Created in 1980, the special populations minor gives students the opportunity to explore theory and gain practical experience through working with people who have special needs. This includes people who have disabilities (physical, emotional, mental, or educational) or are different socioeconomically, behaviorally, or culturally. A minimum of 18 credits may be earned by taking the required courses (HDF 200 or PSY 232; PSY 442), a minimum of three credits in supervised field experience, and a minimum of nine credits of approved electives.
Fieldwork and electives are chosen in consultation with a faculty sponsor from one of the participating departments: Communicative Disorders; Education; Nutrition; Health Studies; Human Development and Family Science; Kinesiology; Psychology; Sociology and Anthropology. The College of Health Sciences administers the program.
Sample Special Populations w/Suggested Electives
Here are some examples of special populations you may be interested in working with, and elective “clusters” to consider as starting points for those groups. These courses are just suggestions, and we encourage you to come up with your own elective choices as well. Please know that, as with any minor, space in these courses is not guaranteed, and there may be prerequisites you need to complete before taking them. Electives are approved in consultation with your faculty sponsor.
| Special Cognitive Needs |
| – EDC 402: Education of Special Needs Students |
| – CMD 175: Gestural Communication |
| – CMD 375: Language Development |
| Special Physical Needs |
| – EDC 410: Adapted Physical Education |
| – EDC 440: Adapted Aquatics |
| – KIN 420: Fitness Programs for Indiv w/Chronic Diseases |
| Historically Underrepresented Groups |
| – AAF 240: Race and Ethnic Relations |
| – HDF 434: Children and Families in Poverty |
| – SOC 336: Social Inequality |
| Immigrants |
| – HIS 346: Immigration, Ethnicity, and Race in America |
| – LAN 220: Understanding Languages in Cultural Context |
| – SOC 415: Migration in the Americas |
| Low Socioeconomic Status |
| – ECN 386: Economics of Race, Gender, and Class |
| – GWS 310: Race, Class and Sexuality in Women’s Lives |
| – HDF 434: Children and Families in Poverty |
| Deaf and/or Hard of Hearing |
| – ASL 101 – American Sign Language I |
| – ASL 102 – American Sign Language II |
| – COM 324 – Nonverbal Communication |
For more information or if you have questions, attend a Special Populations Minor Info Session, hosted on Zoom the first Friday of every month at 1PM by Dean Cruger. Log into Starfish and find her in your Success Network, then schedule yourself into one of the sessions; you’ll receive the Zoom link after registering. For additional questions, please email the College of Health Sciences Student Services Office at chs-group@uri.edu with a subject “Special Populations Minor”.