The curriculum requires that all students take seven required courses and one elective course. The elective course may be completed as a directed studies course. Completion of coursework is followed by the comprehensive examination, approval of a dissertation proposal and the dissertation.

Full-Time Course Progression

Term One (Fall)

• SK790: Social Work Thought and Theory
• SK791: Epistemology and the Nature of Social Work Knowledge
• SK820: Doctoral Seminar (two-term course, held every other week)

Term Two (Winter)

• SK704: Applied Quantitative Research Methods
• SK805: Applied Qualitative Research Methods
• SK820: Doctoral Seminar (two-term course, held every other week)

Term Three (Spring)

• SK801: Applied Qualitative Analysis
• Required elective

Term Four (Fall)

• SK894 Writing for Publication
• Optional elective

Term Five (Winter) & Six (Spring)

• SK892 & SK893: Comprehensive Examination 

Terms 7–12

• SK899: PhD Dissertation

Part-Time Course Progression

The part-time PhD in Social Work program has been designed for individuals who wish to remain employed while they complete the PhD degree. Students take a maximum of two courses per term. Part-time students will follow the same curriculum as full-time students and attend classes with full-time PhD students. They must, therefore, plan to take courses in the terms in which the courses are currently offered.

Criteria for admission to the part-time program are the same as the criteria for the full-time program. Please note that part-time students are not eligible for the minimum guaranteed funding package or for Ontario Graduate Scholarships, SSHRC or CIHR doctoral awards.

Students accepted into the part-time program should develop a plan of study that is as necessary discussed with associate dean: PhD program prior to registering for the first term. Students must register in at least one course in all three terms of each year they are enrolled in the program. If circumstances arise that prevent students from remaining engaged in their academic work (e.g. illness, family emergencies, unexpected financial necessity that university funding cannot ameliorate, or career change), they may petition for inactive status (i.e. a leave of absence from their studies). Normally, inactive status will be approved for a maximum of two terms.

Year One Courses

• SK790: Social Work Thought and Theory
• SK791: Epistemology and the Nature of Social Work Knowledge
• SK820: Doctoral Seminar (two-term course, held every other week)
• SK704: Applied Quantitative Research Methods
• SK805: Applied Qualitative Research Methods
• SK801: Applied Qualitative Analysis
• Required elective

Year Two Courses 

• SK894: Writing for Publication
• SK892 & SK893: Comprehensive Examination
• Optional elective

Year Three and Four Course

• SK899: PhD Dissertation
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Field Learning Option

• May focus on advanced clinical practice, policy issues or international development among other possibilities.
• An experience that will advance the student’s ability to conduct rigorous research that will have relevance for social work practice.
• Students doing a field learning option are exempt from Doctoral Seminar and elective course.