Disability Studies

The admission requirements for the Post Diploma Degree Completion program in Disability Studies are:

• A Diploma or Advanced Diploma from a public Canadian community college. Diplomas must have an academic focus (e.g. community and social services, business, arts, engineering, science).  
• Applicants with equivalent international academic qualifications may be considered on a case by case basis.  
• The diploma must include a one-year (or equivalent) introductory university-level humanities or social science course or equivalent. 
• Applicants with less than a 'B' range average in an academic Diploma or Advanced Diploma program may be asked to complete up to two (2) one-term university level liberal studies courses prior to admission.  
• Applicants are required to submit a personal letter outlining their relevant experience and rationale for applying to the program.

Admission Procedures

Applicants are required to submit the following to Undergraduate Admissions in addition to their online application and Supplementary Form.

Visit Submission of Documents for instructions:

1. Academic transcripts of all post-secondary studies, including promotion/graduation status. High School transcripts are not required. Mature Student guidelines do not apply.
2. A personal letter explaining how attending this program will benefit the applicant and Disability Communities.  The letter should not exceed two pages, double spaced.  It will be read for both admission eligibility and selection of potential recipients of the David and Sylvia Pollock Entrance Award in Disability Studies

Applicants to the part-time option are considered for admission three times a year (in the fall, winter and spring/summer semesters). Applicants to the full-time option are only considered for admission to the fall semester.

The part-time option allows students to take courses at their own pace. Students can complete as few as one to two courses per semester, or they can complete three courses or more per semester (making it full-time, OSAP eligible).

Established in 1999, this program provides full-time and part-time university education to adults with a college diploma in the disability field or other related post-secondary academic credentials and work experience in a diverse range of fields. At the end of the equivalent of approximately two years of full time study, students will receive a Bachelor of Arts, (Disability Studies) from Toronto Metropolitan University.

This degree program is designed to build on the direct practice skills that students have acquired from programs such as Developmental Services Worker, Educational Assistant, Mental Health and Addictions program and other disability studies related Canadian College diplomas and through work experience, (or other disability studies related post-secondary education and experience deemed suitable by the admissions committee), and to prepare them for leadership roles in a variety of areas including direct care, management, community development, policy, planning, and advocacy. In addition to paid careers, it is expected that some people, especially those within the disability community, will enrol in the program to enhance their ability to do effective advocacy.

In order to promote access for people from across Ontario (and perhaps elsewhere), all required courses are offered in an online format. Students will be able to take elective courses at TMU or, with a Letter of Permission, at other universities. The flexible modes of delivery that characterize this program will also facilitate access by people with disabilities.

Due to the program's reliance on online courses, students will be required to have access to a computer, the Internet and the World Wide Web. Students who are graduates of an Ontario College may be able to access computers at the college from which they graduated. However, students are strongly encouraged to purchase their own computers.

DST 501 and DST 880 are prerequisites for many subsequent courses, so it is recommended, even for part-time students, that these courses are taken in the first term of the first year of their program of study. Students wishing to complete the full-time degree option within two years must take DST 501 and DST 880 as their first two required courses. DST 880 is a prerequisite for DST 881. The prerequisites for DST 990 are DST 501 and DST 881, therefore 2-year full-time students would be eligible to take DST 990 in the Fall term of their second year.. Students should note that certain liberal studies and professionally-related courses may have their own prerequisites.

Courses are administered by either the program department or The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education. The mode of delivery is not reflected in this calendar. Continuing education courses are identified in your course enrolment package with a 'C' prefix. These identifiers are for internal use only and do not affect the equivalency.

Students with post-secondary studies beyond the basis of admission may be eligible for transfer credits, with no more than 50 percent of a program's requirements consisting of advanced standing/credits (transfer credits, credits granted on a Letter of Permission).

Full-time students are required to complete the program in no more than four years. Part-time students are required to complete the program in no more than seven years. The completion time will vary with the number of courses taken each year.

Students must take one lower level liberal studies courses and three upper level liberal studies courses to graduate. Students must not choose courses that are restricted for their program or major.

If an upper level liberal studies course requires a prerequisite, students MUST apply for a transfer credit for that prerequisite. This will only serve as a proof of prerequisite and will not apply toward the degree.

Please refer to the liberal studies chapter of this calendar for more information on the Liberal Studies Policy. Further information on liberal studies can also be found at the Faculty of Arts' Liberal Studies website (opens in new window) .

Table A - Lower Level Restrictions

Table B - Upper Level Restrictions

Students may pursue any Minor offered by Toronto Met (with some exceptions). Please refer to the Minors chapter of this calendar for further information on individual Minor requirements and exclusions.

Undergraduate students wishing to pursue a continuing education certificate program should be aware of possible program exclusions. Please refer to the Certificate Registration section of the Curriculum Advising website (opens in new window)  for complete details.

*Students are advised to take DST 501 and DST 880 in their 1st semester.

First offered 2026-2027 to students admitted Fall 2026 and after.

First offered 2027-2028 to students admitted Fall 2026 and after.

A Program Advisory Council (PAC) is a group of volunteers that provides expert advice to a school or department on program related matters such as curriculum, program review, technology and trends in the industry, discipline or profession. For more information, see Senate Policy #158 (Program Advisory Councils).

Kim Collins
Doctoral Candidate
Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto

Loree Erickson
Sessional Instructor
Mark S. Bonham Centre for Sexual Diversity Studies, University of Toronto

Tobin Haley
Assistant Professor
Department of Social Science, University of New Brunswick

Sean Lee
Director of Programming
Tangled Art + Disability

Kirsty Liddiard
Senior Research Fellow
School of Education, University of Sheffield

Amanda Lin
Alumna
School of Disability Studies, TMU

Paul Oberoi
Vice-Principal
York Region District School Board

Melanie Panitch
Executive Director
Office of Social Innovation, TMU

Jennifer Paterson
Health Promoter
Toronto Public Health

Tiffany-Anne Stones
Program Coordinator
Community Living Elgin

Heather Willis
Accessibility Coordinator
Office of the Vice-President, Equity and Community Inclusion, TMU