Major Requirements

1. DBST-2270 “Intro to Disability Studies” (3 credits)
2. One dedicated DBST course in disability culture or one dedicated DBST course in disability law, policy, and advocacy. The two courses that currently fulfill this requirement are:
   • DBST-3304 “Introduction to Deaf Culture” (3 credits) and
   • DBST-2249, “Disability Law and Activism” (3 credits)
3. 12 elective credits across distribution requirements as follows:
   • 6 credits in the natural sciences or social sciences, such as ANTH 2256 Disability and Culture; BIOL 3940 Genomics, Disability and Health; SOCI 3709 Sociology of Health/Illness; or other eligible courses with the corresponding DBST attribute (DBST/Natural or Social Sci.)
   • 6 credits in the humanities (literature, arts, history, theology, philosophy), such as ENGL 2680 Disability and the Arts; or ENGL 2702 Grief and Grievance; or any other eligible course with the corresponding DBST attribute (DBST/Humanities)
4. A 4000-level or above seminar in Disability Studies (3 credits)
5. At least 6 credits in Disability Studies core classes other than those taken to satisfy requirements (1) through (4) above.
6. Either a senior thesis supervised by a member of the Disability Studies faculty or affiliated faculty or a major community-based learning project culminating in a final report and oral presentation, supervised by a Disability Studies faculty member, affiliated faculty, or a community member outside the university with expertise in disability issues (advocacy, arts, or policy, for example), with the oversight of a Georgetown faculty member (4 credits, one in Fall and three in Spring).

Disability Studies core courses center discipline-specific disability studies theories and/or methodologies along with a focus on disability experience, history, and/or culture. Elective courses have a substantial focus on disability experience, history, and/or culture and enable students to do individual work employing disability studies theory and/or methodology.

For a list of core courses and approved electives, please visit the program website at https://disabilitystudies.georgetown.edu/programs/courses/.

A maximum of two courses taken elsewhere (i.e., study abroad or summer courses) may be counted as electives in the major, with approval of the steering committee.

To declare the major, students should complete the interest form available on our website, disabilitystudies.georgetown.edu. Please direct questions to lsr@georgetown.edu.

If you have questions, please email the Disability Studies Program at disabilitystudies@georgetown.edu.