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Course Offerings
Fall 2025 Course Offerings
Any questions regarding registration should be directed to fswphd@wlu.ca.
- Tuesdays 1:00 p.m. - 3:50 p.m. with Michelle Skop (For Year 2 Students)
Description
This course facilitates an advanced understanding of the processes involved in qualitative analysis. Utilizing a qualitative data set, this course provides students with an experiential opportunity to practice a range of approaches to qualitative analysis. This course prepares students for more in-depth study and analysis in their dissertations.
Prerequisite: SK805
Winter 2026 Course Offerings
All current students are expected to be enrolled in SK893 - Comprehensive Examination, or SK899 - PhD DIssertation, during this term.
Any questions regarding registration should be directed to fswphd@wlu.ca.
Spring 2026 Course Offerings
Year 2 Students and above are expected to be enrolled in SK893 - Comprehensive Examination, or SK899 - PhD DIssertation, during this term.
Year 1 Students are expected to be enrolled in the below courses.
Any questions regarding registration should be directed to fswphd@wlu.ca.
Students are required to participate in a five-day, in-person immersive orientation and development session at the Faculty of Social Work in Kitchener, Ontario at the start of the program (May 4 - May 8).
This session is designed to provide essential foundational knowledge, foster connections with faculty and peers, and ensure a smooth transition into the program.
- Tuesdays 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. EST with Cheryl-Anne Cait (For Year 1 Students)
- Location: Virtual
Description
This seminar enables students to develop and strengthen core writing and analytical skills required for doctoral studies and to understand and prepare for the comprehensive examination and how it relates to and differs from the dissertation. Topics include understanding various kinds of academic writing, developing writing strategies, developing a research focus, understanding the comprehensive examination and dissertation, and proposal writing for the comprehensive examination. Course learning supports the student's identification of an appropriate advisor and comprehensive examination committee. The course will be delivered in three parts during the first year of study.
Course will be graded on a pass/fail basis. This course is offered over 3 terms.
- Tuesdays 1:00 p.m. - 3:50 p.m. EST with Shoshana Pollack (For Year 1 Students)
- Location: Virtual
Description
This course explores contemporary theorizing in the arena of social justice, decolonization, and social work research. Interdisciplinary theories that explore power and transformation are examined and applied to social inequalities such as those related to race, colonialism, gender, class, sexual orientation, (dis)abilities and other marginal positions. Particular attention is given to applied social work research for social change.
- Wednesdays 1:00 p.m. - 3:50 p.m. EST with Ginette Lafreniere (For Year 1 Students)
- Location: Virtual
Description
This course is a general introduction to central issues in contemporary epistemology or the nature of knowledge. The course focuses on some of the central questions of philosophy and is organized around several themes including the justification of knowledge, the nature of empiricism and knowledge as power. A final and critical theme engages with post and anti-colonial discourses, and Indigenous epistemology in considering the nature of non-European or non-Eurocentric epistemology.
Electives
Electives are a program requirement for students who enrolled in the program prior to 2026.
Please see the Academic Calendar for possible PhD electives. PhD electives are courses at the 700 level or higher. The elective course may be done as a Directed Studies/Independent Study course (under General Use Forms), SK751 Advanced Directed Readings, with a faculty member in Social Work or in a related discipline under certain conditions.
Field Learning Option
The Field Learning Option is available to students who enrolled in the program prior to 2026.
This course will be adapted to meet the needs of individual students for whom field experience in a particular setting will advance their ability to conduct rigorous research that will have relevance for social work practice.
The student is responsible for identifying the setting, negotiating the details of the role and submitting a written proposal for the Field Learning Option to the PhD committee for approval. A written paper related to the field learning experience and the student's program of study will be required. This paper will be graded by an individual approved by the PhD committee who meets criteria for membership in Laurier's graduate faculty.
The grade assigned to the paper will be the grade assigned for the course. Normally, full-time students must complete the option by the end of term four. Students choosing the Field Learning Option will be exempt from SK820: Doctoral Seminar and the required elective course.