Master of Arts in Disability Studies
The Master of Arts in Disability Studies (MDSS) at California Baptist University (CBU) is one of the few programs of its kind offered by a Christian university. It is a distance learning degree program designed to develop a professional's expertise in human differences.
The Master of Arts in Disability Studies online program offers a highly reflective curriculum that challenges students to reexamine, reevaluate and redefine perceptions of what it means to be disabled -- as well as what it means to be human. Interdisciplinary courses illuminate the intersections between a broad range of academic fields -- from education to philosophy, from sociology to legal and political issues, from health to theology -- as they apply to persons with disabilities.
The Master of Arts in Disability Studies online program prepares leaders and thinkers to challenge and change the ways communities, organizations, government agencies and religious institutions interact and engage with people experiencing disability through combining theory, evaluation and experiential learning. There are three distinct concentrations in the field that candidates of the degree have the opportunity to pursue: Disability Ministry, Disability Leadership and Disability Policy.
As a supplement to online coursework, students have the opportunity to put theory into practice in the real world. The practicum component of this degree allows candidates to gain valuable hands-on experience working with and for people with disabilities, in a setting of their choice that best reflects their professional goals. For those students interested in leading disability ministries, our unique partnership with Joni and Friends opens a range of practicum opportunities at home and around the world.
Optional Concentrations:
Disability Ministry Concentration
Aligned with the mission of Joni and Friends, one of the world's leading Christian-based organizations advocating for people with disabilities, the disability ministry emphasis recognizes and responds to the growing presence of people with disabilities within the church. Online graduates with this concentration complete specialized coursework that prepares them to establish, build and lead disability ministries within a congregational setting. Graduates will be agents of change within the Christian church around the world.
Disability Leadership Concentration
Online students pursuing the disability leadership concentration gain the knowledge, skills and experience to evaluate, establish, build and lead successful disability programs within a range of organizational settings in the public, private and religious sectors. This concentration also prepares graduates to use their expertise in the development of effective organizational leaders with disabilities.
Disability Policy Concentration
The disability policy concentration is designed for professionals interested in shaping policies that impact persons with disabilities. Specialized online coursework prepares students to take a proactive role in defining and enacting policies at the government, corporate or organizational level that reflect and recognize the needs and values of people with disabilities. As policy shapers and makers, graduates are ideally positioned to become agents of positive change within their organization and beyond.
Career Opportunities
The Master of Arts in Disability Studies online program from California Baptist University provides an array of opportunities to enact positive change while advancing students' professional careers. There are many different leadership roles that graduates can fill once the program is completed. Some of those roles include:
- Disability Program Directors -- Today, corporate, not-for-profit, religious and government agencies are recognizing the need for well-run disability programs. CBU's Master of Arts in Disability Studies with a concentration in disability leadership competitively positions graduates for employment as directors of programs for persons with disabilities.
- Coaches for Disabled Leaders -- Persons with disabilities encounter a number of barriers that can limit the reach of their professional goals. Graduates of CBU's Master of Arts in Disability Studies program with a concentration in disability leadership may explore career opportunities as consultants, coaches and mentors specializing in the development of organizational leaders with disabilities.
- Disability Ministry Directors -- Our graduates are qualified to establish, evaluate, build and lead disability ministries in congregational settings, thus driving change within the Christian church internationally. Demand for professionals in this specialization is expected to increase significantly in the near future.
- Disability Policy Makers -- Graduates of the MDSS online program with a concentration in disability policy have a range of career opportunities open to them as advocates, lobbyists and policy makers for organizations in the public, private and religious sectors.
- College and University Instructors -- The Master of Arts in Disability Studies qualifies students to teach as adjunct or full-time college faculty. Students will participate in training the next generation of disability experts.
- Doctoral Students -- The CBU Master of Arts in Disability Studies provides a solid academic foundation for students who choose to pursue doctoral studies in disability studies, organizational leadership, political science, policy development, theology, ministry and public administration.
Flexible Online Format
One of CBU's first graduate programs to be conducted entirely online, the Master of Arts in Disabilities Studies combines the advantages of distance learning with a rigorous curriculum designed to prepare exceptional leaders. The online format allows students from virtually any location to join a dynamic community of distance learners and participate in one of only a handful of master's programs of this kind in the nation.
As distance learners, students enjoy the flexibility to attend faculty lectures streaming live, or view archived lectures in their entirety at a later and more convenient time. Students also benefit from joining an interactive community of peers from around the globe, while accommodating other professional and personal obligations.
Multidisciplinary Faculty
Online courses are taught by members of CBU's outstanding faculty, including deans and professors from a cross-spectrum of academic disciplines, including education, criminal justice, political science, Christian studies, sociology, kinesiology and nursing. Representing the best in their fields, our faculty members bring their diverse perspectives and experiences to the program, allowing students to examine and understand disability through multiple lenses. While diverse in their expertise, all faculty share a personal commitment to progressing the field of disability studies.
The Master of Arts in Disability Studies maintains CBU's excellent student/faculty ratio and interaction level. Through virtual office hours, interactive online classrooms, discussions, streaming video and voice conversation, and email, faculty remain accessible and available to students throughout the course of the program.