Disabilities (Minor)
Disabilities (Minor)

What is a minor in disabilities?
The minor in disabilities studies will give you the opportunity to explore ways in which you can work with and support people with disabilities and their families, helping them live life to the fullest.This interdisciplinary program will give you an introduction to topics such as exceptionality, assistive technology, and occupation,identity and disability. You’ll be able to select from a wide range of electives to support your particular area of interest.Expand your career options by combining the disabilities minor with majors such as education, occupational therapy, recreation management and policy or social work.
Why study disabilities at UNH?
When you minor in disabilities at UNH, you’ll work collaboratively with faculty from the departments of occupational therapy, recreation management and policy, communication sciences and disorders, health and physical education, nutrition and education. You’ll have the opportunity to participate in independent studies or a small-scale research project.
Potential career areas
- Early Intervention
- Education
- Mental health services
- Recreation
- Rehabilitation
Contact
Hewitt Hall, 4 Library Way
Durham, NH 03824
Phone: (603) 862-3221
Curriculum & Requirements
About the Program
The purpose of the interdisciplinary disability minor is to prepare undergraduate students to apply their unique disciplinary skills to work with and support individuals with disabilities and their families to become fully engaged members of their communities, and to improve their quality of life. The minor also helps to prepare students to work in an interdisciplinary service delivery environment. The 20-credit hours curriculum consists of five to eight courses including a writing-intensive course from the student's major. The minor offers students a unique opportunity to explore disability from several vantage points, including an overview of the disability experience, societal barriers individuals face, service delivery systems, disciplinary perspectives, current research, and relevant legislation.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Required Courses | ||
One of the following courses is required from the student's major or any other disability related intensive course outside of the major with permission: | 4 | |
OT 444 | Living and Doing with Technology | |
OT 610 | Occupation, Identity, Disability | |
EDUC 650 | Introduction to Disability in Inclusive Schools and Communities 2 | |
Electives | ||
Select four to seven elective courses from the following: | 16 | |
OT 444 | Living and Doing with Technology | |
INTR 438 | A Socio-cultural Perspective on the Deaf Community | |
RMP 501 | Recreation Services for Individuals with Disabilities | |
EDUC #556 | Peer to Peer Mentoring for Students with Disabilities | |
OT 610 | Occupation, Identity, Disability | |
OT 685 | Psychosocial Disorders and Everyday Life | |
SW 712 | Understanding Developmental Disabilities | |
OT #724 | Assistive Technology and Physical Disabilities | |
OT #726 | Assistive Technology and Sensory, Communicative, and Cognitive Disabilities | |
NUTR 740 | Nutrition for Children with Special Needs | |
EDUC 760 | Introduction to Young Children with Special Needs | |
HPE 781 | Inclusion in Physical Education | |
SW, OT, EDUC, KIN, NUTR, RMP Independent Study with a disability focus 1 | ||
Total Credits | 20 |
1 | The purpose of the independent study is to explore a topic that provides a detailed focus on an important issue related to individuals with disabilities. A student may also choose to engage in a small-scale research project to investigate an issue that affects individuals with disabilities. Each project will be negotiated with the student's departmental faculty adviser and the coordinator of the minor program. |
2 | Prerequisite courses EDUC 500 and EDUC 402 are waived with permission for students in non-education majors. |
Please note: Additional elective courses may be added in the future as deemed appropriate and approved by disabilities studies coordinator.
Also note: Students must achieve C- or better and a 2.00 grade-point average in courses that the minor department approves. Courses taken on a pass/fail basis may not be used for a minor. No more than 8 credits used to satisfy major requirements may be used for a minor. There is no limit on the number of overlapping credits allowed between minors. Students should declare the intent to earn a minor as early as possible and no later than the end of the junior year. During the final term, an application should be made to the dean to have the minor show on the academic record.