Program Overview

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Social Work (PhD)

The Social Work PhD program at Wilfrid Laurier University is designed to support researchers who have a deep understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion and are prepared to address inequality and promote social justice.

Program Highlights

• The program is supported by world-class faculty and fosters social justice and promotes new understandings of social issues affecting individuals, families, organizations, and communities.
• It includes a new curriculum with courses such as SK765: Relational Accountability, Social Work Research with Indigenous Peoples.
• Ongoing support for students is provided through a doctoral research seminar following their coursework.
• 55% of students who graduated between 2018 and 2023 hold full-time faculty positions.

Program Details

General Offering

This offering reflects Western ways of knowing, though students are exposed to and encouraged to consider Indigenous ways of knowing and research, decolonization, and critical methods in their research. The program is only open to full-time students and is available annually except when the Indigenized offering is implemented.

Program Structure

The program begins in May with an in-person orientation and development session over multiple days at the Faculty of Social Work in Kitchener, Ontario. Thereafter, all courses, seminars, and program meetings will take place over Zoom or a similar platform.

• Full-time students receive minimum guaranteed funding and are eligible to apply for Ontario Graduate Scholarships, SSHRC or CIHR doctoral awards.

Terms 1-3

Term One (Spring)

• Program Orientation & Learning: In-person, multi-day gathering
• SK790: Social Work Thought and Theory Development
• SK791: Epistemology and the Nature of Social Work Knowledge
• SK820: Doctoral Formation Seminar (Part 1)

Term Two (Fall)

• SK704: Applied Quantitative Research Methods
• SK805: Applied Qualitative Research Methods
• SK820: Doctoral Formation Seminar (Part 2)
• SK765: Relational Accountability with Indigenous Peoples (Part 1)

Term Three (Winter)

• SK894: Writing for Publication
• SK820: Doctoral Formation Seminar (Part 3)
• SK765: Relational Accountability with Indigenous Peoples (Part 2)

Terms 4-7

Term Four (Spring) and Five (Fall)

• SK893: Comprehensive Examination

Term Six (Winter)

• SK801: Applied Qualitative Data Analysis
• SK750: Applied Quantitative Data Analysis for Social Work Research
• SK899: PhD Dissertation

Terms Seven (Spring) to Nine (Winter)

• SK899: PhD Dissertation
• SK895: Doctoral Research Seminar 1

Terms 10-12

Terms Ten (Spring) to Twelve (Winter)

• SK899: Doctoral Dissertation
• SK896: Doctoral Research Seminar 2
• Dissertation Findings Colloquium

Indigenized Offering

The Indigenized Offering of the program is situated in Indigenous knowledges and embraces Indigenous teaching methods. It is designed for First Nations, Metis, and Inuit peoples and is open to full-time students, usually offered every 4-5 years.

Research

Faculty Research

Faculty members pursue a range of research interests across the micro-macro practice spectrum from the local to global contexts, using various research methodologies, including critical, feminist, and Indigenous methods.

Core Research Areas

• Community-Engaged Research for Inclusion: Faculty conduct research in partnership with marginalized and vulnerable communities, working toward social justice and social transformation.
• Indigenous Scholarship and Decolonizing Relationships, Knowledges, and Practices: This area includes Indigenous scholarship by Indigenous faculty members as well as research and knowledge mobilization related to decolonizing practices and relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities.
• Adversity, Trauma, Wellbeing and Social Change: Faculty engage in research exploring the connections between various forms of adversity and trauma, and wellbeing, with the goal of facilitating positive wellbeing, belonging, and inclusion.
• Gender and its Intersections: Faculty examine the ways gender and gendered experiences are shaped by and intersect with factors such as racism, colonialism, patriarchy, cisgenderism, heterosexism, ableism, poverty, and religion.

Admissions

Admission Requirements

• A Master of Social Work degree from a recognized university, normally with at least an A- average in the master's program.
• Normally, three or more years of post-MSW practice experience, but other combinations of practice, education, and lived experience may be considered.
• Evidence of scholarly ability for clear and creative thinking and the ability to pursue independent study.

Application Checklist

Applications must be complete to be considered and include:

• The Application Summary
• Transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work
• A completed statement of intent
• A resume of academic and work experience
• A sample of scholarly writing
• Completed reference forms
• A completed Authorization of Information Release (AIR) form, if applicable

Statement of Intent

The statement of intent should convey motivation for pursuing a PhD in social work, reflect reflexivity and self-awareness regarding positionalities, and provide evidence of examining the scholarly literature regarding the area of interest.

Deadlines

Program application deadlines are firm, and late applications are not accepted. All supplemental documentation, including references, must be submitted by the final deadline.

Tuition and Funding

Full-time domestic students will benefit from bursary and teaching assistantship opportunities at the university. All full-time domestic students receive the PhD minimum guaranteed funding package of two teaching assistantships and a scholarship.

Careers

In addition to becoming faculty members, graduates assume research, policy analysis, and leadership roles in human service organizations. The ASPIRE program helps graduate students craft an individualized, extracurricular learning plan tailored to their professional journey and entry to the workplace.