GOALS

The Guidance and Opportunities for Academic and Leadership Success (GOALS) Program at Columbus State University is a two or four year certificate program that provides a college experience for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Using a person-centered planning process, GOALS provides students with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to set and work toward their personal post-secondary goals as a foundation for active, lifelong career and community participation. GOALS represents an inclusive, university-based program built upon the four principles of: personal advocacy, career development, health education, and civic engagement. Students complete 36 credit hours of inclusive and program-specific courses, along with work-related internships that are designed to support the academic and personal leadership development of students.

GOALS at CSU provides students the opportunity to complete college coursework within an inclusive environment. Students complete 9 hours of courses per semester over a 2-year, 4 semester period leading to a Certificate of Completion from the GOALS Program at CSU. Each semester, 6 of the 9 course hours that students complete are drawn from the university course catalogue. The remaining 3 hours are program-specific courses related to self-determination, personal leadership, and community engagement. After completing the first 2-year certificate, students have the option of continuing for an additional 2-year certificate.