ISP & Thesis

Independent Study Project

The MSW Non-Thesis Program is designed for students who want to develop an advanced understanding of social work and a specialized set of practice skills. Part of the requirements for the MSW Non-Thesis Program is an Independent Study Project (ISP). Each student will focus their ISP within their MSW Program Stream.

SWRK 690 Independent Study Project 9 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Students completing the MSW Non-Thesis Program full-time should begin meeting with their advisor late in the Fall semester to discuss their ISP topic. The ISP is usually completed during the summer semester, after coursework and field placement have finished. For students who are completing a summer block-placement, it is recommended that they start work on the ISP during the Fall and Winter semesters. 

Independent Study Project (MSW-Law Joint Degree)

The Master of Social Work with integrated Bachelor of Civil Law/Bachelor of Laws (MSW/BCL/JD) designed for students interested in transcending academic boundaries in social justice issues. Part of the requirements for the MSW-Law Joint Degree is an Independent Study Project (ISP). The aim of the paper is to address a question common to the two disciplines. Students will work with one advisor from each faculty to complete this project.

SWRK 691 Soc Wk/Law Indep Study Project 12 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Social Work: An independent Study project with the aim of producing a paper which addresses a question common to the two disciplines.  Using and clarifying the contribution of each discipline to the question, the paper adds something that neither a legal nor a social work perspective alone could attain.  Different tools and sources of learning allow a comprehensive approach of learning to the problem-question.  The paper may take the form of a critical review or be empirically-based in any customary research methods or combination of them (qualitative or quantitative research; case or doctoral legal research).

Students completing the Joint Degree Program should seek one adviser from each faculty, and begin meeting with advisors during the Fall semester to discuss their ISP topic. After initial discussion with advisors, the student should prepare a research proposal and meet with the two advisers jointly until the proposal is accepted as an outline of the work. Students must successfully complete this paper in order to graduate, and must have graduated before they begin articling. Most students will write over the summer before the September articling period starts; with advance planning, completion in the winter or spring is also possible.

Thesis

The MSW (Thesis) Program is designed for students who have strong research interests. This program supports the development of advanced understanding in the field of social work and specialized research skills. Students will focus their coursework and thesis research on one of the MSW Program Streams.

SWRK 698 Thesis Research 1 12 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

SWRK 699 Thesis Research 2 15 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Students propose, design, and conduct their thesis research concurrently with coursework. Students work closely with an advisor to guide their research progress.

 

PLEASE NOTE: MSW Thesis students follow the guidelines for Masters theses set by McGill University. Detailed guidelines and forms for Masters Thesis can be found here.

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