteria

Candidates for admission to advanced certificate programs must possess a bachelor’s degree with a 3.0 GPA or higher from a regionally accredited undergraduate institution. Applicants are also required to write a personal statement, upload a resume, and provide one letter of recommendation. The letter of recommendation may be submitted before or after submitting an application. Applicants who meet the basic eligibility criteria may be asked to take part in an individual interview before final acceptance is determined.

Application Deadlines

  • Fall 2024 Priority Deadline: April 4, 2024
  • Fall 2024 Regular Deadline: May 16, 2024
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Student/Alumni Profiles

Angie Fuoco

Advanced Certificate in Disability Studies 2016

"Because of my CUNY SPS certificate, I’m tasked with more responsibilities for helping people with disabilities, which I love to do.”

Katherine Smith

Advanced Certificate in Disability Studies and MA in Disability Studies 2009 and 2012

"My CUNY SPS master’s degree in disability studies allows me to approach my job in a much different light....providing a more objective assessment.”

Daniel Chan

Advanced Certificate in Disability Studies, MA in Disability Studies, and MS in Disability Services in Higher Education 2015, 2016, and 2017

"My CUNY SPS degrees have given me the confidence and credibility to do my job.”

Recent News About Advanced Certificate in Disability Studies

NDEAM 2023 official poster featuring field of red, gray, teal, blue and yellow and words “Advancing Access & Equity,"

Honoring National Disability Employment Awareness Month 2023

October 16, 2023

This October, students and faculty from the CUNY SPS disability studies programs will host events exploring disability employment issues.

Disability Rights Activist Judy Heumann

CUNY SPS Honors Legendary Disability Rights Activist

April 21, 2023

Judy Heumann, known as the mother as the disability rights movement, was an inspiration for the CUNY SPS disability studies programs.

CUNY Disability Awareness 2023 banner

Celebrating CUNY Disability Awareness Month 2023

April 04, 2023

CUNY SPS is proud to observe the month with several events and a chat with the disability studies programs' new academic director, Dr. Andrew Marcum.

Portrait of young African-American man reading braille while studying in school library

Journal of Teaching Disability Studies Publishes Third Issue

October 20, 2022

The new issue explores several pedagogical experiments made by disability studies practitioners at their schools.