Institute on Community IntegrationCollege of Education and Human Development

Disability Policy & Services Certificate Program

Undergraduate and Graduate Level

What is the Certificate?

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 will address topics in the field of developmental disabilities, including:

  • The history of efforts to increase the inclusion of people with disabilities in their local communities.
  • Significant legislation and laws impacting services and supports.
  • State-of-the-art school, residential, work, and community programs.
  • Perspectives and roles of other professional disciplines in providing services.
  • Models of collaboration among professional disciplines.
  • Current trends and issues in services and policies.

The program is divided into three components:

  1. A three-credit interdisciplinary core course;
  2. Six credits of specialized course work; and
  3. An individualized learning experience (ILE) accompanied by six interdisciplinary reflection groups.

The program’s 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.

Who is eligible to enroll?

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.
  • Have a minimum 2.5 grade point average (GPA).

Why get the Certificate?

Academic emphasis on developmental disabilities: Students gain valuable, applicable knowledge of developmental disabilities not available within any single department on campus.

Increased skills in service provision and collaboration: By combining the Certificate program with their respective major fields of study, students enhance their effectiveness in serving individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.

Involvement with consumers and professionals: Students learn from the expertise of consumers (persons with disabilities and their family members), professionals currently working in their field, and faculty from many academic programs at the University of Minnesota including: education, social work, rehabilitation, health, nursing, medicine, psychology, public policy, and recreation.

Involvement with other disciplines: Students learn from other students through issue-based discussions.

Added value: Involvement in the Certificate program can add value to a student’s academic program and professional life.

Enhanced employment opportunities: The Certificate indicates successful completion of a recognized, high-quality program of study in developmental disabilities. The Certificate in Disability Policy and Services will appear on the student’s transcript.

What do students say about the Certificate?

  • The certificate program really filled in some gaps in my learning and built on my experiences in my major.
  • I have not had friends or family who have developmental disabilities. The extensive research I completed along with the human contact through my practicum helped dispel myths for me...
  • Through the program I gained a better understanding of other disciplines and made accomplishments as part of a team.

Who offers the Certificate?

The Certificate in Disability Policy and Services is delivered through a collaborative effort of the College of Education and Human Development's Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy and Development and the Institute on Community Integration. The Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development conducts cutting-edge research on topics such as girls’ education in developing countries, strategies for human resource development, intercultural communication, scientific integrity, and effective strategies for leading school and organizational change. The Institute on Community Integration is a federally designated University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, improving policies and practices to ensure that all children, youth, and adults with disabilities are valued by, and contribute to, their communities of choice.

How do I get more information?

For admissions criteria, curriculum information, and application procedures, visit the College of Education and Human Development page on the Disability Policy and Services Certificate Program, and/or contact:
Beth Fondell
Certificate Program Coordinator
Institute on Community Integration
Pattee Hall
150 Pillsbury Drive SE
Minneapolis MN 55455
612-624-6830
fond0030@umn.edu