The Certificate in Assistive Technology and Accessible Design is an interdisciplinary program designed to meet the demand for assistive technology and accessible design specialists. The Departments of Occupational Science and Technology and Communication Sciences Disorders in the College of Health Sciences, along with the Department of Teaching and Learning in the School of Education, collaborate on the course offerings and management. The certificate follows a model of prerequisite disability and technology basic knowledge, survey of the fields, assessment, intervention and leadership. Completion of the certificate will help prepare the students to sit for State and National certification examinations as Assistive Technology Specialists, Rehabilitation Engineering Technologist and Low Vision Specialist.
Admission Requirements
Application Deadlines
Application deadlines vary by program, please review the application deadline chart for specific programs. Other important dates and deadlines can be found by using the One Stop calendars.
Application
- Students wishing to obtain this certificate must declare their intention by applying to the program office or director.
- All graduate certificate applicants—even those already enrolled in a UWM graduate program—must apply to the Graduate School through the Panthera Admission Application.
- Graduate degree and previously admitted graduate non-degree students who decide to pursue a certificate program must submit the Panthera application before completing 6 credits in the certificate sequence.
- Applicants must possess a baccalaureate degree and have a minimum 2.75 cumulative undergraduate grade point average to be admitted in to a certificate program.
Admission
Students interested in this certificate should contact one of the three sponsoring programs before enrolling in any certificate courses. Admission to the certificate requires evidence of a basic knowledge of disability and computer applications, and an undergraduate GPA of at least 2.75 or a graduate GPA of at least 3.0.
Credits and Courses
Generally, students in the health sciences and exceptional education will have sufficient coursework in disability related studies. Prerequisite evidence in disability related studies may be obtained at the undergraduate level. One of the following is recommended to meet the computer applications requirement.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EXCEDUC 730 | Assistive and Instructional Technology for Students with Disabilities | 3 |
| OCCTHPY 750 | Computer Applications in Occupational Therapy Practice | 3 |
The Certificate in Assistive Technology and Accessible Design requires completion of a minimum 15 credits as listed below. In special circumstances, the ATAD coordinator and advisory board may approve substitution of an equivalent Assessment or Intervention course relevant to assistive technology and adaptive design as appropriate.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction | ||
| OCCTHPY 620 | Introduction to Assistive and Rehabilitation Technology (must be taken at graduate level) 1 | 3 |
| Assessment | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Assistive Technology Service Delivery in Schools | ||
| Assessment and Intervention in Augmentative and Alternative Communication | ||
| Assessment in Assistive Technology and Accessible Design | ||
| Intervention 2 | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Design and Disability | ||
| Vision I: Introduction to Low Vision & Visual Impairment | ||
| Vision II: Practical Aspects of Visual Impairment & Low Vision Intervention | ||
| Introduction to Biomedical and Rehabilitation Instrumentation | ||
| Advanced Independent Study | ||
| Technology & Instruction for Students with Disablities | ||
| Fieldwork in Assistive Technology | ||
| Independent Reading | ||
| Special Populations in Communication Disorders | ||
| Research Experience in Communication Sciences and Disorders | ||
| Independent Studies | ||
| Elective | ||
| Select an additional 3 credits from either Assessment or Intervention list | 3 | |
| Capstone | ||
| OCCTHPY 760 | Assistive and Rehabilitation Technology | 3 |
| Total Credits | 15 | |
| 1 | Alternate related graduate-level course can substitute if this course has been completed on an undergraduate level. |
| 2 | Any U/G course must be taken at graduate level. |
Additional Requirements
Minimum Grade Requirement
To be awarded the certificate, students must earn a minimum grade of B in the certificate courses (B- not allowed).
Transfer Credit
No more than 20% of the required credits may be taken at an institution other than UWM. These courses are subject to Graduate School transfer policy and must be approved by the director of the certificate program.
Grade Point Average Requirement
A minimum cumulative 3.00 grade point average in certificate courses taken at UWM is required.
Articulation with Degree Programs
- Credits and courses required for a certificate may double count toward meeting UWM graduate degree requirements subject to the following restrictions:
- Degree programs must approve the courses from certificates that can double count toward the degree.
- All credits taken in completion of certificate requirements may count towards a UWM graduate degree as long as they do not contribute more than 90% of the total credits needed to obtain the degree. (Note: Students in PhD programs must still complete the minimum residency requirements)
- Certificate courses used toward meeting degree requirements must be completed within the time limit for transfer credit.
- Courses completed for a degree may be counted toward a subsequent certificate, subject to all certificate policy requirements.
- A course may count toward no more than one certificate and one degree.
- Students may not earn a certificate subsequent to a concentration in the same area.
Time Limit
Certificate program time limits shall be established as follows:
- 18 or fewer credits/Three years from initial enrollment in the certificate sequence.
- 19 or more credits/Four years from initial enrollment in the certificate sequence.
For certificates that are designed as add-ons to degree programs and are awarded concurrent with the degree, the time limit shall be the same as that of the degree program.