Students complete the diploma online on a part-time basis. There is no requirement for students to be available on the McMaster campus. Students must have suitable access to internet and computing, and may be required to participate during business hours on Eastern Standard Time. To be awarded the diploma, students are required to complete the following online courses with minimum B- standing (70%).

The Graduate Diploma: Community-Engaged Research and Evaluation curriculum is comprised of three required courses. Students take two foundation half courses that focus on community-engaged research (SOCSCI 708), and evaluation practices (SOCWORK 743). One full course (SOCWORK 744) builds on the two half courses and is the application and reflection component of the program.

Required Courses

Two half courses:

• SOC SCI 708 / Critical Approaches to Community-Based Research (online)
• SOC WORK 743 / Critical Approaches to Evidence and Evaluation in Social Services and Communities (online)

One full course (over two terms):

• SOC WORK 744 / Research Experience and Seminar (online)

Program duration is normally 16 months. Except by permission of the Social Work Graduate Chair, students may take no more than one course concurrently and must complete the courses in the order listed above. Each course is offered once per calendar year.

Please review all the information below before applying to the Graduate Diploma in Community-Engaged Research & Evaluation.

Eligibility

To be eligible for admission to the Graduate Diploma in Community-Engaged Research and Evaluation applicants are required to have:

• Experience working in social services or communities/social services
• A completed Bachelor’s degree with a minimum average of B+ on senior-level courses.

Students entering the Graduate Diploma are expected to have an established partnership with a community organization or social service agency with whom they will complete their research or evaluation project as part of the Research Experience course (SOCWORK 744). If students do not have a strong partnership in place at the time of program admission they will be required to do so by the end of SOCSCI 708 (Critical Approaches to Community-Based Research) in April.

Application Materials

In order for your application to be considered complete, it must include the following items:

• Online Application Form and Fee
• Statement of Interest (applicant uploads pdf directly)
• Resumé (applicant uploads pdf directly)
• Referee Reports (referees complete online report directly using e-referencing system – due December 7th).
• Transcripts (applicant uploads unofficial transcript directly). Original transcripts must be sent directly from issuing institution*.
• *English proficiency requirements, if applicable (applicant uploads unofficial copy). Original document must be sent directly from issuing institution*.

*Note: Transcripts and English Proficiency documents must be sent directly from issuing institution(s) to:

Darlene Savoy, Director’s/Graduate Administrative Assistant
School of Social Work, McMaster University
1280 Main Street West, Kenneth Taylor Hall, Room 319
Hamilton ON L8S 4M4
dsavoy@mcmaster.ca

Timelines for Application

Rolling Admission (until November 30th)

Review of applications will continue until all positions have been filled. Transcripts and evidence of English language proficiency sent directly from the issuing institution will be accepted up to two weeks past the deadline. If you have an unofficial copy of your English Language Proficiency (if applicable) and transcript(s) available prior to the deadline date, please send by email to Darlene Savoy, Graduate Administrative Assistant so that we may expedite assessment of your qualifications.

Offers of admission will be sent out to successful candidates by email.

Application Form and Fee

The portal for January 2025 admissions is now open! Application forms must be completed online. Please read this webpage thoroughly before proceeding to the How to Apply instructions on the School of Graduate Studies website.

On the application portal, first review the “Prepare your Application” tab before proceeding to the “Application Instructions for January 2025” tab with detailed guide which will lead you though the online application process. Then proceed to the Start Your Application page. Please note the search criteria on application portal for “Filter by Faculty” is “Social Sciences”; then scroll down list of “Programs Open for Application” and click “Apply Now” button beside description “Social Work – Community Engaged Research and Evaluation Graduate Diploma”, then click on “Create an Account” link if you are a first time user OR separate link for returning user. For “Course Type” be sure to choose the “part-time” option as this program is not offered on a full-time basis. In the “Upload Documents” section, in addition to your CV & Statement of Interest, please also upload Unofficial Transcript(s) and TOEFL (if applicable).

A non-refundable $150 (CAN) application fee is applied to all applications. The fee can be paid on-line by valid debit or credit card.

Transcripts

Applicants must provide one official transcript of university academic work completed to date, sent directly from the issuing institution to the School of Social Work (address above).

Statement of Interest

All applicants must provide a Statement of Interest, maximum of 5 typed double-spaced pages, expanding on your resumé, covering the following areas:

• Discuss your work experience in social services or communities. Your statement should elaborate on the sector and/or community organization with which you have an established relationship and where you intend to complete your research or evaluation project for the Research Experience course (SOCWORK 744). If you do not yet have an established partnership for your project, your statement should outline what steps you will take to ensure you have a partnership in place by April based on your knowledge, experience, and previous work.
• Describe a challenge or question facing a community or organization with which you are familiar. Outline the significance of this challenge/ question in the context of the community or organization. Describe in a preliminary way how you might undertake a community-engaged research or evaluation project relevant to the challenge/question. Your statement should include information about the scope and feasibility of completing your research or evaluation project about the stated challenge/question based on your established relationship(s) with social services or communities.
• Indicate why you are interested in this particular diploma program and how you expect it to help you in pursuing your career and personal development. Your statement should include information about how you foresee this diploma program contributing to your established relationship(s) with specific sector(s) and/or community organization(s) and advancing community-engaged and justice-oriented outcomes, practices, and /or programs.

The supplementary statement is assessed based on comprehensiveness, clarity of presentation, capacity for critical and innovative thinking, capacity for critical reflection, and your demonstrable experience and established partnership(s). The declaration of your career goals and your ability to connect these with the specific focus of this program is important.

Letters of Reference

A complete application includes two confidential letters of recommendation – one academic, and one from a work colleague. Because students entering the Graduate Diploma are required to have an established partnership with a community organization or social service agency to complete their research or evaluation project, one letter should be from a representative of the community or agency with whom students will focus on/partner for their projects.

Referees will be asked to describe work you have been involved in that they have direct knowledge of, and comment on a) your understanding and analysis of the organizational, community or activist contexts in which you work, and b) your capacities and potential for participatory and justice-oriented research and evaluation. Referees should specifically comment on the applicant’s established relationship(s)/partnership(s) with social service agencies/community organizations/communities to demonstrate their capacity to feasibly and effectively conduct a research or evaluation project.

McMaster University uses the Electronic Referencing System. You must enter the email addresses of your referees as part of the on-line application form. The system will automatically send an e-Reference request on your behalf to the referees once you submit your application. Reference deadline: December 7th.

English Proficiency Requirements

If applicable, an official copy of your TOEFL score, or other evidence of competency in English is required. A minimum TOEFL score of 580 (or 237 on the computer-based TOEFL test) is needed.

Additional Information

Students entering the Community-Engaged Research and Evaluation diploma program who have already successfully completed SOC WORK 743 or SOCSCI 708 may receive one of these courses as advanced credit if approved by the School of Social Work’s Graduate Chair.

Please complete our Pre-Application form so that we can verify your academic qualifications before you send a full application.

The School of Graduate Studies policy with regard to students with disabilities can be found in section 6.6 of the School of Graduate Studies Calendar. The full policy and further information may be obtained from the School of Graduate Studies or the Student Success Centre 905-525-9140 ext. 28652 or e-mail studentsuccess@mcmaster.ca. For further information, consult McMaster University’s Policy for Academic Accommodation of Students with Disabilities.

Future Degree Studies

Students who successfully graduate from the Community-Engaged Research & Evaluation Graduate Diploma program, and who wish to pursue degree studies at McMaster University, may be eligible to receive academic credit towards the degree. Depending on the policies of the MA or MSW (if the student holds a BSW) program students may be considered for up to 50% of the academic credits of the new degree as determined by the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies. The student must be accepted into the program before this advanced standing is considered.

Apply for a Graduate Diploma in Community-Engaged Research & Evaluation Here