Disability Studies
Bow Valley College
Disability Studies combines classroom learning with practical preparation to support people with disabilities. The college describes a 16-month, four-term diploma; online course availability can extend the time needed to finish.
Plan the tuition ↓
Plan the police check around the practicum
A Police Information Check with Vulnerable Sector Search is required before placement and may need renewal more than once during the diploma. Its results can restrict placement opportunities. Students seeking a practicum outside Alberta need prior Program Chair approval; neither an online class nor a preferred location guarantees that arrangement.
Plan the tuition by term
Published 2026-27 estimates are a planning reference. They are not a price guarantee for a later intake.
International tuition
| Study period | Estimated tuition |
|---|---|
| Term 1 | $5,769 |
| Term 2 | $8,743 |
| Term 3 | $8,678 |
| Term 4 | $8,678 |
| Total of displayed terms | $31,868 |
The table uses the college’s whole-dollar term estimates. Mandatory fees are additional. This planner also leaves books, equipment and other personal costs for you to budget separately.
Check the college's fee schedule ↗Make a tuition plan
- Selected tuition
- $5,769
- Application payment
- $150
- Your living estimate
- $0
- Planning subtotal
- $5,919
This subtotal includes only the selected tuition, one application and your entered living estimate. It excludes mandatory fees and other unentered costs. Enter living costs in the same dollars as the college's tuition.
One international career-program application
Confirmation payment credited toward first-term tuition and fees
The credited confirmation payment is part of tuition and fees, so it is not added to tuition a second time.
Read the application payment guide ↗International intake status
These are labels displayed by the college's source when observed, rather than a guarantee of places. Confirm availability on the official program page before applying.
| Intake | International label |
|---|---|
| Fall 2027 | Open |
Three routes with no stated mathematics requirement
Meet one academic alternative below and check language proficiency separately. This program's GED route names Reading and Writing, rather than adding the mathematics condition from a business diploma.
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English subject
Credit in English 30-1 or at least 65% in English 30-2, or an equivalent.
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GED
Successful completion of the GED with a standard score of 520 in Language Arts Reading and Writing.
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College assessment
Satisfactory results on Bow Valley College's Admission and Placement Test.
Check English proficiency separately
The general proficiency requirements apply separately from the academic English subject. They list IELTS Academic with every band at 6.0, TOEFL 83, Duolingo 110, CLB 8 in each strand, PTE Academic 59–64 as printed, and BVC Academic English 2 at B−. Academic English 1 is excluded under that table.
Education alternatives
- Canadian English subject alternativeSuccessful completion of the Alberta English Language Arts course, or Canadian-education equivalent, that meets the diploma's academic English requirement.
- Secondary transcriptsThree full-time years of secondary education where English was the language of instruction.
- Post-secondary transcriptsSuccessful completion of one full-time year of post-secondary education where English was the language of instruction.
- Test validity
- Two years from testing
- At program start
- Results must still be valid
- Evidence
- Official results required
Sixty-nine credits with placement-related preparation
The term totals are 15, 18, 18 and 18 credits. DAST 1101 requires at least a C. In terms three and four, four required courses supply 15 credits and a choice group adds at least three more. Course weights include both three and six credits, so counting every listed option or treating every course as three credits would misstate the plan.
Term 115 credits
Complete the following courses:
| Code | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| COMM1101 | Interpersonal Relationships And Communication Skills | 3 |
| DAST1201 | Person Centered Planning | 3 |
| EDAS1302 | Introduction To Exceptionalities | 3 |
| ENGL1201 | English Composition | 3 |
Earn a minimum grade of C in each of the following courses:
| Code | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| DAST1101 | Introduction to Disability Studies | 3 |
Term 218 credits
Complete the following courses:
| Code | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| DAST1202 | Disability Work Management and Supported Employment | 3 |
| DAST1301 | Mental Health and Disability | 3 |
| DAST1401 | Positive Behaviour Support | 3 |
| DAST1999 | The Field of Disability Studies | 6 |
| PSYC1201 | Human Growth And Development Across The Life Span | 3 |
Term 318 credits
Complete the following courses:
| Code | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| DAST2302 | Challenging Behaviour and Complex Needs | 3 |
| DAST2998 | Supporting Children and Adults with Disabilities across the Life Span | 6 |
| HMSV2401 | Family and Society Studies | 3 |
| HMSV2501 | Social Policy | 3 |
Earn at least 3 credits from the following courses:
| Code | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ELCC1101 | Introduction to Early Childhood Education and Development | 3 |
| ELCC1301 | Child Development | 3 |
| ELCC1305 | Developing Through Play | 3 |
| FASD1101 | Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Awareness for Human Service Professionals | 3 |
| HMSV1501 | Introduction to Counselling | 3 |
| HMSV1601 | Workplace Writing for Human Services | 3 |
| HMSV2304 | Trauma-Informed Practice | 3 |
| INDG2201 | Indigenous Approaches to Healing and Wellness | 3 |
| ADDC1100 | Foundations of Addiction: A Multidimensional Approach | 3 |
| HMSV1105 | Health, Wellness, and Professional Practice in Canada’s Health Care System | 3 |
Term 418 credits
Complete the following courses:
| Code | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| DAST2301 | Advocacy in Disability Studies | 3 |
| DAST2401 | Community Connections and Inclusion | 3 |
| HMSV2503 | Organization and Administration in Human Services | 3 |
| DAST2999 | Leadership in Disability Studies | 6 |
Earn at least 3 credits from the following courses:
| Code | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| DAST1102 | Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorder | 3 |
| ELCC1101 | Introduction to Early Childhood Education and Development | 3 |
| ELCC1301 | Child Development | 3 |
| ELCC1305 | Developing Through Play | 3 |
| FASD1101 | Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Awareness for Human Service Professionals | 3 |
| HMSV2304 | Trauma-Informed Practice | 3 |
| HMSV2502 | Facilitating Groups | 3 |
| SOCI1301 | Sociology of Aging | 3 |
| INDG1101 | Introduction to Indigenous Studies | 3 |
| INDG2201 | Indigenous Approaches to Healing and Wellness | 3 |
Placement arrangements and documents
- Arrange the Police Information Check with Vulnerable Sector Search before the practicum and follow any renewal instructions. The college or placement organization makes the assessment of individual results.
- Classes are generally scheduled Monday to Friday between 8 am and 5 pm. Confirm the actual timetable and obtain Program Chair approval before relying on an out-of-Alberta practicum.
More program guides
Sources and planning scope
- Official program requirements ↗
- English language requirements ↗
- Tuition and additional fees ↗
- International application payments ↗
Sources checked 29 October 2026. The tuition dataset identifies 2026-27. The intake resource has conflicting freshness metadata, so its observed labels require confirmation before use as current availability. Individual admission, equivalency and immigration decisions remain with the relevant institution or authority.