Applied Disability Studies (MA)

Master of Arts in Applied Disability Studies

Program Website: Applied Disability Studies

Field(s) of Specialization

• Applied Behaviour Analysis
• Leadership, Diversity, Community & Culture

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, in a related field (e.g., disability studies, applied behaviour analysis, psychology, sociology, social work, child studies, education) with a minimum average of 75% in the last two years of undergraduate studies and one or more undergraduate statistics courses (minimum 75% average). Applicants for the MA program are encouraged to examine the research interests and publications of the faculty and indicate their preference for possible research supervisor(s) in the statement of intent accompanying the application.

For applicants who are applying to the Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) specialization, undergraduate or college courses related to Behaviour Analysis (minimum 75% average), volunteer or work experience in the disability sector and/or ABA, and research experience (such as an undergraduate honours thesis) will be preferred.

For applicants who are applying to the Leadership, Diversity, Community, and Culture (LDCC) specialization, undergraduate or college courses related to disability studies (minimum 75% average), volunteer or work experience in the disability sector and research experience (such as an undergraduate honours thesis) will be considered assets.

The Graduate Admissions Committee will review all applications and recommend admission for a limited number of candidates. Applicants not meeting minimum requirements (e.g., admission average <80 or missing undergraduate level or college level statistics or ABA coursework with min 75%) may be accepted conditionally. For those with admission average <80, please note extenuating circumstances for consideration in the statement of intent. Completing a course through our online upgrading courses , our in-house ABA, statistics and/or writing tutorial(s), or coursework in another department or university may be required prior to registration.

This program is offered on a full-time basis.

Applicants to the Master of Arts who have previously completed the Master of Applied Disability Studies (MADS) degree at Brock University will be considered under the following conditions:

1. Applicants must meet the minimum admission requirements to enter the Master of Arts program.
2. MADS graduates accepted to the MA program must complete the MA thesis (ADST 5F60 ) and a half-credit ADST elective related to their program of study in addition to meeting the course requirements for their year of entry. These credits plus requirements completed as part of the MADS degree will comprise the 6.0 credits required for the Master of Arts (ABA) and the 5.0 credits for the Master of Arts (LDCC).
3. The Master of Applied Disability Studies degree will be rescinded on the student’s academic record if the Master of Arts degree is completed and is to be conferred.