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The PhD in Social Work is a research-based degree and is intended to produce highly qualified social work researchers, administrative leaders, policy makers, and educators. The aim of developing such advanced scholarly and research skills is to equip doctoral students for future roles as leaders of the social work profession.

The Faculty of Social Work operates from campuses in Calgary, Edmonton, and Lethbridge. Please check the faculty’s website to determine the program location for the year that you apply.

In addition to Faculty of Graduate Studies requirements for Admission, the Faculty of Social Work requires the following:

a) A Master of Social Work or equivalent graduate degree from a recognized institution with a minimum grade point average of 3.50 on a four-point scale.

b) A program proposal which includes the applicant’s reasons for pursuing doctoral education in social work; educational goals and career expectations; prior research course work and experience; and a research proposal outlining the research problem the applicant hopes to investigate, the preliminary ideas regarding methodology, and the potential contributions to social work research, practice, policy, and education.

c) A minimum of two years full-time post-master’s social services practice experience.

d) A sample of written work, such as a published or unpublished scholarly paper or a professional report.

e) Three references, two of which should come from a person who can speak to the applicant’s academic performance and ability, and one professional/work reference.

f) For applicants required to present proof of proficiency in English, a minimum TOEFL score of 97 (Internet-based test); IELTS score of 7.0; a CAEL score of 70 (70 in writing and speaking; 60 in reading and listening); or a PTE with a minimum score of 68 (Academic version). This requirement can also be met by completing the with a minimum grade of “A-“ in academic writing and oral communication courses and “B+” in other courses.

Note: Completing a PhD degree does not alone qualify an individual to register with the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW). Please visit for additional information.

Deadlines for submission of complete applications is available on the Future Students page: .

Request for advanced credit must be made as part of the application process. Credit will not be given for coursework taken as part of another completed degree/diploma or for courses taken to raise the grade point average for admission consideration.  Advanced credit may be granted for not more than the equivalent of 9 units.

In addition to Faculty of Graduate Studies requirements, the Faculty of Social Work requires:

A minimum of 27 units of course work. Required core courses include:

• Social Work 741
• Social Work 743
• Social Work 745
• Social Work 747
• Social Work 721

Note: Social Work 721 can only be taken once all other required (core and elective) courses have been completed.

Twelve units of elective courses relevant to the student's area of specialization. Electives may be taken outside of the Faculty of Social Work, depending on the student's needs and course availability. All courses taken external to the Faculty of Social Work must have prior approval from the student's supervisor and the PhD co-ordinator in the Faculty of Social Work.

Please note that not all courses are offered every semester. Students should consult the timetables and program curriculum plans located on the web for sequence and availability of courses: .

Participation in student orientation sessions held prior to the start of the program is mandatory for students.

Credit for undergraduate courses will not be awarded.

As established by the Faculty of Graduate Studies (see Time Limits), maximum completion time is six years for a doctoral program. The expected completion time is four years for a PhD.

PhD students are initially assigned an interim supervisor. Before the end of April of the first year, each student must designate a faculty member as permanent supervisor. The supervisor and student must then select a supervisory committee within three months of the appointment of the permanent supervisor. Doctoral supervisory committees typically consist of the supervisor and two other members, one of whom may be external to the Faculty of Social Work.

Within the first two months of working together, PhD students and their interim and/or permanent supervisors are required to complete and submit to Student Services in the Faculty of Social Work the signed Student-Supervisor checklist and the Intellectual Property checklist. These become part of the student’s permanent record. If a change occurs in supervision, a new Student-Supervisor checklist must be completed, signed and submitted to Student Services within two months of the change.

Doctoral students construct a written thesis proposal, which must be approved by the Supervisory Committee no later than 3 months prior to the Field of Study examination. See for further information about the proposal requirements and approval process.

Students whose research involves human subjects must complete the Tri-Council's Course on Research Ethics (CORE), and receive approval from the ÁůľĹÉ«ĚĂ Conjoint Faculties/Health Research Ethics Board before beginning data collection. A copy of the proposal becomes part of the student’s record within the Faculty of Social Work.

Field of Study (Candidacy)

Doctoral students must successfully complete all the required courses, their thesis research proposal and portfolio prior to the Written Field of Study Examination and Oral Field of Study Examination, which must be completed within 28 months of commencement of the program. For complete details of candidacy requirements, see the .

PhD Thesis Examination

For the Faculty of Graduate Studies regulations, see Thesis Examinations. In addition, the program requires:

Scheduling of the Examination
All members of the Supervisory Committee must have reviewed the student’s draft thesis document before an examination can be scheduled.

Composition of the Committee
The Internal Examiner must be external to the Faculty of Social Work.

Financial assistance may be available to qualified students. For information on awards, see Awards and Financial Assistance section, search the , and consult with the Student Services Office in the Faculty of Social Work.

All students in the Faculty of Social Work are expected to have a computer and be proficient in and have access to email, internet searching, and word processing programs. Video-conferencing, web-based tools, discussion boards, and chat rooms will be used in addition to or in lieu of class time.