Program

Inclusive Education and Disability Studies (Diploma)

Program revisions

This program has an updated name, Inclusive Education and Disability Studies Diploma, and program requirements. Please review all of the updates in the Program Guideline September 2025.

Domestic applications

Second-year applicants (with an EA Certificate):

Fall 2025: Apply Now!

On Education Planner BC select the program "Inclusive Education and Disability Studies Diploma"

First-year applicants: Apply for the Education Assistance and Inclusion Certificate program.

Faculty

Applied Community Studies

Department

Disability & Community Studies

Credits

60.00

Length of program

Two years

Credential type

Diploma

Campus

Coquitlam

Learning format

Full-time

Part-time

Admission type

Limited Enrolment

Offered

Fall

Overview

Get specialized knowledge and skills to promote the development, education, well-being and citizenship of children and adults with disabilities with the Diploma in Inclusive Education and Disability Studies. You’ll learn about advocacy, augmentative and alternative communication, disability issues, inclusive education, employment and behaviour supports, teaching techniques and more.

Practical experience during your education

During the program, you’ll complete two workplace practicums where you'll gain hands-on experience in schools and community settings supporting individuals with disabilities.

Child and Youth Care career pathway

If you are interested in a career in child and youth care, this diploma transfers directly into the Bachelor of Arts in Child and Youth Care at Douglas.

Teaching career pathway

If you are interested in becoming a teacher in a K-12 school, this diploma transfers seamlessly into the Bachelor of General Studies in the Faculty of Education at SFU (up to 45 transfer credits). This pathway is also open to education assistants who need additional education to meet SFU’s prerequisites.

If you're interested in teaching adults, all 60 credits of this diploma transfer to the Bachelor of Arts in Adult Education at UFV, which offers most classes online and in the evenings, making it accessible for those who need flexible schedules or live outside the Lower Mainland.

Further education

Your credential may also transfer to human services programs at other post-secondary institutions. Visit the B.C. Transfer Guide and your transfer university’s website regularly to confirm which courses transfer.

Admissions Requirements

This is a second-year entry program. Applicants must meet the admission requirements listed below:

General College Admission Requirements
Completion of the Education Assistance and Inclusion Certificate or approved equivalent (note 1)
The following are required to determine suitability for the program:

Two professional reference letters attesting to the applicant's suitability to the program.
A current resume.
A letter of intent from the applicant, stating the reasons for choosing the program, long and short-term goals, and the applicant's related strengths and limitations.
Applicants may be required to participate in an interview with the department to further determine suitability to the program.

A Criminal Record Check (information will be provided by Enrolment Services following an offer of admissions into the program).

Notes

Applicants with related post-secondary education and/or a minimum of two or more years of work experience in the field may be considered on an individual basis.

Cost

Calculate your tuition and see the approximate cost of taking your program at Douglas College with the tuition & fee estimator. See costs broken down into categories including tuition fees, textbooks, student activity fees, U-Pass and more.

For more information, refer to the tuition fee charts.

Program Requirements

Curriculum framework

Graduation Requirements:

Successful completion of 60 credits.
In good academic standing.
Up to 50% (30.00 credits) of coursework used towards a previously received credential can be used to meet graduation requirements (see the Credentials Awarded Policy)
Time limit to complete the program graduation requirements: 7 years. Any courses completed outside of that time limit will not be usable. Students may seek the permission of the Department/Program to complete a credential outside the approved time limits.

Course Requirements (see note 1):

Course Number	Course Title	Credits
CFCS 1130	Change and Development Lifespan	3.00
DACS 1140	Introduction to Disability Studies	3.00
DACS 2152 (see note 2)	Supporting Social and Emotional Learning and Development	3.00
DACS 1250	Teaching and Learning: Universal Design for Learning	3.00
DACS 1258	Positive Behaviour Support	3.00
DACS 1257	Supporting Communication	3.00
DACS 2370	Personal Assistance	3.00
DACS 2320	Working with Others	3.00
DACS 1244	Education Assistant Practicum 1	3.00
DACS 1245	Education Assistant Practicum 2	3.00
DACS 2380	Person-Centred Planning & Community Building	3.00
DACS 2140	Theories and Principles of Equitable Learning Communities	3.00
DACS 2431	Social Policy & Citizenship	3.00
DACS 3430	Autism Spectrum Disorder Across the Lifespan	3.00
DACS 4111	Disability in Context	3.00
DACS 4131	Introduction to Issues in Disability Employment	3.00
DACS 4132	Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace	3.00
DACS 4133	Inclusive Leadership and Change Management	3.00
Writing Elective (see note 3)	Choose from: ENGL 1130, CMNS 1110, or CMNS 1115	3.00
Elective (see note 4)	1000 or 2000 level UT course	3.00
Total Credits		60.00

NOTES:

1) Courses are listed in the recommended sequence. Most students will have taken the first ten courses as a part of their admission to the program. The last ten courses are usually taken in the second year.

2) Students who entered the program prior to Fall 2024 may use DACS 1152 instead of DACS 2152.

3) Students considering degree work after this program are encouraged to take ENGL 1130.

4) This course needs to be University Transferable (UT) courses. A University Transferable course is a course that transfers to one of the Research Universities - SFU, UBC (UBCV or UBCO), UNBC, or UVIC in the BC Transfer Guide.

Program Guidelines

Program Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this program and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the program, consider the previous version as the applicable version.

September 2025 (Current)

More Information

The "Flexible Options" - Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) and transfer credit

The Inclusive Education and Disability Studies program prides itself on its ability to recognize the skills and qualifications of experienced practitioners. If you:

have at least two years of full-time equivalent experience working with children or adults with an intellectual disability, and/or
are an experienced practitioner in a related field, and/or
have applicable public post-secondary credits

then the flexible options (our transfer credit and prior learning assessment process) may be for you.

Experienced practitioners may earn up to 75 percent of a credential (up to 45 academic credits) based on assessment of their previous work/life learning. Transfer credit from approved university transfer and non-university transfer courses can also be used towards a credential.

Individuals interested in the flexible options should contact the Inclusive Education and Disability Studies department for more information.

Tuition deposit

When offered a full-time seat in this program a non-refundable, non-transferable $350 tuition deposit is required.

Career Pathways

Career opportunities include:

Classroom Support Worker
Community Support Worker
Day Program Coordinator
Education Assistant
Aide Employment Support
Specialist Employment/Job Coach
Indigenous Education Assistant
Inclusive Education Assistant