Disability and Human Development
Important Note: This is the archived version of the 2013–2015 Undergraduate Catalog. The information on these pages was archived on August 6, 2013 and will not be updated as requirement and/or program changes are approved. Please see www.uic.edu/ucat for the most up-to-date requirements.
Minor in Disability and Human Development
Department of Disability and Human Development
436 Disability, Health and Social Policy Building
1640 West Roosevelt Road
(312) 413-1647
Director, Sarah Parker-Harris
Assistant to the Director, Maitha Abogado maitha@uic.edu
Minor in Disability and Human Development
Disability under the framework of Disability Studies (DS) is explored and understood through a social model that is based on history and culture. Under this formulation, disability is not inherent in the disabled person, but a result of socio-cultural dynamics that occur in interactions between society, the environment (buildings as well as attitudes) and people with disabilities. Therefore, Disability Studies’ subject matter is not simply human differences – but the meaning we in society have made of those differences historically, by constructing disability as inferior and a “lack” based on particular cultural norms. Part of this transformative approach to studying disability involves the education of academicians, researchers, policy experts, and clinicians who will join with disabled people as active challengers of oppressive institutions and environments. Students from any discipline can engage in disability studies. Because the program has faculty, researchers, and students with backgrounds in health, education, assistive technology, the social sciences, and the humanities, the Minor in Disability and Human Development offers a unique opportunity to study the full complexity of disability in a rich interdisciplinary manner.
The Minor in Disability and Human Development is open to majors in the College of Applied Health Sciences and from other units and colleges. Students will be allowed to complete the minor area of study in Disability and Human Development if they meet the transfer-eligibility criteria at the time of application (minimum GPA of 2.50/4.00). Students must submit a request form to the department (Room 560, AHSB). A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50/4.00 is required for the minor field.
Students must complete a total of 12 semester hours (4 courses), consisting of the following:
| Required Courses—Disability and Human Development Minor | Hours |
| Required course: | 3 |
| DHD 101—Disability in Society (3)a | |
| Select at least two core courses from: | 6 |
| DHD 102—Disability in American Film (3)b | |
| DHD 201—Disability, Rights, and Culture (3)a | |
| DHD 202—Disability, Health, and Society (3)a | |
| Select one elective from: | 3 |
| DHD 403—Disability in Latino Communities (3) | |
| DHD 440—Introduction to Assistive Technology: Principles and Practice (3) | |
| Students may also choose the remaining core course as their elective | |
| Total Hours—Disability and Human Development Minor | 12 |
a These courses are pending approval as Understanding the Individual and Society and Understanding U.S. Society General Education categories.
b This course is approved for the Understanding the Creative Arts and Understanding U.S. Society General Education categories.
Enrollment Residence Requirement in the Minor
A student must complete at least one-half of the course work required for the minor field in enrollment residence at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
