Disability Studies - BA
Full-time format1:
Degree Completion
Part-time format:
Degree Completion
Requirements:
Grades-Plus
Grade range:
N/A
Faculty:
Faculty of Community Services
Experiential learning:
Capstone course(s) available
On this page
Is this degree for you?
Explore ways to improve the lives of people with disabilities through disability-informed approaches to mental health, technology, policy design, the arts and more in the first degree program of its kind in Canada.
If you have a college diploma you can upgrade to a bachelor’s degree in this emerging and expansive interdisciplinary field.2 In the Disability Studies degree program, you’ll develop your analytical, communication and leadership skills to advocate for access, rights and justice.
Experiential learning opportunities: Capstone course(s) available
You’ll have the opportunity, if you choose a core elective in your final term, to gain experience with a capstone course. This will give you the chance to apply the skills and knowledge you’ve acquired to solve a community or research problem.
Go at your own pace1:
- Choose the full-time program to complete your studies in 2 years.
- Select the part-time, hybrid program to take courses at your own pace. You can complete as few as one to 2 courses per semester, or you can complete 3 courses or more per semester (making it full-time and OSAP eligible).
The following is a preview of first-year courses based on the available current academic undergraduate calendar for this program.
REQUIRED:
- DST 501 Rethinking Disability
- DST 502 Disability and the State
- DST 504 Mad People's History
- DST 506 Principles and Practices of Accessibility
- DST 507 Disability, Justice and Good Human Life
- DST 525 Disability and Representation
- DST 613 Strategies for Community Building
- DST 725 The Politics and Practice of Interventions
- DST 727 Leadership Practices for Changing Times
- DST 80A/B* Practicum - Disability Studies
- DST 88A/B Research Methods
- DST 99A/B† Applied Community Project/Thesis
Career possibilities:
- Accessibility manager/coordinator
- Accommodation specialist
- Behavioural specialist
- Claims specialist
- Community outreach coordinator
Employer possibilities:
- Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB)
- Community Living Ontario
- Gerstein Crisis Centre
- Government organizations
- YMCA and community recreation programs
Further education:
- Critical disability studies
- Education
- Law
- Rehabilitation sciences
- Social work
Disability Studies alum's experience at TMU
"This program was absolutely life-changing for me. It equipped me with the knowledge and tools needed to be a better disability advocate while challenging societal perspectives around disability."
Megan Suggitt, Disability Studies, Class of 2022, Disabled Entrepreneur and Founder, Beautiful Minds Ontario
Read More: Alum Profile: Megan Suggitt
This is a Grades-Plus program. Admission decisions for Grades-Plus programs are based on academic performance plus non-academic criteria such as interviews, auditions, essays and portfolios. Your ability to follow and adhere to the requirements is part of the assessment of your application.
Academic requirements
- 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). The diploma must include a one-year (or equivalent) introductory university-level humanities or social science course or equivalent
- Applicants with equivalent international academic qualifications may be considered on a case by case basis
- Applicants with less than a "B" range average in an academic diploma program may be asked to complete up to 2 one-term university level liberal studies courses prior to admission
- Mature student guidelines do not apply
The following documents must be submitted to Undergraduate Admissions. Visit submission instructions for further details.
- Academic transcripts, including promotion/graduation status, from all post-secondary studies (excluding TMU). High school transcripts aren’t required for this program.
- A completed supplementary form.
- A personal letter (review the non-academic requirements).
Note: If you've already attended this program and are applying for readmission or reinstatement, a completed application and supplementary form are required.
- Courses taken at an accredited university that were completed prior to admittance to the program, provided that they weren't used to meet entrance requirements.
- Courses taken at a public Ontario College, provided that they weren’t used to meet entrance requirements. These must be approved by the appropriate teaching department chair/director before credit can be assigned.
- Courses taken at other universities and/or public Ontario College, with prior permission, while enrolled in the program. These typically will be taken for professionally related and liberal studies electives.
Students are required to complete at least half of the program's specified curriculum at TMU.
If you’ve completed 2 years of full time (or equivalent) related work/advocacy experience, you may be credited with DST 80A/B Practicum in Disability Studies by applying for the credit directly through the School of Disability Studies (after you accept an Offer of Admission).
If you acquire this experience during your time in the program, you can apply for an exemption prior to graduation.
You're required to submit a personal letter outlining your relevant experience and rationale for applying to the program. This letter should not exceed 2 pages. It'll be read for both admission eligibility as well as for the selection of potential recipients for the David and Sylvia Pollack Entrance Award in Disability Studies.
You're required to submit your non-academic requirements via the ChooseTMU Applicant Portal. If you're unable to use the ChooseTMU Applicant Portal, please contact Undergraduate Admissions to discuss an alternate method of submission.
Here’s how to access your ChooseTMU Applicant Portal account:
- Get your TMU Student Number in the email acknowledgement of your application
- Activate your TMU Online Identity. Fill in the Activation Form on the Accounts website. When asked for your Student/Applicant ID, enter your 9-digit TMU Student Number. Keep a record of your user name and password
- 24 hours after activating your TMU Online Identity, visit the ChooseTMU Applicant Portal
Fees and funding
Tuition and fees range 2025-2026
For detailed fees info, visit tuition and fees by program and costs to expect.
Full-time format1:
Ontario: $7,387 - $7,860
Out-of-province: $8,955 - $9,548
International: $36,806 - $38,169
Part-time format
(One to 8 or more courses)
Ontario: $1,016 - $5,517
Out-of-province: $1,173 - $6,772
International: $3,879 - $28,419
Explore financial assistance
Learn more about government financial aid programs like OSAP, out-of-province student loans and U.S. student loans.
Apply for financial assistance.
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Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU)'s Faculty of Community Services offers diverse programs that focus on making a positive impact in the community. The rich curriculum of multi-disciplinary programs in health, education, social justice and community development is closely connected to the spirit and the dynamism of the community.
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Disclaimer:
While every effort is made to ensure accuracy on this site, in the event of a discrepancy, TMU's current Undergraduate Calendar is the official reference.