Doctor of Philosophy in Community Engagement, Social Change, Equity (Okanagan)

This interdisciplinary degree is for students interested in community-engaged research, with a particular focus on social justice and social change. Community Based Participatory Research (CBPR) and related methodologies will form the foundation of the program. These approaches engage community stakeholders as part of a collaborative process, and recognize the unique strengths of all parties involved. It is a style of research that is carried out with communities rather than on communities, and has been continuing to receive growing attention in many fields, including human geography, anthropology, Indigenous studies, public health, community development, urban planning, education, social work, nursing, sociology, and others.

During the course of their research, students will examine the conceptual and philosophical underpinnings of community engagement, while also gaining practical experience working with communities. In pursuing this diverse field of study, students will have the opportunity to benefit from the knowledge, resources, and collaboration of four faculties and 10 departments.

Graduates will be prepared for positions in teaching and research institutions, private-sector organizations, public-sector government and crown corporations, and not-for-profit, charitable and non-governmental organizations.

PhD applicants are expected to hold the academic equivalent of a two-year master's degree from UBC in a related field and to demonstrate superior academic standing. Applicant background training must be sufficient for advanced work in their chosen field.

Applicants from a university outside Canada at which English is not the primary language of instruction must present evidence of competency to pursue studies in the English language prior to being extended an offer of admission. Acceptable English language proficiency tests for applicants to graduate studies are

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language): minimum score of 550 (paper version), 90 overall with a minimum score of 22 in Reading & Listening and a minimum score of 21 in Writing & Speaking (Internet version),
IELTS 7.0 overall score

MELAB (Michigan English Language Assessment Battery) minimum overall score of 85, with a final score of 3 in the speaking test.