Disability Management (MA Program)

Website: www.unbc.ca/health-sciences/disability-management

The program provides graduates with the knowledge and skills necessary to assist labour, management, insurance providers, employers, and employees with the development of successful work-entry or return-to-work strategies for persons with disabilities.

The program is attractive to students interested in integrating the fields of economics, community health, social work, psychology, education, and business. The combination of coursework, research, and the application of knowledge gives students a well-rounded, applied education in the field of Disability Management.

The MA in Disability Management is offered primarily as an online part-time program. A full-time, in-person option may be considered in special cases. Please see the information below and our website: www.unbc.ca/health-sciences/disability-management for additional details.


Admission

Application deadlines can be found in the Graduate Programs Admissions and Regulations section of the Graduate Calendar, or online at www.unbc.ca/calendar/graduate/admissions.

The Disability Management MA program accepts students for the September semester.

In addition to meeting the admission application requirements outlined in General Admission of the Graduate Admissions and Regulations, all applicants to the Disability Management MA program are required to submit a Criminal Record Check search prior to the first day of classes in their entry semester.

Domestic applicants must supply a Criminal Record Check search result after receiving an offer of admission and before the first day of classes. The search result is not required with the application.  International applicants must submit a Criminal Record Check search result provided by their local police authority upon application, and will also be required to submit a British Columbia Criminal Record Check if offered admission. The Office of the Registrar will provide instructions to domestic and international applicants who have accepted offers of admission on how to complete a British Columbia Criminal Record Check.


Program Options

Comprehensive Examination Option
The Comprehensive Examination Option consists of four components:
Core courses in Disability Management 12 credit hours
Research courses 6 credit hours
Electives 15 credit hours
Comprehensive Examination 3 credit hours
Total 36 credit hours

Thesis Option
A thesis option is also available for students who wish to pursue a research-based degree and who are able to travel to the Prince George campus to fulfill their thesis requirements. The thesis-based option is only available pending thesis supervisor availability and interest.

The Thesis Option consists of four components:
Core courses in Disability Management
12 credit hours
Research courses 6 credit hours
Electives 9 credit hours
Thesis 9 credit hours
Total 36 credit hours

Requirements

Core Courses
Professional Ethics in Health Care Management
DISM 710-3 Foundations in Disability Management
DISM 711-3 Disability Management: Legislation, Policy and Procedures
DISM 712-3 Disability Management Interventions

Other courses may be substituted or added with the approval of the student's supervisory committee.

Research Courses

Two additional courses from the following list:
EDUC 602-4 Quantitative Research Design and Data Analysis
HHSC 603-3 Community Research Methods
HHSC 703-3 Qualitative Research Approaches in Health and Human Sciences
PSYC 600-4 Univariate Statistics
PSYC 605-4 Multivariate Statistics
SOCW 609-3 Advanced Quantitative Research

Other courses may be substituted or added with the approval of the student's supervisory committee.

Elective Courses

Candidates must complete a minimum of 9 credit hours from the following list:
DISM 798-(3-6) Directed Studies
ECON 610-3 Health Economics
ECON 611-3 Cost-Benefit Analysis
EDUC 609-3 Aboriginal/Indigenous Learners: History, Culture, and Ways of Knowing
EDUC 613-3 Interpersonal Counselling Skills
HHSC 602-3 Organization and Financing of Canadian Health Care
NURS 604-3 The Healing and Well-being of Indigenous Peoples
POLS 603-3 Social and Health Policy in the Context of Health and Health Care
Health Psychology
SOCW 605-3 Community Work/Politics of Change
SOCW 698-3 Special Topics
Other courses may be substituted or added with the approval of the student's supervisory committee. 

Comprehensive Examination or Thesis
DISM 796-3 Disability Management Comprehensive Examination
DISM 799-9 Disability Management Thesis

Comprehensive Examination

The comprehensive examination option of study requires the successful completion of a comprehensive examination that evaluates a candidate’s knowledge of theory, research and practice in their field of study.

Thesis

An oral examination is required as per University regulations. All students taking the thesis option will be required to be in Prince George for the oral examination.

Updated: June 29, 2023