I am a dedicated Social Worker, who took the Master of Social Work (MSW) laddering route offered by University of Calgary's Faculty of Social Work because it fit into my life and allowed me to continue my impactful work and balance personal commitments. Although originally positioned as a graduate option for the less academically inclined, the MSW laddering route has become a very competitive graduate program full of amazingly talented Social Workers.

This educational journey has a significant gap: the lack of a thesis-based option. Consequently, I am unable to pursue a PhD due to insufficient research experience, which impairs my career advancement and limits my contribution to our field's knowledge base. Countless other students are similarly being excluded from educational opportunities despite being strong Social Workers with many valuable contributions to our field.

The University of Calgary offers one of the most comprehensive social work programs in Canada. Nonetheless, as per the current conditions, students on the laddering route are excluded from deep, meaningful, research opportunities. Not only does this limit Social Workers but it also limits meaningful Social Work research.

According to a report by the Canadian Association for Social Work Education (CASWE), research allows social workers to enhance their knowledge and improve their practice. It provides a path to senior roles and is a prerequisite to PhD programs (CASWE, 2019). By denying us the option to complete a thesis, the University limits not just our education, but our career trajectories and the growth of our field.

We are urging the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Calgary to serve its student body better by adding a thesis-based option to their MSW laddering route, encompassing the full spectrum of education and experience available in this discipline.

Join in urging the University of Calgary to make this much-needed change. Stand for equal opportunities for all students, for the growth of our profession, and the enrichment of our community. Please sign this petition.