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10 Masters in Disability Studies and Law

Master of Disability and Inclusion (Deakin University)

Deakin University in Burwood, Victoria, Australia, offers a Master of Disability and Inclusion degree through their social work and sociology departments. Every student in the program completes the following classes: Disability and Inclusion: Contemporary Theory and Lived Experience; Planning for Inclusion Across the Life Course; Determinants of Health and Wellbeing in the Lives of People with Disability; Community Capacity Building – Theory and Practice for Inclusion; Disability Research – Inclusive Approaches; and Inclusive Design and Technology. The flexible program allows students to take classes on a full-time or part-time basis. Most students complete all of the degree requirements within three years.

Disability Studies – Inclusive Theory and Research (University of Bristol)

The University of Bristol, England, United Kingdom, offers a Disability Studies – Inclusive Theory and Research program that spans the fields of social work, physiotherapy and health sciences. Students are required to complete the following classes: Introduction to Quantitative Research Methods in the Social Sciences (SPS); Philosophy and Research Design in the Social Sciences (SPS); Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods in the Social Sciences (SPS); Inclusive Research with Disabled People; Disabled Childhoods; and Global Contexts of Rights and Disability. In addition, students conduct independent research and compose a dissertation that summarizes their findings. The program typically requires one year of full-time study to complete.

International and Comparative Disability Law and Policy (National University of Ireland)

The National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland, offers a Master of Laws degree in International and Comparative Disability Law and Policy. This program is intended for students who already hold a bachelor’s level law degree. Students can complete the program on a part-time basis over 24 months or a full-time basis over 12 months. Courses required for the degree include: Mental Health Law and Policy; Law, Regulation & Policy; Lifecourse Issues on Disability Law and Policy; Foundational Theoretical Framework in Disability Law and Policy; Contemporary Challenges in Disability Law and Policy; Advocacy and Access to Justice; Immigration Law: between sovereignty and equality; Local Government Law; The Criminal Jury; Equality Law: Principles & Thematic Application; Disability Law Reform Challenges; Processes of Law Reform; and Theories of Judicial Activism.

Critical Disability Studies (York University)

York University in Toronto, Canada, offers a Master of Arts degree program in Critical Disability Studies. The interdisciplinary program draws from sociology and social work. Every student in the program is required to take the following classes: Disability Studies; Methodology; Critical Disability Law; Mad People’s History; Geography of Disability; Social Justice in the Labor Force; History of Health Care Ethics from Ancient Times to the Present; and Language, Literature and Disability. With full-time study, the program can be completed in just one year. Students also have the option to enroll on a part-time basis. Most part-time students can fulfill all of the degree requirements within two years.

Disability Studies and Action (Tata Institute of Social Sciences)

The Tata Institute of Social Sciences in Mumbai, India, offers a Master of Arts in Social Work degree program with Disability Studies and Action as an area of focus. Students begin the program by taking a series of three courses: Foundation Course; Philosophy of Research; and History and Perspectives of Social Case Work. Then, students participate in practicums that allow them to gain hands-on experience providing social services for individuals with disabilities. The program is offered only on a full-time basis and all coursework is completed on campus. Most students finish the program within 24 months.

Special Education (Fitchburg State University)

Fitchburg State University in Massachusetts, United States, offers a Master of Education degree in Special Education with an emphasis on Severe Disabilities. The program is offered entirely online with self-paced, semi-structured formatting. Optional on-campus meetings are available for those who desire them. To enroll in the program, students must already hold a bachelor’s degree in education. Required courses include: Language Development, Differences and Disorders; Advanced Identification and Remediation of Reading/Language Based Learning Disabilities (PreK-8); Assessment, Curriculum, Strategies for Math (focus on PreK- 8); Physical and Medical Aspects of Working with Students with Disabilities; and Emotional, Behavioral and Autism Spectrum Disorders. A teaching practicum is also required. Most students can complete all degree requirements within 24 months.

Disability and Inclusion Studies (University of Waikato)

The University of Waikato in Hamilton, New Zealand, offers a Master of Education degree in Disability and Inclusion Studies. A bachelor’s degree in education is required for admission. Students who have work experience in teaching and a bachelor’s degree in a different field may be considered for admission on a case-by-case basis. Every student in the program completes a teaching practicum and the following classes: Research Methods; Rangahau Kaupapa Māori – Kaupapa Māori Research; Culturally Responsive Methodologies  incorporating Kaupapa Māori and critical theories; Educational and Life Transitions: Changing Roles and Changing Contexts; Difference and Diversity in Human Development; and Intelligence, Creativity and the Development of Talent. The program requires 18 months of full-time study.

Teaching Social Studies and Students with Disabilities (New York University)

New York University in New York City, United States, offers a Master of Arts degree in Teaching Social Studies and Students with Disabilities, Initial Certification. The program is intended for individuals who hold bachelor’s degrees in fields other than education, have never worked as teachers before and wish to become special education instructors. The program lasts for 12 months and includes a teaching practicum and the following courses: Language and Literacy Acquisition and Development; Inquiries into Teaching and Learning; Drug and Alcohol Education/Child Abuse Identification/School Violence Prevention; and Adolescent Learners in Urban Contexts.

Inclusive Special Education (University of Chichester)

The University of Chichester, England, United Kingdom, offers a Master of Arts degree in Inclusive Special Education. This program is intended for teachers who wish to pursue a graduate-level degree while maintaining their full-time jobs. As a result, enrollment is strictly part-time. Most students can complete all of the required courses and the mandatory teaching practicum within 36 months of enrollment. Among the required courses are Critical Disability Studies, Communication and Interaction, and Exploring Inclusive Pedagogy.

Law and Social Justice (University of Leeds)

The University of Leeds, England, United Kingdom, offers a Master of Laws degree in Law and Social Justice. Intended for individuals who already hold bachelor’s degrees in law, the program is offered in two formats: a one-year full-time course of study and a two-year part-time course of study. Students take a series of courses that include: Theories of Social Justice Postgraduate Legal Research Skills; European Human Rights; Inequalities, Law and Justice; Social Care Law: National and International Contexts; Environmental Law; and International Human Rights. In addition, all students complete a master’s dissertation.

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