Coursework and Program Requirements
The Interdisciplinary Leadership in Disability Studies (ILDS) Certificate requires 12 credit hours — nine credit hours from three required courses and three credit hours from a selection of elective courses that is related to disability and suits your interests.
Courses are online and primarily asynchronous. Enrolled students have four years to complete the ILDS certificate, although it can be completed in as little as one year.
Elective Course Options
Elective options are flexible and designed to work with the student's graduate degree program and/or career interests, as long as it is related to or can be applied to the disability field.
Three credit hours are required and must be approved by the ILDS coordinator before enrolling.
These courses have been preapproved as, but are not limited to, ILDS Certificate electives:
| Course | Course Title |
|---|---|
| CONSVTY 5537 | Administration of Music Therapy |
| CONSVTY 5541 | Theories and Practice of Music Therapy |
| CPCE 5534 | Practicum For The Assessment Of Children And Adolescents |
| EDUC 5552 | Advanced Diagnostic And Treatment Procedures In Reading |
| EDUC-CI 5577 | Early Childhood Special Education Methods |
| EDUC-SP 5506 | Special Education Law, Individualized Education Programs (IEP's), and Transition |
| EDUC-SP 5507 | Introduction To Mild/Moderate Cross-Categorical Disabilities |
| EDUC-SP 5508 | Assessment for Special Educators |
| EDUC-SP 5509 | Cognition and Lang Dev In Mild/Mod Cross-Categorical Disabilities |
| EDUC-SP 5512 | Methods I: Introduction to Teaching Students with Mild/Moderate Cross-Categorical |
| EDUC-SP 5513 | Methods II: Teaching Students with Mild/Moderate Cross-Categorical Disabilities |
| EDUC-SP 5514 | Understanding and Addressing Challenging Behavior in the Classroom |
| EDUC-SP 5516 | Collaborating with Families and Other Professionals |
| EDUL 5550 | Organization and Administration of Higher Education |
| HPRE 5557 | Culturally Competent Health Professions Education |
| MGT-5512 | Leading and Managing People, Teams and Organizations |
| PUB-ADM 5553 | Legal Framework and Financial Management of Nonprofit Organizations |
| SOCIOL 5556 | Aging And Developmental Disabilities |
| SOCIOL 5557 | Practicum In Aging And Developmental Disabilities |
| SOC-WK 5560 | Psychopathology: A Competency Based Assessment Model in Social Work Practice |
More information on the courses is listed in the course descriptions in the catalog.
Graduate students pursuing a variety of disciplines find the ILDS Certificate compliments their studies and makes them more competitive in the job market.
Students working toward a graduate degree at UMKC may take a course in their major toward the elective for the certificate.
Good Standing Requirement
While there is no GPA requirement to apply, students must maintain a B- or higher in their ILDS courses.
Required Courses
Nine credit hours will be obtained from the three required courses.
LAW 8815S | Leadership In Disability Studies: A Multidisciplinary Approach
An overview of the history of disability issues, some individualized perspectives of persons with disabilities, the rationale for interdisciplinary approaches regarding disability studies, and opportunities for leadership development with regard to disability issues. The students will participate in a forum that encourages reflection, exchange of ideas, interaction with persons with disabilities and persons from various fields of study, and case analysis. After an orientation to the study of disabilities, various aspects of community membership for persons with disabilities will be addressed, particularly with regard to the workplace, the neighborhood, and the home. Emphasis with placed on vital leadership roles that facilitate community membership and contribution of persons with disabilities to society.
- Offered in Fall semester
SOC-WK 5563 | Life Span Issues in Developmental Disabilities
The need for interdisciplinary process in the human services sector, which supports inclusiveness and quality of life of individuals, is covered. The course covers cultural competence, person-centered and community-based application of services for their implications in planning and delivery of services.
- Offered in Spring semester
SGS 5501 | Disability and Community Support
Disability and Community Support is an academic service-learning course that integrates 15 classroom contact hours with 60 service hours within a framework of Disability Studies.
- Offered in Fall, Spring and Summer semesters