Religious Studies
Minor in Disability Studies
Disability studies is a young academic field, but has developed over the past 15 years to become an important field related to many disciplines, including but not limited to: anthropology, biology, health professions, bio mechanical engineering, history, literature, religious studies, and communications. We propose this interdisciplinary minor as a way to bring together the several faculty on campus who research and teach in disability studies, and to offer their expertise to a wider range of students than just in their major field of study.
This 12 semester hour minor requires students to take a 3 sem. hr. general overview course, and three electives that can be drawn in combination from three distinct areas of disability studies (Awareness, Theoretical and Historical Knowledge, and Advocacy).
- Awareness of the key concepts of disability, ableism and bodily normativity and how these terms are defined and redefined within disability studies in order to challenge hegemonic ideas of the body that marginalize persons with a wide range of bodily differences. Students gain an appreciation for the fluidity and diversity that is encompassed in the category “disability,” and the ways that disability is similar, dissimilar and intersecting with other identity categories like race and gender.
- Ability to identify and define key concepts within disability studies theory and research. Theoretical and historical knowledge of disability that enables students to articulate the contextual variables that shape historically and culturally contingent notions of disability, disease, health, and wellness.
- Ability to do advocacy work by or for persons with disabilities or direct experience working with persons with disabilities. Students will learn the importance of keeping persons with disabilities at the speaking center of the disability rights movement and advocacy work, doing experiential work that invites them to prioritize persons with disabilities as subjects and inviting them to critically analyze their own attitudes and motivations in the process.
- Ability to identify and implement best practices for disability advocacy.
- DSS 100: Foundations of Disability Studies (3 sem. hrs.)
The remaining semester hours are to be fulfilled from the following list with a total of 9 semester hours. Students must take courses in at least two of the three areas. Students may register for 0-3 sem. hrs. of experiential learning to complete these 9 requirements (a maximum of 3 sem. hrs. total of experiential learning may count towards the minor).
Awareness
- ANT 336 Topics in Medical Anthropology (3 sem. hrs.)
- ENG 373 Writing in the Health Professions (3 sem. hrs.)
- PSY 368 Community Psychology (3 sem. hrs.)
- SWK 305 Social Services in the Health Field (3 sem. hrs.)
- SWK 307 Mental Health Services (3 sem. hrs.)
- SWK 330 Perspectives on Aging (3 sem. hrs.)
- THR 250 Diversity in Creative and Performing Arts (3 sem. hrs.)
- VAR 250 Diversity in Creative and Performing Arts (3 sem. hrs.)
Theoretical and Historical Knowledge
- CMM 372 Communication for Health Professionals (3 sem. hrs.)
- CMM 419 Communicating Health Disparities (3 sem. hrs)
- ENG 331 Studies in Film (3 sem. hrs.)
- ENG 497 Research Seminar-Writing (3 sem. hrs.)
- PHL 315 Medical Ethics (3 sem. hrs.)
- PSY 251 Human Growth and Development (3 sem. hrs.)
- REL 214 Magic, Medicine, or Miracles: Disability in the Ancient World, the Bible, and Today (3 sem. hrs.)
- REL 343 Theology of Humanity, Sexuality, and Marriage (3 sem. hrs.)
- REL 367 Christian Ethics and Health Care Issues (3 sem. hrs.)
- HSS 360 Sport and Bodies (3 sem. hrs.)
- SOC 360 Sport and Bodies (3 sem. hrs.)
- SWK 380 Health and Inequality (3 sem. hrs.)
Advocacy/Experience
- CMM 316 Intercultural Communication (3 sem. hrs.)
- EDT 343 Introduction to Education of Learners with Mild/Moderate Learning Needs (3 sem. hours)
- ENG 366 Health Literacy and Social Justice (3 sem. hrs.)
- HSS 200 Motor Control and Learning (3 sem. hrs.)
- HSS 220 Adapted Physical Activity (3 sem. hrs.)
- HSS 422 Exercise for Special Populations (3 sem. hrs.)
- MED 210 Premed Community Health Experience (0-1 sem. hrs.)
- MED 220 Hospital Elder Life Program (0-1 sem. hrs.)
- MUS 123 Introduction to Therapeutic Movement (1 sem. hrs.)
- MUS 125 Introduction to Music Therapy, for MT majors and minors only (3 sem. hrs.)
- MUS 246 Music Therapy Treatment Processes, for MT majors and minors only (1 sem. hrs.)
- MUS 273 Practicum in Music Therapy I, for MT majors and minors only (1 sem. hrs.)
- MUS 390 Ensembles (0.5-1 sem. hrs.)
- PSY 431 Interviewing and Counseling (3 sem. hrs.)
- SWK 370 Advocacy Practice in Social Work (3 sem. hrs.)
Total Semester Hours: 12