Students enrolled in the PhD program work closely with a faculty supervisor in their mutual area of research interest towards a learning agenda, comprehensive exam proposal and paper, dissertation proposal, and dissertation for the entire duration of the program.
Through graduate research assistantship opportunities, students engage in with faculty members on research projects that often lead to dissemination through presentations and publications. Pedagogical skills are developed through faculty mentoring as a graduate teaching assistant, independent classroom teaching opportunities in the on-campus BSW and MSW programs, and online MSW Working Professionals program. Students also have access to trainings offered through the Centre for Teaching and Learning.
Our faculty possess a wide range of expertise in substantive areas and research methodologies to support and guide students through the program. Current examples include local, national and international investigations aimed at advancing scholarly knowledge in critically important social areas including health, mental health, disability, critical race and anti-colonial theory, community capacity building, HIV prevention and care, immigration, gerontology, gender related issues, hospice and palliative care, first responders, poverty reduction, and child welfare. Examples of our range of expertise in methodical inquiries include various forms of program evaluation, large scale survey design, a range of qualitative and quantitative methods including grounded theory, phenomenology, participatory research, theory development, secondary data analysis, as well as psychometrics and instrument development.
For more information about our faculty members please visit our faculty profiles