Undergraduate Courses

Our Department offers a suite of upper level online undergraduate courses in Applied Disability Studies and Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA).

These courses are for current Brock students (electives) as well as for students from other universities who do not meet the minimum admissions requirements for entry into the Masters in Applied Disability Studies (M.ADS) program.

Please review all of the information provided.

For Brock University students

  1. If you have not yet convocated nor completed your studies at Brock > You can register in these courses as an undergraduate student. To do so, please fill out this form to request an override. To take these courses students must have completed 12.5 credits and have permission from your department/academic advisor so as to ensure these courses will meet with your degree requirements. Please feel free to contact Brandy Sokoloski for course advising prior to registering.
  2. If you have not convocated, but have completed your degree requirements > You may register for additional courses. Once you have registered, please contact records@brocku.ca directly to request that these courses be flagged as upgrading courses as they are not to be used toward your undergraduate degree. Be sure to include your full name and student number, using your Brock email for correspondence. Please feel free to contact Brandy Sokoloski for course advising prior to registering.
  3. If you have convocated and wish to return to studies > You will need to have an upgrading segment added to your file. Please email records@brocku.ca directly to request being admitted as an upgrading student. Be sure to include your full name and student number, using your Brock email for correspondence. Please feel free to contact Brandy Sokoloski for course advising prior to registering.

For potential M.ADS applicants and/or those who were recommended to take the ADS online undergraduate upgrading courses and/or students with undergraduate degrees from other universities

  1. Students interested in completing the undergraduate courses – who hold a University Degree from another institution must apply as “Upgrading”. Apply here.
  2. After applying as upgrading with Brock University or being reinstated as upgrading with Brock University, students must also complete the Undergraduate Upgrading Course Supplemental Application. Students will be required to upload a copy of all transcripts to that form. This will provide you with an suite of required courses; successful completion of which will strengthen your M.ADS application only.
  3. Official transcript(s) showing degree(s) conferred must be sent to Brock directly from the issuing institution to:
    Brock University Office of the Registrar- Admissions
    1812 Sir Isaac Brock Way
    St. Catharines, ON L2S 3A1 Canada

Note: It is recommended you request more than one copy of your transcript(s). You will be required to provide Brock University with an official copy as well as uploading a copy of your transcript(s) to the supplemental application.

Course Descriptions (from Undergraduate Calendar):

Fall

ADST 4P00 – Foundations in Applied Disability Studies – Introduction to a broad spectrum of disability studies and literature authored by persons with disabilities.

ADST 4P90 – Applied Behaviour Analysis Across the Lifespan – Introduction to the science of applied behaviour analysis (ABA) as applied to persons with disabilities, their families, caregivers and teachers.

WINTER

ADST 4P50 – Disability and Society – Theoretical, philosophical and practical issues facing persons with disabilities examined from a strengths-based model emphasizing diversity, identity and empowerment.

ADST 4P91 – Applied Behaviour Analysis Across the Lifespan II – Further study in applied behaviour analysis (ABA) emphasizing interpretation and critical analysis of ABA research, and use of behaviour analytic framework as applied to effective interventions for people with disabilities.

ADST 4P95 – Research Methods in Applied Disability Studies – Overview of quantitative and qualitative approaches, methodologies, and designs used in research relating to or including persons with disabilities.

Important Notes:

Successful completion of the recommended undergraduate upgrading courses allow M.ADS applicants who previously did not meet the minimum entry criteria to be considered for admission to the M.ADS program. It is highly recommended applicants achieve a minimum of a 80% average in each of their undergraduate upgrading courses to be considered eligible applicants for M.ADS. Note that successfully completing the upgrading courses with 80% averages does not guarantee M.ADS admission.

Our courses are highly sought after with limited enrolment. There is no static deadline for applications for the undergraduate courses. However, if you would like to commence courses in September, we recommended your application be completed by July 1.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who should take these upgrading courses?
Undergraduate upgrading courses are available to students who wish to apply to the M.ADS ABA program who do not meet the minimum criteria. These courses are appropriate for:

  1. Applicants who do not meet the minimum grade criterion of 80% average across the final 10 undergraduate credits in a four year degree.
  2. Applicants with a 3 year degree with a minimum average of 80% who have a minimum of 5 years of extensive post-graduate (after degree conferred) work and/or volunteer experience in ABA – these applications are assessed on a case by case basis.

I graduated 4 years ago with a 3 year degree in Psychology. Can I take the ADS undergrad upgrading courses instead of completing a full 4th year of university to be eligible to apply for M.ADS?
Any student who completed their 3-year undergraduate degree less than 5 years ago, will be expected to complete a full 4th year of university. Brock students may be able to use the ADS undergraduate courses as part of that requirement, with permission from their home department/university and ADS.

I graduated 7 years ago with a 3 year degree in Psychology. I have been working in ABA since then. Can I take the ADS undergrad upgrading courses instead of completing a full 4th year of university to be eligible to apply for M.ADS?
It is possible that you can take the ADS undergraduate upgrading courses instead of completing a full 4th year of university to be eligible to apply for M.ADS. However, we review each application individually to determine eligibility.

I graduated last year with a 4 year university degree in Education. However, my average over my last 10 credits is 71. Should I apply for M.ADS or the undergraduate upgrading courses?
Given how competitive the M.ADS program is, your M.ADS application likely would be stronger if you took the upgrading courses and achieved at least 80% in each course before applying to M.ADS.

I have a 4 year degree in English with a 75 average in my last 10 credits. I have never taken Psychology, Disability Studies or ABA courses. However, I have been working in an ABA autism service for several years and attended several ABA workshops. Would I have to take the ADS undergraduate upgrading courses before applying to M.ADS?
You can apply to M.ADS, but your M.ADS application would likely be stronger if you first took the upgrading courses.

If I have already taken a university undergraduate course in ABA, do I still have to take both ABA undergrad upgrading courses?
If you have taken a university or 4-year community college degree program ABA course, you may not have to take the first ABA upgrading course. However, we will review each request on a case-by-case basis to determine if the ABA course that you took is equivalent to the ADS ABA course.

If I have already taken ABA courses as part of the Autism and Behavioural Sciences certificate or a Behaviour Science Technology diploma program at a community college, do I still have to take both ABA undergraduate upgrading courses?
Other than courses that are part of a 4-year degree program, we do not consider community college ABA courses to be equivalent to the ADS ABA courses. Therefore, you will have to take the ADS ABA courses.

I have a 3 year degree from another University – can I finish a 4th year (in person or online) at Brock?
Please check with the registrar’s office on how to complete the 4th year at Brock.  Often, it is easier to complete the 4th year at the same school that you completed your 3-year undergraduate degree.  Rarely, will Brock allow, what would equate to 3 years’ worth of credits, to transfer toward a degree at Brock.  Please contact the Registrar’s office for more information.

What are my chances of being accepted into MADS with a 3 year degree?
Programs within the Department of Applied Disability Studies are highly competitive and it is unlikely that admission would be offered to a student with a 3 year degree regardless of successful completion of the recommended undergraduate courses. ADS  recommends that you finish your 4th year and obtain a 4-year degree – not necessarily an Honours degree.

Does ADS offer an undergraduate degree?
ADS has undergraduate online courses,  but ADS does not currently have an undergraduate degree in Applied Disability Studies.

How many undergraduate upgrading courses will I have to take?
Upon applying, the ADS Graduate Admissions Committee will review the submitted  application and determine which undergraduate upgrading courses each student should take from the available courses in order to meet graduate admissions equivalency.

Are the undergraduate upgrading courses offered in-person or online?
Undergraduate upgrading courses are online only.

What is the credit value of the undergraduate upgrading courses?
Undergraduate upgrading courses are each .5 credits.

What is the tuition for the undergraduate upgrading courses?
Undergraduate upgrading courses are assessed at the undergraduate level (Arts or Sciences) – year 1-7. Complete information can be found here.

How long do I have to complete the upgrading courses?
Unless there are extenuating circumstances, it is expected that a student will complete the undergraduate upgrading courses within 4 years of starting the first course.

I have completed the recommended undergraduate courses and my application to the MADS program was not successful – do I have any other options for admission?
ADS does not recommend retaking the undergraduate courses or reapplication to the MADS program.