Skip navigation

Section navigation

Disability Studies

Admission Requirements

Degree Requirements

Mailing Address:
Department of Disability and Human Development (MC 626)
1640 West Roosevelt Road
Chicago, IL 60608

Campus Location: 215 DHSP
Program Code: 20FS1166PHD
Telephone: (312) 413-1647
E-mail: dhd@uic.edu
Web Site: http://www.ahs.uic.edu/dis
Department Head: Tamar Heller

Director of Graduate Studies: Carrie Sandahl, csandahl@uic.edu
Academic Coordinator: Maitha Abogado, maitha@uic.edu

The Department of Disability and Human Development offers work leading to the Doctor of Philosophy in Disability Studies. The department also offers the Master of Science in Disability and Human Development; see that section of the catalog for more information. The Interdepartmental Concentration in Gender and Women’s Studies is available to students in these degree programs.

Admission Requirements

Applicants will be considered on an individual basis by the Admission Committee for the doctoral program in Disability Studies. Individuals who fail to meet one or more criteria for admission may be admitted conditionally if their applications are otherwise strong and the applicant agrees to work with her/his mentor to address these gaps through courses and other recommended work.

To establish a mentor relationship, all applicants for the program are strongly encouraged to meet one or more faculty members whose research interests most closely match those of the student. The coordinator of the PhD program will arrange such meetings for applicants upon request.

In addition to the Graduate College minimum requirements, applicants must meet the following program requirements:

Doctor of Philosophy

Degree Requirements

The Disability Studies Program is designed primarily as a full-time course of study. Students who are full time will be expected to maintain a course load of three or more classes per semester. Each student will have an advisor chosen from the faculty of the program. The advisor will monitor the student’s progress through the program and serve as the chair for the dissertation committee.

Doctor of Philosophy

Interdepartmental Concentration in Gender and Women’s Studies

Students earning a graduate degree in this department may complement their courses by enrolling for a concentration in Gender and Women’s Studies after consulting with their graduate advisor. See Gender and Women’s Studies in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section for more information.