Disability -Individual, culture and health, 15 Credits

Contents

This course is divided into the following two modules: module 1 is the course entitled Disability: individual, culture and health (7, 5 credits) and module 2 project work (7, 5 credits).
 
Module 1 – Disability: individual, culture and health 7, 5 c

Module 1 is divided into four themes. The first theme is an introduction to the other themes. This theme introduces the meaning of disability in a welfare context and discusses disability in relation to identity and a first-persons perspective. The second theme discusses disability from a life-course perspective and highlights the living conditions and structural conditions of disabled people in relation to childhood, youth, adulthood, and old age. The third theme focuses on disability in relation to art and culture. Disability culture, disability art, and Crip theory are discussed, and the social meaning of doing art is analysed in terms of identity and empowerment. The fourth theme analyses the living conditions of disabled persons in relation to a global perspective and in relation to the UN convention of rights for disabled people (UNCRDP). Highlighted areas in the fourth theme are health, education, and social participation in different parts of the world.

Module 2 project work 7, 5 c

In this module the students will deepen their knowledge from the first module. This is made through a project work in one of the following themes: disability and a life course perspective, disability and culture/art, or the living conditions of disabled people in a global perspective. The project work contains of writing an international research review.

Expected learning outcomes

The aim is that the students will develop advanced knowledge about the experiences of different age groups experiences of living with disability. The students will integrate knowledge from different academic disciplines to analyses disability in relation to childhood, youth, adulthood, and ageing. In particular, the students will develop the skills to compare Swedish and international conditions.  

By the end of the course, students are expected to be able to demonstrate the following (through course activities, assignments, and/or exams):

Knowledge and understanding:

• advanced knowledge regarding disabled people’s situations in relation to culture, health, education, and living conditions in a global perspective
• understanding of the meaning of a first-person perspective and the identity of disabled people during different life phases 

Skill and ability:

• skill in using theoretical perspectives to critically analyse central arenas such as school, working life, and leisure time
• ability to use theoretical perspectives in the understanding of the identity categories gender, age, and  disability and the intersections between these identity categories
• skill in using theoretical perspectives to critically analyse central concepts of disability and culture/art 

Assessment skills and approaches:

• skill in examining and assessing measurements made by international organisations, under the UNCRPD to improve the living conditions of disabled people 
• skill in conducting societal and ethical assessments of the situation for disabled people in a global perspective 

 
In module 2, the following learning outcomes are added:
 
Knowledge and understanding:
 

• the ability to analyse and discuss knowledge about disabled people’s situation in relation to one of the following themes: disability in a life-course perspective, disability and culture, or the life situation for disabled people in a global perspective  

Skill and ability:

• skill in applying research methods and in conducting stringent and critical analyses
• ability to plan, conduct, and present a well-structured independent scientific work 

Assessment skills and approaches: 
 

• skill in examining and assessing scientifically produced knowledge in the field of disability

Required Knowledge

The requirements are 90 ECTS in one of the following subjects: Social Work, Disability studies, Sociology, Psychology, or another subject that can be considered equal to these. The 90 ECTS has to include an undergraduate thesis of 15 ECTS. Proficiency in English equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English A/5 is also required.
 

Form of instruction

The two course modules use an internet-based platform for communication and teaching. Course module 1 is offered in collaboration with the School of Social and Health Science, Halmstad University, and radio and television programs from Utbildningsradion can be a part of the teaching. Module 1 consists of lectures, seminars, group work, and individual studies. Attendance at the seminars is mandatory. During the project work in course module 2, the teaching and communication is carried out through individual supervision. The teaching language in both modules is English.    
 

Examination modes

In course module 1, three of the four themes are examined as well as the module as a whole. The second theme – disability in a life-course perspective – is examined through a written assignments. The students are assigned to discuss and problematize gender and life course in relation to disability. The third theme – disability and culture – is examined through a seminar presentation and diskussion. The fourth theme – disability in a global perspective – is examined through an online seminar in which the student’s present a paper group work about the situation for disabled people in another country. The students will also discuss the work of other students.
 
The seminars are mandatory. Course module 1 is further examined through a written assignment.

There will be separate marks for seminar presentations and written work. For seminars, the grades are either fail or pass. For the final written assignments, the grades are fail, pass, or pass with distinction. To obtain a pass with distinction for course module 1, the written assignment must be graded pass with distinction and all seminars must have been attended.

The second course module is examined through a written international research review in the form of an essay. To obtain a pass with distinction for the second course module, the written assignment must be graded pass with distinction

To obtain a pass with distinction for the whole course, all written assignments must have been graded pass with distinction and all seminars must have been attended.

Rules regarding examinations
 
A student who fails to obtain a pass result on the regular test is entitled to the opportunity of a re-take. A re-take must be offered not more than three months after the regular test, but it must not be offered earlier than ten working days after the result of the regular test has been announced and a copy of the student’s examination script is made available. Re-take time(s) should be announced not later than the day of the regular test. In addition, at least one further re-take opportunity (known as a “catching-up test”) must be offered within one year of the regular test.

A student who has passed an examination may not be re-examined.

f a college or university limits the number of occasions on which a student may enrol for a test in order to obtain a pass grade for a course or sub-course, the number of attempts must be at least five. In order for an opportunity of examination to be regarded as forfeited, the student must have failed formally on the test. Absence from an examination may not be counted as a forfeit examination. Participation in an examination without submitting a result (handing in a blank paper) counts as an opportunity.

Anyone who has not passed an examination has the right to a re-take for a course where she/he has once been registered provided that any limitations on the number of examination times have not been exceeded.

In cases where examinations or compulsory course elements cannot be repeated according to the rules of re-takes and the practical work that has to be done again, these can be replaced with a different task. The extent and content of such a task should be in a reasonable proportion to the missed compulsory course element.

A student has the right to be tested twice in accordance with the same syllabus as during the original examination for up to two years after the first registration.

A student who has taken two tests for a course or segment of a course without passing has the right to have another examiner appointed unless there exist special circumstances (Higher Education Ordinance Chapter 6, section 11b). A request for another examiner should be sent in to the Director of Studies at the Department of Social Work, Umeå University.

Examinations are normally held in the place where the course was conducted. In special circumstances a student may be examined at some other location. Special consideration shall be given to candidates wishing to be examined at Campus Skellefteå, Campus Örnsköldsvik, Luleå, and Lycksele. A student wishing to be examined at another location must apply to the department in question not less than one month prior to the day of the examination. Prerequisites for examination at another location are that recognized invigilation, premises, and all other conditions required for the examination in question can be arranged at reasonable cost to the department. Students who play elite-level sports and who have an agreement with Umeå Sport Sciences Centre are seen as having special reasons to be examined in a different location (Decision, reg. no. 102-329-07; in Swedish)

Other regulations

Transfer of Credits

For information on the regulations regarding transfer of credits:
http://www.umu.se/english/education/student-support/getting-a-degree-from-umea-university/transfer-of-credits?languageId=1