Disability Studies - BA
Full-time format:
Degree Completion
Part-time format:
Degree Completion
Requirements:
Grades-Plus
Grade range:
Check requirements
Faculty:
Faculty of Community Services
Experiential learning:
Capstone course(s) available

Is this degree for you?
Explore ways to improve the lives of people with disabilities and pursue a meaningful career. In the Disability Studies degree program at ×ÔÒùϵÁÐ (×ÔÒùϵÁÐ), you’ll champion disability-informed approaches to policy design, mental health, technology and more. This unique program is designed for students who already have a college diploma or 2 years of university study, allowing you to easily upgrade to a bachelor’s degree.
You’ll develop your analysis, communication and leadership skills to advocate for access, justice and rights. You’ll graduate as an in-demand leader in this field, ready to use your problem-solving skills to break down barriers and create welcoming spaces in workplaces and communities everywhere.
ï‚¡ Go at your own pace:
- Choose the full-time hybrid program to complete your studies in 2 years
- Select the part-time, hybrid program to take courses at your own speed. You can complete as few as one to 2 courses per semester, or you can complete 3 courses or more per semester (making it full-time and OSAP eligible)
The following is a preview of first-year courses based on the available current academic Undergraduate Calendar for this program.
1st Semester
LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table A - Lower Level Liberal Studies.
OPEN ELECTIVE: One Open Elective
2nd Semester
LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies.
OPEN ELECTIVE: One Open Elective
Career possibilities
- Accessibility manager/coordinator
- Accommodation specialist
- Behavioural specialist
- Claims specialist
- Community outreach coordinator
Employer possibilities
- Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB)
- Community Living Ontario
- Gerstein Crisis Centre
- Government organizations
- YMCA and community recreation programs
Further education
- Critical disability studies
- Education
- Law (JD)
- Rehabilitation sciences
- Social Work (MSW)
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Notice of Collection: ×ÔÒùϵÁÐ collects and manages personal information under the authority of the (PDF file) University Act and in accordance with the Notice of Collection for recruitment and other related purposes.
Flexible learning
Designed for working professionals and adult learners, the program offers a flexible, hybrid delivery.
Build your skills
Develop and apply your skills through a capstone course in which you apply your skills and knowledge to solve a community or research problem.
Supportive community
Learn from a dynamic, committed team of faculty, post-doctoral fellows and contract lecturers.
This is a Grades-Plus program. Admission decisions for Grades-Plus programs are based on academic performance plus non-academic criteria such as interviews, auditions, essays and portfolios. Your ability to follow and adhere to the requirements is part of the assessment of your application.
Academic requirements
Applicants must meet the following requirements (A or B):
A:
- Graduation from a 2-year diploma program or 3-year advanced diploma program from a public Ontario college with a minimum overall average in the ‘B’ range (70%).
- The diploma program must have an academic focus (e.g. community and social services, business, arts, engineering, science)
- Completion of at least one single-term course in the humanities or social sciences at the diploma level with a grade of ‘B’ or higher. This course may form part of the curriculum of the diploma program used for admission, or may be taken outside of the diploma program.
OR
B:
- Completion of at least 20 single-term (or 10 full-year) undergraduate degree courses from an accredited post-secondary institution.
- A minimum overall average in the ‘B’ range (70%) in your top 20 single-term courses (or 10 full-year courses) is required.
- The courses used to calculate the average will be selected from any year and program of study. Repeated courses will be considered and the grade in the most recent attempt will be included in the average calculation.
- Completion of at least one single-term course in the humanities or social sciences at the undergraduate level with a grade of ‘C+’ or higher.
Post-secondary studies are used as a basis of admission to this 2-year program.
Admitted students who hold a 4-year undergraduate degree may be eligible for up to 8 transfer credits.
Please note: Applicants with other post-secondary backgrounds and equivalent international qualifications may be considered for admission on a case-by-case basis.
Students are admitted once a year in the fall term for the 2-year full-time program and 3 times a year, in the fall, winter and spring/summer semesters for the part-time program.
Required documents
The following documents must be submitted to Undergraduate Admissions. Visit submission instructions for further details.
- Academic transcripts, including promotion/graduation status, from all post-secondary studies (excluding ×ÔÒùϵÁÐ). Transcripts must indicate promotion/graduation status. High school transcripts aren’t required for this program.
- A completed supplementary form.
- A personal letter (review the non-academic requirements).
Note: If you've already attended this program and are applying for readmission or reinstatement, a completed application and supplementary form are required.
You're required to submit a personal letter outlining your relevant experience and rationale for applying to the program. This letter should not exceed 2 pages. It'll be read for both admission eligibility as well as for the selection of potential recipients for the David and Sylvia Pollack Entrance Award in Disability Studies.
You're required to submit your non-academic requirements via the Choose×ÔÒùϵÁÐ Applicant Portal. If you're unable to use the Choose×ÔÒùϵÁÐ Applicant Portal, please contact Undergraduate Admissions to discuss an alternate method of submission.
Here’s how to access your Choose×ÔÒùϵÁÐ Applicant Portal account:
- Get your ×ÔÒùϵÁÐ Student Number in the email acknowledgement of your application
- Activate your ×ÔÒùϵÁÐ Online Identity. Fill in the Activation Form on the Accounts website. When asked for your Student/Applicant ID, enter your 9-digit ×ÔÒùϵÁÐ Student Number. Keep a record of your user name and password
- 24 hours after activating your ×ÔÒùϵÁÐ Online Identity, visit the Choose×ÔÒùϵÁÐ Applicant Portal
Tuition and fees range 2026-2027
For detailed fees info, visit tuition and fees by program and costs to expect.
Full-time format:
Ontario: $7,502 - $7,985
Out-of-province: $9,335 - $9,958
International: $38,693 - $41,506
Part-time format
(One to 8 or more courses)
Ontario: $1,051 - $5,641
Out-of-province: $1,234 - $7,108
International: $4,075 - $29,835

Explore financial assistance
Learn more about government financial aid programs like OSAP, out-of-province student loans and U.S. student loans.
Apply for financial assistance.
Over $20M across all levels of study
We award more than $20M in awards, scholarships and bursaries throughout all years of study. Find scholarships for you.

×ÔÒùϵÁÐ's Faculty of Community Services offers diverse programs that focus on making a positive impact in the community. The rich curriculum of multi-disciplinary programs in health, education, social justice and community development is closely connected to the spirit and the dynamism of the community.
Faculty of Community Services degree programs

Disability Studies alum's experience at ×ÔÒùϵÁÐ
"This program was absolutely life-changing for me. It equipped me with the knowledge and tools needed to be a better disability advocate while challenging societal perspectives around disability."
Megan Suggitt, Disability Studies, Class of 2022, Disabled Entrepreneur and Founder, Beautiful Minds Ontario
Read More: Alum Profile: Megan Suggitt

Your next steps

Disclaimer:
While every effort is made to ensure accuracy on this site, in the event of a discrepancy, ×ÔÒùϵÁÐ's current Undergraduate Calendar is the official reference.