Disability Studies
Program Director: Dr. Nancy E. Hansen
Campus Address/General Office: 128 Education Building
Telephone: 204-474-7017
Fax: 204-474-6676
Email Address: disability_studies@umanitoba.ca
Website: umanitoba.ca/explore/programs-of-study/disability-studies-ma-msc
Academic Staff: Please refer to the website for current staff listing.

Disability Studies 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.

GRADUATE FOCUS IN DISABILITY STUDIES

The Graduate Focus 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.

Admission Information

Admission to the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies

Application and Admission Procedures are found in the Academic Guide.

Admission requirements for Master’s students are found in the Master’s Degrees General Regulations section of the Guide.

Disability Studies M.A. Admission Requirements

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 of Arts 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 with undergraduate degrees from a wide range of disciplines – such as Architecture, Arts, Education, Human Ecology, Engineering, Law, Management, Medicine, Nursing, Physical Education and Recreation Studies, Rehabilitation Sciences, Science, Social Work and Women’s Studies - will be considered eligible to apply if they meet the above requirements.

Application Information

Students should complete and submit their online application with supporting documentation by the date indicated on the Disability Studies M.A. program of study page.

Degree Requirements

Students in the thesis route of the Disability Studies M.A. Program are required to complete 18 credit hours of coursework plus a thesis. Students in the course-based route of the Disability Studies M.A. Program are required to complete 24 credit hours of coursework

Required Courses

M.A. Thesis route

M.A. Course-based route

Expected time to graduate: 2 years

Progression Chart

M.A. Thesis Route

¹

Students must demonstrate their mastery of the field and that they are fully conversant with the relevant literature through their thesis/practicum.

²

Each student is required to develop a written thesis proposal under the mentorship of his or her Advisor and Advisory Committee. The student’s Advisor will give tentative approval of the proposal for presentation to the Advisory Committee. The student must present the proposal orally to the Committee in a closed meeting. At least two weeks prior to the date of the oral presentation, the student will ensure that all members of the Advisory Committee receive the proposal. The Advisory Committee must formally approve the thesis proposal before the student can proceed with the research. Revisions requested by the advisory committee must be completed in a timely manner and be approved by the advisory committee. Research involving human participants or animal subjects requires ethics approval prior to initiation of research.

M.A. Coursework Route

Graduate Focus in Disability Studies

The requirements for the Graduate Focus in Disability Studies are DS 7020 and one of DS 7010 or DS 7030.

Registration Information

Students should familiarize themselves with the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies ‘GRAD’ courses applicable to their program. If you have questions about which GRAD course(s) to register in, please consult your home department/unit.

Regulations

Students must meet the requirements as outlined in both Supplementary Regulation and BFAR documents as approved by Senate.

Supplementary Regulations

Individual units may require specific requirements above and beyond those of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, and students should consult unit supplementary regulations for these specific regulations. 

Bona Fide Academic Requirements (BFAR)

Bona Fide Academic Requirements (BFAR) represent the core academic requirements a graduate student must acquire in order to gain, and demonstrate acquisition of, essential knowledge and skills.

All students must successfully complete:

• GRAD 7300 prior to applying to any ethics boards which are appropriate to the student’s research or within the student’s first year, whichever comes first; and
• GRAD 7500 within the first term of registration;

unless these courses have been completed previously, as per Mandatory Academic Integrity Course and Mandatory Research Integrity Online Course.

Students must also meet additional BFAR requirements that may be specified for their program.

General Regulations

All students must:

• maintain a minimum degree grade point average of 3.0 with no grade below C+,
• meet the minimum and not exceed the maximum course requirements, and
• meet the minimum and not exceed the maximum time requirements (in terms of time in program and lapse or expiration of credit of courses).

Courses

Disability Studies