College of Education and Human Services
School of Teaching, Learning and Curriculum Studies
www.kent.edu/ehs/tlc

About This Program

Become a leader in creating more inclusive communities. Gain specialized knowledge of disability studies through an interdisciplinary curriculum that prepares you for professional and academic growth. Read more...

Contact Information

• Mary Ann Devine | mdevine@kent.edu |
  330-672-0214

• Connect with an Admissions Counselor

Program Delivery

• Delivery:
  • Fully online
  • Mostly online
• Location:
  • Kent Campus

What does delivery mean?

Examples of Possible Jobs and Salaries*

^{* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.}

For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.

Admission Requirements

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
• Minimum 2.750 GPA on a 4.000-point scale
• Official transcript(s)
• Goal statement and professional objectives
• Two letters of recommendation
• English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning one of the following:¹
  • Minimum 79 TOEFL iBT score
  • Minimum 6.5 IELTS score
  • Minimum 58 PTE score
  • Minimum 110 DET score

¹

International applicants who do not meet the above test scores will not be considered for admission.

Application Deadlines

• Fall Semester
  • Rolling admissions
• Spring Semester
  • Rolling admissions
• Summer Term
  • Rolling admissions

Program Requirements

Certificate Requirements

¹

Only students admitted to a doctoral degree may register for the doctoral-level courses (70000 and 80000 levels).

Graduation Requirements

• Students declared in a doctoral degree should enroll in the doctoral level version of these courses, if offered.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Describe the the nature, social meaning, health and power structure related to disability.
2. Explain the social, political and cultural implications of disability.
3. Analyze the consequences of disability within the context of a diverse and global world.

Graduate Certificate Policy

• Students seeking a graduate certificate must maintain a minimum 3.000 grade point average. A graduate certificate student who receives a combination of more than 8 credit hours of B- or lower grades, or more than 4 credit hours of grades lower than C is subject to dismissal. Students who are unable to maintain academic standards of the College are subject to dismissal for academic reasons. Grades of C- or below are not counted toward completion of the certificate.
• Certificates must be completed within six years after the first graduate enrollment.
• No more than 2 credit hours of workshop may be used toward a certificate.
• Before being eligible to be awarded a Certificate, students must be admitted to the Certificate program.
• Students currently in a graduate degree program may also apply to a certificate program. Their degree seeking coursework may be applied to the certificate coursework with advisor approval. The courses must be completed within six years and satisfy certificate course requirements.
• Students who have a previous graduate degree and are not currently seeking another graduate degree may transfer a maximum 6 credit hours with advisor approval. These credits may include hours from another KSU program, or from another accredited institution, if the following conditions are met:
  • courses were at the graduate level;
  • a grade of "A" or "B" was earned;
  • credit will be less than six years old at the time the certificate is conferred at Kent;
  • and student was admitted as a graduate student at the time the course was taken.
• Some program areas may be more restrictive. Students are advised to consult their program.

Full Description

The Disability Studies and Community Inclusion graduate certificate prepares students to be leaders in promoting the inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of life and across the lifespan. The focus is to understand the nature, meaning, health, social and political implications and consequences of disability within the context of a diverse and global world.

Following guidelines from the Society for Disability Studies, the certificate is interdisciplinary – challenges the view of disability as an individual defect that can be remedied through medical intervention and includes national and international perspectives, policies, literature, culture and history.