Disability Studies

Disability studies is a dynamic, interdisciplinary minor that explores disability as a human experience. Students study the history, culture, and human rights movements of disabled people, analyzing disability's intersections with race, class, gender, sexuality, and nationality. We assume there is no need to fix disabilities. Instead, we build a better world that accommodates and respects people with disabilities.

20+
internship opportunities
90+
students in the minor
10+
interdisciplinary departments

What You Can Do with a Disability Studies Minor

The disability studies minor prepares students for careers in psychology and counseling, health and medicine, government, nonprofit agencies, advocacy, public policy and administration, education, and social work. Graduates can pursue careers in:

  • Human and family services
  • Physical, occupational and speech therapy
  • K-12 education
  • Pre-med and pre-law
  • Arts and museum education
  • Adaptive recreation
  • Nonprofit organizations
  • Public interest groups
  • Advocacy
Colin Wilfrid, Disability minor student, playing horn

How Disability Studies Enriches Your Career

"As someone with an intellectual disability, I got to learn a lot about people with physical disabilities. It gave me a lot of broad advocacy skills to advocate on behalf of both physical and intellectual disabilities."

—Colin Wilfrid, Disability Studies Minor

Our Degree Program

Undergraduate students can earn a minor in disability studies with a focus on interdisciplinary studies and fieldwork that provides real-world experience. 

Faculty giving lecture

Learn from Experts in the Field

Students minoring in disability studies will learn from faculty who are known experts in their respective fields. Because each student is given the flexibility to build their own course of study built on their specific interests, there are opportunities to work with faculty representing a broad range of departments.

student with child playing with beads

Get Real-world Experience

Earn credit toward your minor while gaining hands-on experience in the field. You’ll have the opportunity to learn directly from people with disabilities through a wide variety of community partnerships in sports, schools, healthcare, direct support provision, the arts, and many other spheres of life.

Scholarships and Funding

Students in the Disability Studies Program can seek funding through the College of Arts and Sciences, which awards various scholarships both to incoming students and to those already attending the UO.

Undergraduate Scholarships

Academic Support

Students minoring in disability studies can consult our program director or seek support from the advising team at Tykeson College and Career Advising.

Tykeson Advising

Humanities News and CAS Events

ENGLISH, COMICS AND CARTOON STUDIES — Ben Saunders, professor and pop-culture scholar in the College of Arts and Sciences, curated a special exhibit in LA featuring comics artist, Jack Kirby. The exhibit, “Jack Kirby: Heroes and Humanity,” received glowing reviews and is a must-see for anyone in the LA area. In this Q&A, Saunders explains what makes Kirby exceptional and why he's so important to him.
LINGUISTICS - The Department of Linguistics in the College of Arts and Sciences hosted the Linguistic Society of America’s Summer Institute, a five-week summer school held every other year at a new host location. Scholars from around the world came to learn, connect and enjoy the unique qualities of the University of Oregon.
THEATRE ARTS — University Theatre's 2025-2026 season includes four dynamic and human-driven plays. Each of the plays offers a mix of historical and contemporary themes, while also speaking of such timely issues as immigration, gender roles, and workplace safety. All productions feature students on stage and behind the scenes.

All News »


Uncovering Oregon History with the Chinese Diaspora Project
Oct2
Uncovering Oregon History with the Chinese Diaspora Project Oct 2 Museum of Natural and Cultural History
Department of History: Fall Get-Together
Oct3
Department of History: Fall Get-Together Oct 3 McKenzie Hall
Chemistry and Biochemistry Seminar - “Fluorescent Probes of RNA Structure: Photophysics and Applications in RNA-Based Sensing”
Oct6
Chemistry and Biochemistry Seminar - “Fluorescent Probes of RNA Structure: Photophysics and Applications in RNA-Based Sensing” Oct 6 Willie and Donald Tykeson Hall
Unlocking Graduate Student Career Resources
Oct8
Unlocking Graduate Student Career Resources Oct 8
Autumn Songs: A Korean Jazz Performance with Jordan VanHemert and Band
Oct9
Autumn Songs: A Korean Jazz Performance with Jordan VanHemert and Band Oct 9 Kalapuya Ilihi
Ten Years Since Obergefell: Past and Present Fights for LGBTQ Rights
Oct9
Ten Years Since Obergefell: Past and Present Fights for LGBTQ Rights Oct 9 William W. Knight Law Center
How to: Resume and Cover Letter Tips (Workshop)
Oct13
How to: Resume and Cover Letter Tips (Workshop) Oct 13 Willie and Donald Tykeson Hall
WGSS Presents: “Writing Queer Women’s History: Finding A Place of Our Own” Talk and Light Reception with June Thomas
Oct14
WGSS Presents: “Writing Queer Women’s History: Finding A Place of Our Own” Talk and Light Reception with June Thomas Oct 14 Erb Memorial Union (EMU)
ELO Scholarship Student and Alumni Panel
Oct14
ELO Scholarship Student and Alumni Panel Oct 14 Willie and Donald Tykeson Hall
Next Level Resumes and CVs
Oct15
Next Level Resumes and CVs Oct 15

All CAS events »