Social Work (PhD)

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. This offering is only open to full-time students and is available annually except with the second offering is implemented.

This offering is situated in Indigenous knowledges and embraces Indigenous teaching methods, such as circle, ceremony, and land-based learning. This offering is designed for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples. It is open to full-time students and is offered every 4-5 years.

This offering is a critical part of the Faculty of Social Work’s commitment to indigenization and decolonization and responds to recommendations from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. It also helps to respond to the growing demand for Indigenous scholars within higher education.

Courses are taught by Indigenous scholars from the Indigenous Field of Study (IFS). Course content privileges Indigenous scholarship and discourses relevant to Indigenous issues in practice, research and education. Indigegogy is a term that is employed by the IFS team to capture the Indigenous theories and practices that underpin the transformative Indigenous educational process. Indigegogy in each course is wholistic in design and flow from Indigenous ways of seeing, being, knowing, and doing. Course pedagogy involves the sharing circle in the presence of medicines, ceremony, and Elders, and land-based learning, when possible.

Graduates take their place in the circle of Indigenous knowledge, restoring and generating indigenous knowledge. Graduates understand "how" to gather knowledge, carve pathways, research, engage in Indigegogy, how to take their places within the academy or teaching and research positions and maintain their Indigeneity and Indigenist frameworks.

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

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)
• SK765: Relational Accountability with Indigenous Peoples (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 2)

Term Three (Winter)

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

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: Doctoral Dissertation

Terms Seven (Spring) to Nine (Winter)

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

Terms Ten (Spring) to Twelve (Winter)

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

Faculty conduct research in partnership with marginalized and vulnerable communities and work toward social justice and social transformation. Faculty are deeply engaged with the community and engage is scholarship that is driven by community priorities, centres community voices, and advances social justice and inclusion.

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. Common to these topics is strong recognition, respect and value placed on Indigenous knowledge and ways of knowing, being and doing.

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. This work informs interventions at the micro and macro levels, including challenging systems of oppression that underpin various forms of adversity.

Faculty examine the ways gender and gendered experiences (i.e., expressions, identities, sexualities, and embodiment) are shaped by and intersect with factors such as racism, colonialism, patriarchy, cisgenderism, heterosexism, ableism, poverty, and religion. Faculty explore topics such as violence against women, criminal justice, immigration and refugee issues, disability, and 2SLGBTQ+ realities.

Learn more about Laurier's Social Work PhD program by attending one of our upcoming virtual information sessions. These sessions cover:

• the structure of our new virtual delivery mode
• the Social Work PhD curricula
• admission requirements and application details
• how to put your best foot forward in the application process

Click on the link below to register for the information session that best suits you:

• Tuesday March 12, 2025: 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. ZOOM Click here to register
• Tuesday April 16, 2025: 12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. ZOOM Click here to register
• Tuesday May 14, 2025: 4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. ZOOM Click here to register
• Tuesday June 18, 2025: 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. ZOOM Click here to register
• Wednesday July 10, 2025: 12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. ZOOM Click here to register
• Tuesday August 6, 2025: 4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. ZOOM Click here to register

• A Master of Social Work degree from a recognized university, normally with at least an A- average in the master's program. Applicants with other graduate degrees and strong social service experience may be considered.
• Normally, three or more years of post-MSW practice experience, but other combinations of practice, education, and lived experience may be considered. We particularly value practice with diverse marginalized communities and populations. In addition, the applicant must provide evidence of a level of professional competence suitable for admission to the PhD program.
• Evidence of scholarly ability for clear and creative thinking and the ability to pursue independent study.
• Please note, we do not require prospective students to pre-arrange an advisor as this is a process we believe best occurs when part of the program. However, feel free to contact faculty with whom you might want to work to discuss your research interests. In your application you are asked to identify faculty with whom you would like to work.

Applications must be complete to be considered. The application includes assessments from referees and a statement of intent, which includes a proposed research plan, therefore we recommend you start developing your application early. Applications are assessed by faculty serving on the PhD program committee. We reserve the right to interview applicants and consider applications until the program is full.

After you have submitted your OUAC application, paid the non-refundable application fee, and Laurier has received your application, you'll receive an email from gradadmissions@wlu.ca advising you to upload the additional required documentation to Laurier’s Online Registration and Information System (LORIS).

An application for admission to our PhD in Social Work program must include:

• The Application Summary, which is generated after you complete your OUAC application (log back in to OUAC to retrieve it).
• Transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work. Documents must be dated within the past six months.
• A completed statement of intent (see below for details).
• A resume of your academic and work experience. Include a history of your research experience, publications, presentations/workshops given, and any other information you feel will interest the admissions committee. Distinguish between paid and volunteer positions, and practicum and full- or part-time work.
• A sample of your scholarly writing (10-20 pages in length). This may be a chapter of your master's thesis or a paper written for a graduate course.
• Completed reference forms. Three academic references are required. Note: Reference forms are electronically submitted to Laurier by the referee and do not need to be uploaded.

As you complete the statement of intent keep the following points in mind:

• Answers each of the questions outlined on the form, with most of your attention given to your research interests and proposed research plan.
• Conveys your motivation for pursuing a PhD in social work in terms of your education, practice experience (not limited to paid work), and lived experience, and how these connect to your research interests, which reflect the social work profession’s mission and values.
• Reflects reflexivity and self-awareness regarding your positionalities, especially if proposing to conduct research with a community you are not a member of. 
• Provides evidence that you examined the scholarly literature, including theory, regarding your area of interest and how your proposed study fits with these. Ideally conveys how your research might advance understanding of the topic.
• Includes a clear and answerable research question that aligns with the research issue you plan to address in your doctoral research.
• Presents a coherent and feasible research plan (methodological approach, sampling, and data collection and analysis) that address your research question and is appropriate to research population. Because of space limitations, the research plan does not need to address minor points, such as how confidentiality will be maintained.

Proficiency in written and spoken English is essential to graduate studies at Laurier. Applicants whose language of instruction during their previous postsecondary education was not in English must submit evidence of proficiency in English. If applicable, results from accepted testing services must be uploaded to LORIS.