Disability Studies Major

PRE-MAJOR REQUIREMENTS

Students must complete all pre-major courses with a 2.0 grade-point average. The following requirements constitute the preparation coursework for the Disability Studies Major.

**IMPORTANT NOTE: Students must complete all pre-major courses before applying to the Disability Studies major. Students must apply for the major by the end of Spring quarter of their junior year.

UPPER DIVISION MAJOR REQUIREMENTS

Each course must be taken for a letter grade. Students must earn a grade of C or better in Disability Studies 101W. Disability 101W and one quarter of Disability Studies 195CE or 196 must be taken prior to the capstone (Disability Studies 199A or 198A or 191). The following requirements constitute the upper division requirements for the Disability Studies major.

**IMPORTANT NOTE: Students must complete all pre-major courses before applying to the Disability Studies major. Students must apply for the major by the end of Spring quarter of their junior year.

DISABILITY STUDIES MAJOR

The Disability Studies Major provides students with the opportunity to explore the field through experiential learning and a required off-campus internship, blending academic study with real-world application. Given the internship and research components, students must proactively identify a research faculty mentor and secure a disability studies related internship site.

INTERESTED STUDENTS

In order to prepare for applying to this major, interested students should speak with the Undergraduate Advisor Lonnell Edwards. In this appointment, they will discuss: (In this appointment, they will discuss the following requirements: (a) upper division core course and interdisciplinary electives, (b) community engaged internship, and (c) capstone project. Please email Lonnell Edwards to schedule an appointment.

The deadline to declare the Disability Studies Major for any UCLA undergraduate student is Spring quarter of their junior year. 

ELIGIBILITY

To enter the major, students must:

1. complete all preparation courses
2. have a UC grade-point average of 2.0 or better in preparation courses & an overall GPA of 2.0
3. submit an application form and modeled DAR with Disability Studies Major

Incoming First-Year Students

Incoming first-year students may be admitted as Disability Studies pre-majors on acceptance to UCLA. All other continuing students must first complete Disability Studies 1, and then contact the undergraduate counselor in A265 Murphy Hall to request pre-major standing.

Explore our Sample 4 Year Academic Plan

Transfer Students

Transfer applicants to the Disability Studies major with 90 or more units must complete the following preparatory courses prior to admission to UCLA: one social theory course; one race, identity, and society course; one humanities and ethics course; and one data analysis course. Disability Studies 1 (offered Winter quarters) must be taken at UCLA once a transfer student is admitted to the University. DS 101W is offered Fall, Winter, and Summers and ideally would be taken after DS 1. Transfer DS majors are provisionally approved into the DS major until a “C” or higher grade earned in DS 1 and DS 101W.

Explore our Sample 2 Year Academic Plan

MAJOR APPLICATION TIMELINE

For the 2024-25 academic year, the application for the Disability Studies Major will be open in Fall 2024 and Spring 2025. Applications will available during Weeks 1-3. Applications must be submitted by Friday of Week 3 by 11:59PM PT.

Before submitting an application, students must consult with Lonnell Edwards, Academic Advisor for Disability Studies.

All applications will be reviewed during Weeks 4 and 5.  Each applicant will be notified of their application results no later than Friday of Week 5.

Note: For the 2025-26 academic year, applications will be available only once per academic year, during the Spring quarter.

DISABILITY STUDIES MAJOR APPLICATION

Disability Studies Major FAQ

REQUIREMENTS

All honors students must complete their capstone requirement by taking courses 198A and 198B, in which they research, write, and present an honors thesis. To receive honors at graduation, students must have at least a 3.5 GPA in courses applied toward the major (including 198A and 198B) and an overall GPA of 3.0.

Departmental Honors are noted on official transcripts and diplomas.

DS 195CE – INTERNSHIP GUIDELINES

All majors in Disability Studies must complete two consecutive quarters of an internship experience. Over a span of 20 weeks at one community-based agency, students obtain both breadth and depth in their understanding of the conceptual and practical implications of disability. Throughout the internship, students apply ideas learned in DS courses, in particular ableism/paternalism and the social model vs. medical models of disability, and directly witness how disability is constructed and framed by different agencies.

Internship Requirements

• At one community-based agency that provides direct services for persons with disabilities or a government agency responsible for policies on disability issues
• The Disability Studies 195CE internship course is 4 units/quarter and letter-grade only
• The Internship must involve 160 hours spread throughout two consecutive quarters (8-10 hrs/wk; Fall/Winter or Winter/Spring quarters)
• Professional work environment
• Supervised off-campus location (UCLA-affiliated centers are RARELY approved, and internship work must involve interaction with community stakeholders, not peers)
• Connection to the major and your interests
• Attend bi-weekly meetings with the internship coordinator at the Center for Community Learning. Writing assignments and a final research paper will be required

Information about 195CE Course Requirements: Visit the UCLA Center for Community Learning.

Types of internships

1. Direct service internships offer a hands-on opportunity to work with disabled adults or children. Examples include a teaching assistant position in a special education classroom or work with adults at a local regional center.
2. Policy internships are generally affiliated with government agencies. The Los Angeles Mayor’s office has responsibility for ADA compliance and places students in internships that support those efforts.
3. UC Center Sacramento  or UCLA Quarter in Washington  are alternative options for completing the DS 195CE internship requirement. The affiliated internship must work directly with the disability community or be responsible for policies on disability issues. UC Center Sacramento is the only internship option available in the summer.

HOW TO ENROLL IN A DS 195CE INTERNSHIP COURSE

Enrollment Steps

Please visit link to learn how to enroll in a DIS STD 195CE Internship Course.

F-1 International students must also receive CPT authorization for any internship courses from the Dashew Center. The internship must align with the learning outcomes of both your major and minor. CPT authorization requires a minimum of five weeks for approval prior to the start of the internship. Once CPT authorization is approved, students can schedule the 195CE intake appointment during Week 8-10 of the quarter preceding their internship course.

Disability Studies 196: Research Apprenticeship

In lieu of DS 195CE, DS majors can complete two terms of Disability Studies 196. Research apprenticeships offer the opportunity to work under the guidance of faculty affiliated with the Disability Studies major. Majors will collaborate with DS faculty on their research in an area related to disability studies. Individual contract required and Letter grading only. Examples include assisting a faculty member on researching and assessing a local non-profit. DS 196 research apprenticeship opportunities are rare. If available, they will be announced by the DS academic counselor.

SENIOR CAPSTONE (DS 191, DS 199A/B OR DS 198A/B)

The senior capstone is designed to integrate and synthesize learning from earlier coursework and previous research as well as the internship experience. See more information on Capstone Expectations . The requirement can be fulfilled with one of the following:

1. Disability Studies 191 – Senior Research Seminar
   In-depth study of major themes in disability studies research. Themes vary by instructor and term. Students pursue independent research related to course theme, with guidance from instructor, then share and critique other student works in progress. This course is only offered in Spring quarters.Minors are manually enrolled into this course.
2. Disability Studies 199A/B – Directed Research in Disability Studies
   Disability Studies 199A (2 units) and 199B (4 units) is two terms of supervised independent research or investigation designed by the student and under the guidance of a faculty mentor. The two-term course culminates in a paper or project.Individual contract required and created through MyUCLA.
3. Disability Studies 198A/B – Honors Research in Disability Studies
   Disability Studies 198A (2 units) and 198B (4 units) is two terms of supervised individual research or investigation designed by the student and under the guidance of a faculty mentor. The two-term course culminates in an honors thesis or comprehensive research project.Individual contract required and created through MyUCLA.

Faculty Mentor

Under the guidance of a faculty mentor, this independent research course gives students the opportunity to conduct independent research or create a special project related to disability studies. Identifying an eligible faculty mentor is an essential step in the process. Please see below for more information.

• • All Senate Faculty are eligible to sponsor an independent research contract.
  • Non-Senate Faculty (NSF) may sponsor an independent research contract only with departmental approval. Approval process is facilitated between faculty member and Disability Studies Academic Advisor.
  • Unit-18 Lecturers are not eligible to sponsor independent research contracts.
  • Faculty mentors do not need to be directly affiliated with the academic program, as their role is to guide the student through the research process.
  • For more information on Senate and Non-Senate academic titles, review the Academic Senate Membership list.

HOW TO ENROLL IN DS 199A/B OR DS 198A/B

Enrollment Steps

• 1. Before starting the 198/199 process, please schedule a meeting with Lonnell Edwards to discuss your research.
  2. Secure a faculty mentor before the quarter you want to start your independent research
  3. For the 1st quarter of your project, create a contract for DIS STD 199A or 198A on MyUCLA
     • Meet with your faculty mentor to review the contract and have them sign it
     • Submit the signed contract to Lonnell Edwards by Friday, Week 2
  4. For the 2nd quarter of your project, create a contract for DIS STD 199B or 198B on MyUCLA and repeat the process.

Supplemental Documents

2024-25 DS Electives

DS Capstone Expectations

UCLA Library Disability Studies Research Guide

Research Tips & Strategies

Cornerstone Research Workshop Series

1. When do I apply to the Disability Studies Major?
   • To be admitted to the major, students must first complete all preparation courses. Students must have a UC grade-point average of 2.0 or better in those courses and an overall GPA of 2.0. Applications will be available only once per academic year on MyUCLA, during the Spring quarter (weeks 1-3). Students must apply to the major no later than the end of spring quarter of their junior year.
2. What does the major application consist of?
   • The online application on MyUCLA that will ask for students to confirm they have completed preparatory courses and any upper division courses. Additionally, the form will have two personal statement questions (250-word limit/~1500-character limit with spaces) and students will need to submit an unofficial copy of their transcripts at the last page of the online form.
   • Before submitting an application, students must consult with the Academic Advisor for Disability Studies.
3. If I am not admitted into the Disability Studies major and it is not the end of Spring quarter of my junior year, can I apply again?
   • Yes, if you are not past Spring quarter of your junior year, you may apply again for consideration into the Disability Studies major. If you have any further questions, connect with the Disability Studies major academic advisor.
4. Do I need to declare pre-Disability Studies major to apply? Are pre-Disability Studies majors favored over other majors?
   • No, pre-Disability Studies majors are not favored over other students applying to the Disability Studies major. It is also not necessary to be a pre-Disability Studies major to apply to the Disability Studies major.
5. Do Spring quarter in-progress coursework count towards meeting the criteria to apply to the Disability Studies major?
   • Yes, in the sections where you choose a preparatory course completed there is a grading option for “In Progress.”
6. When will I hear about results of my Disability Studies major application?
   • Generally, the admissions committee may take up to three weeks from a student’s major application submission to have an admission decision ready. Once a decision is made, the Disability Studies major advisor will email students with the admission decision.
7. If I do not meet the minimum criteria to apply to the Disability Studies major, can I still apply?
   • For this question it would be best to consult with the major academic advisor to discuss application process and which criteria has not been met.