Graduate Diploma in Applied Disability Studies
Program Website: Applied Disability Studies
Field(s) of Specialization
- Applied Behaviour Analysis
Faculty and Administration
For a listing of program faculty and administrative contacts, please visit the program directory.
Program Description
The Vision of the Department of Applied Disability Studies is to be an internationally-recognized, preeminent academic program that contributes to the betterment of the lives of people in our community and beyond with a focus on persons with disabilities and underserved populations.
Our mission is to educate students who will be agents of change to help better the lives of people in our community and beyond with a focus on persons with disabilities and underserved populations. We strive to contribute knowledge and improve services by conducting cutting edge basic and applied research, and by providing transdisciplinary, quality postgraduate education to the next generation of professionals, researchers and educators, and experienced professionals in the field. Faculty are internationally respected in disability studies and Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA).
The Department of Applied Disability Studies (ADS) offers a Master of Arts (MA) degree, a Master of Applied Disability Studies (MADS), Graduate Diploma in Applied Disability Studies, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Behaviour Analysis (PhD ABA). Students pursuing an MA or MADS degree may choose to specialize in the field of Leadership, Diversity, Community, and Culture (LDCC) or in the field of ABA. The Graduate Diploma is offered in the ABA specialization only. The MA option, with its advanced course work and strong research focus, is intended to prepare students to continue their graduate training at the Ph.D. level. Foundational and theoretical work are embedded in applied courses and practicum experiences. ADS graduate students will be prepared to pursue the wide variety of career possibilities in the disability sector and/or applied behaviour analysis.
In addition to foundational coursework in Applied Disability Studies, students in Applied Behaviour Analysis take the ADS Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) Verified Course Sequence (VCS), which meets the current coursework requirements for certification as a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA®) by the Behaviour Analyst Certification Board (BACB®). For those interested, in practicing ABA in Ontario, note that The Psychology and Applied Behaviour Analysis Act (2021), was proclaimed on July 1, 2024; therefore the use of the title “Behaviour Analyst” is restricted to members of the College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts, who are registered as Behaviour Analysts. Coursework continues to be modified to meet changing requirements from ABAI and BACB® and the new regulatory requirements for Ontario. Current information on the regulation process in Ontario is found at https://cpo.on.ca/aba/. Please refer to https://www.BACB.com for additional eligibility and certification requirements. Note: the BACB will no longer certify Ontario residents effective July 1, 2026.
For maximum flexibility, our courses for part-time students are generally offered one weekend per month at the Burlington Campus, or satellite Toronto or Ottawa locations, with online activities taking place in between weekends. Online and blended course options may also be offered. MA students attend the majority of their in person courses on the St. Catharines Campus. Full-time MADS students may be assigned to weekly courses at the St. Catharines Campus and/or the weekend format courses at the Burlington Campus. For complete course sequence and scheduling details please visit the program website.
Admission Requirements
Successful completion of four-year Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent with a minimum average of 75% in the last two years of undergraduate studies. Undergraduate or graduate courses, volunteer or work experience in the field of disabilities will be considered an asset. At present, the Graduate Diploma is offered in the Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) specialization only.
Applicants pursuing the ABA specialization must hold a Master’s Degree as specified by the College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario (CPBAO) and the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB®) (http://www.bacb.com), in order to complete this course sequence and pursue registration with CPBAO for practice in Ontario or for Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA®) certification. If accepted without undergraduate level or college level ABA coursework (min 75%), completing a course prior to registration through our online upgrading courses or our in-house ABA tutorial would be required prior to registration. Applicants who do not hold a Master’s Degree should apply for admission to MADS (ABA) or MA (ABA).
The Graduate Admissions Committee will review all applications and recommend admission for a limited number of candidates.
This program is offered on a full-time basis, and is designed to be completed in five terms.
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