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Disability Studies

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Pursue Disability Studies at Fordham

About the disability studies minor

At Fordham, the disability studies minor goes beyond an understanding of the meanings, contexts, and consequences of disability. It challenges you to ask questions about the nature of humanity and work toward producing more accessible built and social environments.

You’ll center the real experiences and expertise of disabled people across a range of disciplines. Examine the intersection of disability and identity. Attend seminars and conduct innovative projects through our Research Consortium on Disability. And use your knowledge to help guide the world on a path toward inclusion.

Our graduates go on to …

  • prestigious graduate programs
  • nonprofit psychology and social work fields
  • careers in law, education, public policy, and healthcare

Visit the disability studies program page

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Disability studies minor profile

  • Rose Hill CampusMinor
    Rose Hill
  • Lincoln Center CampusMinor
    Lincoln Center

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Program at a glance

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majors and minors to pair with your disability studies minor, so you can graduate with a degree that prepares you for fields like education, healthcare, law, and public policy

Research Consortium on Disability

Fordham’s hub for disability-related research, bringing together social scientists and scholars across business, education, law, and social services to help guide the world toward inclusion

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courses to complete the minor: Introduction to Disability Studies, one upper-level capstone course like Extraordinary Bodies or Black Disability Studies, and four electives such as Media, Disability, Futurity and Diverse Biology: Shared Humanity

Education, Human Rights, Healthcare, Psychology and Social Work, Public Policy, and Law

fields disability studies minors go on to work in

Annual Distinguished Lecture on Disability

brings leading disability scholars to campus, including author and activist Eli Clare, who discussed his book Brilliant Imperfection: Grappling with Cure

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peer-reviewed articles published by Sophie Mitra, founding director of Fordham’s Research Consortium on Disability, and her research teams, which include Fordham undergraduate and graduate students

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Making an impact

Two people shaking hands

Fighting for Disability Rights—With Data                    

Disability rights advocates now have new interactive data tools they can use to push for policy changes worldwide, thanks to Fordham’s Disability Data Initiative. Discover their groundbreaking work.

Female presenting student under Fordham Road sign in subway station. Subway to her left.

Making the Subway Accessible for All                    

Abigail Dziura is serious about improving the city’s subways for all. See why her proposal for a more accessible NYC subway system was a finalist for the Harry S. Truman Scholarship.

Emmanuel Okeke, explores the postcard display from artist David Opdyke at the Climate Museum Pop-Up. Photos by Kelly Prinz

Climate Art Inspires Action                    

Disability studies professor Shubhangi Grag Mehrotra took her students to the Climate Museum Pop-Up.

Emily Lewis (left) and her faculty mentor, Sophie Mitra. Photo by Chris Gosier

Spotlighting an Overlooked Inequality                    

Alongside her faculty mentor, Emily Lewis conducted research into one of the most overlooked inequalities: the disability gap. Learn about her findings—and plans to close that gap.

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Disability Studies program FAQ

  • Common majors paired with the disability studies minor include social work, psychology, and urban studies. However, the disability studies minor is open to students in any major who want to work in the field or augment their studies with a deeper context and understanding of disability.

  • As a disability studies minor, you’ll take courses like Extraordinary Bodies, where you’ll explore the ways that physical and mental differences are interpreted in a range of contexts—and the consequences of those interpretations. You might also take Disability and Music, where you’ll dive into disability’s profound role in shaping musical identities.

  • Through Fordham’s Research Consortium on Disability, you’ll be able to connect with social scientists and scholars in the humanities, business, education, law, and social services doing research in disability and health-related fields. Beyond attending symposiums, seminars, and lectures, you’ll be able to conduct your own research alongside faculty experts.

  • You’ll be prepared for a range of career paths unique to the major you choose. Disability studies minors pursue careers in fields including education, human rights, healthcare, social work, and public policy.

    Plus, you can connect with alumni through the Fordham Mentoring Program to receive one-on-one guidance and advice for your career.

  • At Fordham, you’ll use AI as a tool to enhance your learning. Our program will equip you with the skills to navigate the ever-changing landscape of AI in the workforce. As a disability studies minor, you might conduct your own research on the effects of AI on human behavior or examine AI biases toward ableism.

    You’ll also be able to earn credentials and paid micro-internships through IBM SkillsBuild’s Getting Started with AI course. All Fordham students and graduates have access to AI training through RamConnect, the University’s alumni and experiential learning platform.

    Above all, you’ll learn skills that can’t be replaced by AI, such as critical thinking, problem solving, and experimentation.

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