social work phd us

50 Best Social Work PhD Programs

To help further narrow your search, we have compiled a list of the 50 best programs in the country based on two primary criteria: overall academic reputation (65%) and quality of financial aid provided to students (35%). Programs on this list have a focus on research and teaching and, unless noted, do not focus on advanced clinical practice, as the DSW degree does. Many of the schools listed here also offer joint MSW/PhD programs for those looking for to complete the entirety of their graduate work in one location.

#1  University of Michigan

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U-M’s School of Social Work has been among the country’s best for quite awhile now. Michigan offers a unique joint PhD program for social work students, partnering with five other graduate programs on campus. Students choose from one of U-M’s other well-regarded fields including Anthropology, Economics, Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology. Joint PhD students reflect the populations they serve and address society’s challenging issues through scientifically rigorous social and behavioral research. U-M faculty create a robust interdisciplinary culture and formulate solutions to serious worldwide problems. Together, Joint PhD students mentored by faculty tackle society’s most pressing problems- poverty, homelessness, mental illness, violence towards children and addiction to name a few. U-M faculty empower students to extend their reach, deepen their impact and create real social change.

Like other programs at the top of our ranking, The Joint Program in Social Work and Social Science provides all incoming doctoral students with a multi-year funding package. U-M combines fellowship awards, graduate student research assistant positions, and graduate student instructorships to offer most students five years of full funding, which includes tuition, stipends, and health care. U-M ranks first in research-and-development spending among the nation’s public universities. Its institutes and centers include: The Institute for Social Research; National Poverty Center; Institute for Research on Women and Gender; Curtis Center; Nonprofit and Public Management Center; University of Michigan Substance Abuse Research Center; and the Michigan Institute for Clinical and Health Research.

Program Website Offers combined Masters/PhD? Yes Offers part-time option? No

#2  University of Chicago

The University of Chicago is a magnet for the world’s leading scholars in the social sciences. Its School of Social Service Administration consistently ranks among the best social work institutions in the country. Members of the SSA doctoral program join a select group of students and scholars who advance an interdisciplinary approach to social work and social welfare scholarship. The program is designed to deepen students’ mastery of both social science theory and research methods so that they are prepared to contribute to scholarly knowledge in innovative ways. The PhD in social work opens doors to university-level research and teaching positions and high-level policy research. In the doctoral program, students have the flexibility of designing their own course of study in tandem with related disciplines across the university. SSA students receive the theoretical training needed to become applied social scientists.

Doctoral students receive significant funding to ensure that they are able to immerse themselves in the program. Effective July 1, 2017, all admitted doctoral students are eligible to receive a scholarship that will cover all tuition and fees plus a $25,000 stipend for up to five years. To ensure that incoming students receive the in-depth advising they need to develop a customized program of study, the Doctoral Committee selects an advisor for each student during the admissions process, matching theoretical and substantive interests.  SSA is one of few schools of social work with a full-time career services office. Doctoral students participate in original research alongside faculty advisors in University-affiliated research centers and programs, including: Center for Gender Studies; Center for Health Administration Studies; Center for Human Potential and Public Policy; Center for the Study of Race, Politics & Culture; Chicago Center for Youth Violence Prevention; Human Rights Program; and the Urban Health Initiative.

#3  Washington University (St. Louis, MO)

Another perennially top-ranked program, the Brown School at Washington University offers world-class graduate instruction in social work. The curriculum at the Brown School emphasizes substantive, theoretical and methodological preparation. Vital and groundbreaking research is being conducted at over a dozen Brown School research centers, and students have access to the scholars forging the future of their field. Wash-U’s faculty are top scholars and experts, and students receive the benefit of their mentorship and guidance. The director of the program serves as the primary faculty advisor of all incoming doctoral students. During orientation, students receive a tailored list of additional Brown School faculty who may serve as substantive advisor(s), those who share mutual areas of research interest. At the completion of the first year, students officially select an advisor to mentor them in their chosen area of research.

The Brown School is committed to providing their doctoral students full tuition scholarships, four-year stipends and professional development accounts. Additional funding is possible through research and teaching fellowships as well as other sources of internal and external support. The PhD curriculum includes three units each of required teaching and research practica. These practica typically occur after the first semester in the program and round out the individualized curriculum plan. Teaching practica ensure students are well-trained in substantive content and pedagogy as they prepare for independent teaching at the graduate level. Additional opportunities for research development are available within specific research fellowship programs, faculty laboratories and research centers. The program requires 72 units of credit, 21 of which can be transferred from an MSW program or a graduate degree from an allied field.

Program Website Offers combined Masters/PhD? No Offers part-time option? No

#4  University of Pittsburgh

The University of Pittsburgh has one of the oldest and most well respected social work doctoral programs in the United States. Since its inception, The School of Social Work has conferred the PhD degree on hundreds of graduates who enjoy productive careers in social work research, education, administration, and planning. The program provides students with a supportive educational environment which facilitates their progress towards degree completion. Pitt’s doctoral program is committed to the school’s mission which addresses human dignity, social justice, and social equity for diverse populations. The university awarded its first DSW degrees in 1949. In 1963, the DSW degree was changed to a PhD. The school celebrated the 60th Anniversary of its PhD Program in 2009. Pittsburgh’s program has consistently been regarded among the top 10 social work doctoral programs in the nation.

Accepted candidates are fully funded with tuition and stipend support for four years of study. Tuition support includes health insurance, and the school has a wonderful Social Work Library which is part of the University’s Library System. Doctoral education in Social Work prepares students for leadership roles in social work research, social work education, social policy, planning, and administration. The goal of the program is to provide students with advanced academic training that will allow them to contribute to the knowledge base of the social work profession. The doctoral program is open to applicants who have demonstrated intellectual capacity, critical thinking skills, and potential for research and scholarship. Pitt’s full time program is highly competitive and accepts 6-8 students each year.

#5  Case Western Reserve University

Founded in 1952 as one of the first doctoral programs in social welfare in America, the PhD program at the Mandel School is designed to develop leaders in social work research, policy, and teaching. It is a cornerstone of the school, offering doctoral students the opportunity to engage with world-renowned faculty, cutting-edge research, and a creative curriculum – all within a supportive environment committed to student success. In response to the different needs and interests of our students, the Mandel School offers two formats for professionals electing to pursue a PhD degree in social welfare: the full-time and the part-time format. Course content includes philosophy of science and theory building, theories of human behavior, advanced research design, statistics, measurement and data analysis, qualitative research models and methods, an integrated research seminar, social welfare policy, theory and evidence base of social work practice, and social work education.

Case Western offers full time students a 100% tuition waiver covering all coursework and six hours of dissertation research credits. Doctoral students may also be able to receive additional tuition waivers for dissertation research credits through serving as teaching assistants for doctoral methods courses or for serving as research assistants on faculty members’ funded research projects. Full time students are guaranteed a stipend of $18,000 for each of the first four years of doctoral study. This fellowship provides individualized training in social work research methods with a faculty member closely matched with the student’s research interests. Students can apply for a mentorship in research or in teaching. In response to the different needs and interests of our students, the Mandel School offers two formats for professionals electing to pursue a PhD degree in social welfare: the full-time and the part-time format.

Program Website Offers combined Masters/PhD? No Offers part-time option? Yes

#6  University of Washington (Seattle, WA)

The PhD Program in Social Welfare at Washington prepares students to become leaders in the advancement of knowledge in the profession and relevant interdisciplinary domains. Students acquire both the substantive and methodological competence to contribute theoretical formulations and empirical research that inform effective social work practice and advance scholarship in social welfare for the promotion of social justice.  In addition to being among the top contributors to research and scholarship, the School’s faculty members have developed special depth in prevention research. Faculty research emphasizes prevention and intervention services and encompasses topics related to health/mental health promotion and disparities, aging, child and adolescent services, family-based practice, interpersonal violence, substance abuse, income distribution, and issues related to gender, communities of color (including American Indian and Alaska native health), and gays and lesbians.

We ensure the same level of support to all incoming students, and our admissions decisions are based in part on the number of students for whom we can ensure support during their first 3 years in the program. We work with students to seek sources of funding both within the University and from outside sources. The support typically involves teaching or research assistantships or fellowships for the 9-month regular school year and includes tuition waiver and health benefits in addition to a salary.  The program offers excellent student resources such as access to cutting edge quantitative and qualitative methods training, preparation for teaching and related faculty roles, student travel to professional conferences, a high level of faculty research activity, scholars engaged in cross-cultural research, and excellent computer access and consultation.

#7  Boston College

Boston College School of Social Work is home to a highly productive community of scholars whose research advances the field of social welfare and the practice of social work. This unique curriculum will prepare students to excel as a researcher and teacher in leading academic and social welfare institutions worldwide.  Students develop expertise in: A Substantive Area of Social Work providing the foundation for advanced research; A Social or Behavioral Science with theory and empirical findings of causes, dynamics, and outcomes of social work interventions; Research Methods necessary to effectively advance knowledge in the field; Teaching Methods to pass knowledge and skills to the next generation of scholars and practitioners; Communication Skills to impart the results of your scholarship, through writing and speaking, to the social work community.

All accepted doctoral students receive merit-based financial support. Students at the Boston College School of Social work receive a multi-year full tuition package worth more than $125,000. This fellowship also provides a living stipend. The award in the first year is a $20,000 non-service stipend. In the second and third years, the award is a $20,000 service stipend. In the fourth year, the award is a $20,000 non-service stipend. The curriculum is designed with a blend of quantitative research courses, combined with theory and methods classes plus a required teaching course. Students also gain practical skills by teaching and tutoring in an MSW classroom. The curriculum is designed to prepare students for the available tenure track positions and other professional research careers. The mission of the Boston College School of Social Work Doctoral Program is to prepare scholars committed to the pursuit of knowledge to advance the field of social welfare and social work practice.

#8  University of North Carolina

The Ph.D. Program in social work at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is designed to produce graduates who are capable of building and testing explanatory and practice theory to guide social interventions in social work. It includes thorough training in research methodology and data analysis for addressing both basic and applied research questions. It is not designed to add to clinical or practice skills. Students define a specialized area of study that focuses their assignments and guides their research experiences. It is anticipated that graduates will pursue careers involving scholarly activity and basic and applied research in either academic, research, or policy settings. Through innovative research that improves practice and enhances education, students at UNC search for solutions to the challenges of poverty, mental health, violence, and substance abuse.

The doctoral program of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill provides significant funding to doctoral students, including up to four years of tuition, health insurance, as well as teaching and research stipends. In addition, all doctoral applicants are considered for university-wide fellowship support. There are several kind of assistantships: Merit Assistantships, which come through the university; research assistantships in which the student works for pay on a grant or contract; and research assistantships and teaching, paid from school or program funds, for example, from endowed funds. Students may receive funding from more than one source. The School has grown to include 27 tenured and tenure-track faculty members – seven of whom are chaired or distinguished professors – and more than 65 clinical and research faculty members. In 2011, social work faculty received more than $12 million in grant funding.

#9  Boston University

Building upon BU School of Social Work’s robust commitment to social justice and empowerment of historically marginalized populations, the doctoral program provides training in the theory, research methods, and values of the social work profession necessary to solve urgent human and societal problems. Students’ work reflects the interdisciplinary nature of the program and individualized course of study. Students develop core competencies that are integral to contemporary social work practice, teaching, and research. The critical linkages between social work and social science research, theory, and practice build upon faculty strengths and expertise, and grow through interdisciplinary collaborations and expertise in areas such as health, mental health, trauma, addictions, child welfare, and aging. The PhD in Social Work program offers an opportunity for students to work with, and learn from, these leaders and to pursue a multi-method and highly individualized course of study.

BU is pleased to offer a generous multi-year funding package of up to five years, which includes tuition, paid stipends, and health care. PhD students are funded through a combination of tuition scholarships, and research and teaching assistantships. While students gain hands-on research and teaching experience, assistantships supported by the School of Social Work are paid as stipends during the eight-month academic year. The core curriculum requires a mixed methods foundation, grounding in social work values and a social justice lens, and training in teaching excellence. Student knowledge is deepened through hands-on teaching-practicum experience, the development of a specialization area, and mentored research training. These integrated experiences provide a rich educational foundation for social work leadership in academic, policy, research, and practice arenas.

#10  University of Pennsylvania

The University of Pennsylvania PhD program in Social Welfare is designed to develop leaders in academia and research to identify both problems and potential solutions. Faculty work hard to foster scholarly energy, collaboration, and creativity. Most graduates go on to faculty posts in Schools of Social Work and Social Welfare. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “employment of social workers is expected to grow by 19 percent from 2012 to 2022, faster than the average for all occupations.” As a growing academic field, multiple job offers are common. In order to apply for a dual degree program (including the MSW/PhD program), applicants must submit two separate applications. Each of these applications must include two sets of supporting documents, including transcripts, personal statements, and 3 letters of recommendation. Applications for each dual degree program will be reviewed independently of each other; it is possible to be admitted into one program and not the other.

The program is designed to be completed in four years. Each student is supported financially by the School of Social Policy & Practice in the form of tuition, fees, individual health insurance, and a nine-month research and teaching stipend for the four years. Graduates also are prepared to assume, as some have, positions in government, international organizations, research firms, and think tanks. The program is structured so that students can earn their PhD in 4 years. Coursework is completed in the first two years. In addition to learning fundamental content and research skills at SP2, PhD students can take courses in virtually any department at Penn. The last two years are dedicated to gaining research and teaching experience while completing the dissertation. The typical student has multiple publications upon graduation and has teaching experience at the master’s level.

#11  University of California (Los Angeles)

The Social Welfare PhD program at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs provides students with highly structured personalized instruction and mentoring to facilitate entry into careers of research and teaching. The curriculum is interdisciplinary. Students take advantage of the rich learning resources in the Social Welfare Department and other departments within the Luskin School and the larger UCLA campus to develop substantive and methodological knowledge consonant with cutting-edge scholarship in an area of specialization. Areas of specialization include child and family well-being, health and mental health across the lifespan, poverty, and social and economic justice. In recognition of the considerable knowledge and skills required of those contemplating careers in academia, students are encouraged to publish in scholarly journals, present at national conferences, prepare and submit research proposals to external funders, and enter the job market, subsequently, with competitive records of scholarly productivity.

Financial aid packages are competitive and include full tuition plus stipends in the first two years, as well as university fellowships and paid teaching and research assistantships in years three through five, as needed. Research training, both formal and experiential, is at the core of the program. Flexibility is provided to help students attain in-depth competence in a substantive area of social welfare. Students progress from a common foundation in scholarship and research methods toward a high degree of individualized specialization. This common foundation emphasizes the acquisition of analytic tools needed to understand, appraise and advance knowledge in social welfare. With these analytical tools, the students select a specific area of specialization and develop expertise in that area. Considerable emphasis is placed on the individualized instructional relationship between students and faculty mentors. The learning process involves more than classroom instruction. Students are expected to work closely with faculty in their roles as scholars and researchers.

#12  University of Southern California

The USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work established the first social work doctoral program in the western United States in 1953. Students pursue an in-depth, customized course of study in an atmosphere of careful mentoring and respect for scholarship. The doctoral curriculum is highly interdisciplinary with the intent of producing graduates who are capable of original research and passionate about advancing the profession’s knowledge base. Course work and independent study opportunities within the school and across the university offer intellectual grounding in comparative social science theories, advanced research methods and statistics, global issues, policy analysis and advocacy, and 21st century challenges to practice at the individual, family and group levels. The school gives special emphasis to evidence-based approaches and translational science.

All incoming students accepted and admitted into the program and who remain in good academic standing will receive financial assistance for the first four years, amounting to $200,000. Students also may be eligible for additional fellowships, scholarships, grants, research and teaching assistantships, and loans. Doctoral students regularly collaborate on faculty research projects in addition to pursuing their own funded research. The cornerstone of USC’s success is the dedicated faculty, who take pride in close collaboration with students in research and mentoring, as well as teaching. Faculty help doctoral students develop a portfolio of research and teaching experience that will prepare them fully for the challenges they face as the next generation of scholars and leaders of the profession.

#13  Arizona State University

The purpose of the doctoral program in social work is to train future social work scholars. Graduates are prepared to enter careers in applied research that enhance human well-being, particularly among oppressed and vulnerable populations, and to educate the next generation of social workers. Students pursue their personal intellectual passions guided by an individualized program of study. They are mentored by world-class faculty who collectively rank #1 in disseminating scholarship in premiere social work journals. Examples of recent dissertation topics include: Characteristics of Foster Families and Foster Children that Impact Placement Stability; Migration Aspirations, Religiosity, and Sexual Behavior among Youth: A New Look at Suicidal Ideation in Central Mexico; and Ecological Factors and the Behavioral and Educational Outcomes of African American Students in Special Education.

Contingent upon satisfactory progress in the program, ASU typically offers incoming students five years of financial support. In the first two years when students are focusing on their course work, financial support frequently consists of tuition assistance, health benefits, and a living stipend in exchange for being placed with a faculty member in a 20 hour a week academic training placement. In subsequent years, students have the option of pursuing research with funded faculty and research centers, or obtaining teaching positions in the School of Social Work. Research collaboratives housed within the School of Social Work include: ASU Center for Child Well-Being; Southwest Interdisciplinary Research Center; Center for International Translational Intervention Research; Center for Applied Behavioral Health Policy; and the Office of American Indian Projects, among others.

#14  New York University

The New York University Silver School of Social Work doctoral program is committed to preparing stewards of the discipline for leadership positions at the national and global levels. The program’s specific aim is to competitively position graduates for top-tier academic and research opportunities, such as faculty positions at leading research universities, and to cultivate the next wave of independent investigators, scholars, and social work leaders. NYU Silver immerses its doctoral students in cutting-edge quantitative and qualitative research, providing them with the rigorous methodological, conceptual, and statistical research training critical for next-level success. Silver School doctoral students are paired from day one with a research mentor as part of a personalized mentoring program, helping them develop competencies in core research, scholarship, and teaching areas.

Accepted full-time students are typically awarded the Dean’s Fellowship, which includes full tuition and registration fee waivers, graduate student health insurance, and a competitive stipend. Upon completing coursework, students are responsible for maintaining their matriculation in the program by paying for one credit per semester until their dissertation is successfully defended. NYU Silver’s outstanding faculty are renowned for their expertise in several key research areas, including poverty studies, mental health services research, and children and family research. NYU offers an unparalleled research environment and platform for study. Silver School doctoral students impact and are impacted by the diversity, dynamism, and richness of New York City, while NYU’s Global Network University initiative provides global opportunities to address critical social welfare issues through research and direct service abroad.

#15  Michigan State University

The PhD program in Social Work at MSU is designed to prepare social workers for leadership positions in the profession as: Social work educators; Researchers of social problems and social work intervention methods; Planners, administrators, and evaluators of social service programs; and Policy makers and analysts. It emphasizes the development, analysis, and application of social work knowledge related to professional practice and research in selected settings and to social work education at the undergraduate and graduate levels in order to contribute to the advancement of knowledge in the Social Work profession and the field of social welfare. It is also interdisciplinary in nature, requiring course work in both social work and a particular social science, or across disciplines, while focusing on a selected area of study.

Beginning fall, 2016, the School is pleased to offer five years of guaranteed funding to all qualified incoming students. During the first four years of the program, support will be in the form of an assistantship each year: Graduate assistants work with faculty members on their research projects 20 hours per week during the academic year and receive a tuition waiver, health benefits, and a stipend. There are a variety of teaching opportunities available for doctoral students. In most cases, students are encouraged to consider teaching once they have completed their coursework and comprehensive exam process. The focused area of study, or cognate, is designed by the student and his/her Guidance Committee (a group of faculty chosen by the student that represents social work and the focused cognate area). Courses for the cognate may be taken from any department within the University, with appropriate approval, and are organized around a student’s specific area of scholarly interest.

#16  University of California (Berkeley)

Berkeley Social Welfare’s doctoral program is designed to inspire independence and originality of thought in pursuit of knowledge. Students design and pursue an individualized program of work tailored to their intellectual interests and aligned with specialized research areas of faculty mentors and supervisors from the School of Social Welfare and additional distinguished departments across the Berkeley campus. Doctoral course work includes seminars in research methods, statistics, theory and other related areas. Required courses for doctoral students focus primarily on research methodology. In addition, students enroll in elective courses, seminars, and independent tutorials useful for mastering selected fields of study, preparing for the qualifying examination, and developing competence in research methods. Students are also encouraged to select courses from the rich and varied offerings in other University departments.

A typical funding package for Berkeley Social Welfare doctoral students will usually include a total of four years of financial support, through a combination of payment of tuition and fees; academic student employment as a Graduate Student Researcher (GSR) or Graduate Student Instructor (GSI); and a living expense stipend. A Combined MSW/PhD Program option is also available specifically for individuals who possess a strong interest in and exceptional capacity for research and scholarly work; and who wish to pursue a continuous program of graduate study leading to the MSW and the PhD degrees. Berkeley Social Welfare research areas include: Systems of Care for Children/Families/Elderly; Behavioral Health and Prevention/Intervention; Community, Organizational and Policy Development; Violence and Victimization; Health and Healthcare Disparities; and Race, Class and Gender.

#17  Virginia Commonwealth University

Reflecting the dual mission of Virginia Commonwealth University and the profession of Social Work, the Ph.D. program in Social Work aims to develop scholars, researchers and educators who will, independently and collaboratively, make significant contributions to advancing social justice and human well-being within local, national and international contexts. Current faculty areas of expertise include: Community and organizational partnerships in prevention and intervention research in local, national and international settings; Interdisciplinary research in social, behavioral and health sciences; International collaborative projects (e.g., interpersonal and societal violence and trauma, poverty and inequality, immigrants and refugees in the U.S. and abroad, and population aging and mental health in low-resource settings).

Full-time students who remain in good academic standing receive financial assistance in the form of full tuition remission and a stipend in each of their first four years of study. The doctoral program director and faculty advisers assist students in identifying sources of support for subsequent years, including support for dissertation research. Formal mentorship takes the form of graduate research assistantships and supervised teaching opportunities in the School’s competitive M.S.W. and/or B.S.W. programs. First-year students participate in a proseminar that is led by the Ph.D. program director. The three-fold purpose of the seminar is to: introduce students to the School’s faculty and their programs of research; familiarize students with current major trends and topics in social work and social welfare; and facilitate a working model of on-going peer advising and consultation.

#18  Bryn Mawr College

The country’s first Ph.D. degree in social work was awarded at Bryn Mawr College in 1920. As a social work school within a liberal arts college, the GSSWSR takes interdisciplinary inquiry and teaching seriously, and Ph.D. students are vital members of the Bryn Mawr College teaching community. A distinctive feature of Bryn Mawr’s Ph.D. program is the small size — typically enrolling cohorts of just three or four students per year. That size allows for a close-knit and productive community of scholars. The ratio of Ph.D. students at all stages in the program to tenured and tenure-track faculty is less than 2:1, and class sizes are typically just 6. This model allows for students to engage and learn more deeply, as individuals, as a cohort, and in close collaboration with faculty. At the same time, to support the program’s focus on interdisciplinary social work scholarship within a broader liberal arts tradition, students also have access to a wealth of resources beyond GSSWSR.

All Ph.D. students are funded equally and do not compete for basic financial support during coursework. The school supports all Ph.D. students to engage deeply in doctoral training with full tuition waivers and substantial stipends to offset costs of living. Bryn Mawr discourages competition among students and instead aims to facilitate a collaborative and supportive community of scholars. Faculty have a wide variety of research interests. Two primary areas of focus for research and teaching at GSSWSR are “Health and Mental Health Across the Lifespan” and “Children, Families and Society.” The school’s traditional strengths in clinical practice and social theory and research help to foster a generative community that values innovative conceptualizations that reach across traditional silos to better address the central problems that social work faces as a field.

#19  Ohio State University

The mission of the doctoral program in Social Work at OSU is to nurture the next generation of social work researchers and educators within the translational research framework with the ultimate goal of positively impacting the lives of individuals, families, communities, and society. Hallmarks of the program include: Theory-driven intervention and implementation research; Qualitative and quantitative research methods to understand the individual, family and community contexts of social problems; Mixed methods research to understand the agency and program contexts where interventions are implemented; Pedagogical skills to be effective social work educators; Grant writing skills for research funding; and Publishing and presenting.

The College of Social Work provides a competitive funding package for doctoral students. In the first three years, students are granted a Graduate Associate position with stipend and tuition coverage (for full-time students). In the fourth year through Dissertation, students are granted Graduate Student Lecturer positions. The Graduate School sponsors a number of fellowships for incoming and current graduate students.  Currently, Doctoral faculty are studying: School mental health, school social work, school-family-community partnerships; Community food security and community-based research; Children of immigrant families and social adjustment; Positive youth development and youth sport; Integrative body-mind spirit practices; Educational disparities; and Human trafficking; and Latino gangs.

Program Website Offers combined Masters/PhD? Yes Offers part-time option? Yes

#20  University of Wisconsin (Madison)

The doctoral program in social welfare strives to develop scholars, leaders, and social work educators who will advance knowledge about social work, social welfare policy, and intervention strategies from a behavioral and social science perspective to improve the quality of life of individuals, families, groups, communities and organizations. The program has a strong reputation of academic excellence. Students have a wide selection of courses in world-renowned social and behavioral science departments such as sociology, economics, educational psychology, human development and family studies, the La Follette School of Public Affairs, psychology, women’s studies, population health sciences, and nursing. There are opportunities to collaborate with world-renowned research centers and institutes, such as: Center for the Demography of Health and Aging; Comprehensive Cancer Center; Institute on Aging; and the Institute for Research on Poverty, among others.

The School of Social Work provides highly competitive financial support to new and continuing Ph.D. students. Graduate Assistantship and Fellowship positions include paid tuition, health insurance coverage, and a monthly stipend. Other forms of financial aid include: Teaching Assistantship; Project and Research Assistantships; Fellowship; Scholarships and Awards.  In their programs doctoral students build and integrate knowledge in: a substantive or social problem area (e.g., child welfare, aging, developmental disabilities, end-of-life care, health, mental health, poverty); social science theory (e.g., theories of the life course, economic theory, psychopathology, organizational theory, stress process theories); research designs and statistical methodologies (e.g., program evaluation, policy analysis, longitudinal analysis). There are also options to pursue interdisciplinary Ph.D. minors in Aging; Prevention and Intervention Science; and Women’s Studies, among others.

#21  Columbia University (New York)

The Columbia School of Social Work’s Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) program has produced many of the world’s most influential leaders in social work and social welfare scholarship since its inception in 1950. The program is offered by Columbia University’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) and administered by the School of Social Work. It prepares candidates for careers as researchers, scholars and educators. Doctoral students can choose from three concentrations: Advanced Practice; Social Policy and Policy Analysis; or Social Policy and Administration. Candidates will also take advanced social work courses and a wide range of courses offered in other Columbia professional schools.

While much of the program is highly individualized, all students will be enrolled in approximately two full-time years of course work, plus time for tutorials, research projects, examinations, and dissertation work. All students also conduct an intensive individualized research practicum, or a research assistantship, in conjunction with a current faculty research project. Around 65 students are enrolled in the Ph.D. program. While the majority of students have a master’s in social work, many others have master’s degrees in related disciplines such as economics, education and public policy.The majority of graduates accept positions conducting research and/or teaching in universities and research institutions throughout the world. Other graduates choose to join governmental organizations or think tanks that conduct relevant social policy research and analysis. A few opt to re-enter the social services field in an executive capacity.

#22  University at Buffalo (SUNY)

Founded in 1846 as a private medical college, The State University of New York at Buffalo is a public research university in Buffalo and Amherst, New York. In the school’s doctorate of social work program, students will: Create an individual, fully interdisciplinary program of coursework and scholarship; Benefit from a small-by-design program that facilitates meaningful connections with peers and mentors; Participate in the intellectual exchanges and scholarly collaborations fostered by UB’s many research centers and institutes and community partnerships; Engage with our diverse, dedicated and growing faculty, with particular expertise in trauma, veterans’ issues, aging, social policy, and refugee and immigrant communities; and access diverse research opportunities, facilities and support through the Buffalo Center for Social Research.

PhD students receive generous funding, consisting of three years of tuition waivers, through assistantships and scholarship programs. This interdisciplinary PhD is best for individuals who are seeking careers as researchers and academics. The highly customizable nature of the program allows students to tailor their coursework to their individual research interests. The programs consists of two years of coursework followed by a year of exams and dissertation work plus additional time for more dissertation work. The program also focuses on and prepares students to take action in program and policy arenas at local, national and global levels. A medium-sized professional school within the largest and most comprehensive research university in the State University of New York system, the UB School of Social Work is positioned in a diverse learning community to offer flexible academic programming, meeting the unique interests and career goals of students.

#23  University of Maryland (Baltimore)

The mission of the UMB School of Social Work’s Doctor of Philosophy program is to prepare graduates to conduct interdisciplinary research and become exemplary social work scholars and educators.‌ For the last 10 years, the School’s faculty publishing rate places it in the top 10 schools in the country in terms of the number of articles published in scholarly journals. In a short period of time, the SSW has become the leader in social work education in the state, as well as become known to a national and international audience. In addition to the School’s academic side, there is a community service side: Social Work Community Outreach Service, Promise Heights, Family Connections and the Ruth H. Young Center for Families and Children are all very active in helping with the social work needs in Baltimore and beyond. The SSW has over 80 full-time faculty members including over 40 tenure-tracked positions.

Full-time students are eligible for full-time (20-hour) assistantships which provide a stipend of $19,167 (10-month) or $23,000 (12-month), plus tuition remission for the fall and spring semesters, and health insurance. The School has a number of graduate research assistantships (GRAs) that require either 10 or 20 hours of work per week for a 10 or 12 month academic year. Students are required to take at least one course outside the social work PhD program; students begin taking electives in their second year. Students may select their electives from doctoral-level courses offered in the School of Social Work, the other UMB schools, as well as academic departments on the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) or University of Maryland in College Park (UMCP) campuses (e.g., psychology, sociology, policy sciences). UMB’s full-time students average 4 to 5 years to complete the program.

#24  University of Kansas

The goal of the University of Kansas School of Social Welfare doctoral program is to prepare students to become leaders nationally and internationally in advancing social work practice and policy through research, teaching and scholarship. Students graduate from the program with the critical knowledge and skills they need to become innovative stewards of the discipline who generate and disseminate knowledge as researchers, scholars and educators. Students work with highly productive, nationally and internationally renowned faculty with expertise in aging, child welfare, child mental health, adult mental health, corrections, juvenile justice, spirituality, diversity and poverty. Students also gain critical methodological, pedagogical and research skills and expertise through funded appointments as graduate research and teaching assistants and high quality doctoral courses.

If enrolled in full-time study, the KU School of Social Welfare will guarantee four years of financial support, as long as student remains in good standing in the program. In most cases, this will consist of a 50 percent appointment as a Graduate Research Assistant (GRA), Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA), or a combination of the two and paid tuition. The curriculum is designed to provide core training in research methodology, theory, policy and teaching pedagogy. In combination with funded appointments, students develop expertise in their chosen areas of inquiry and research methods. Other research and funding opportunities are often available through individual faculty research projects in many areas. Current Ph.D. in social work students report that faculty accessibility and interest in doctoral students is very high and particularly comment the high quality of the faculty-student mentoring relationship.

#25  University of Texas (Arlington)

UT Arlington’s doctoral program in the School of Social Work prepares students for careers in social work research, policy and teaching. Graduates hold faculty positions in colleges and universities across the country and have made important contributions to social work practice, education, research, administration and leadership. Students can attend full-time or part-time. About ten students enter the program each year, coming from a variety of regions, countries, educational, and practice backgrounds. Students are encouraged, upon their entry to the program, to identify an area of interest which they can explore in their course work and assignments. Following a core set of foundational courses, students concentrate in an area of specialization as they move through the program. Students learn in small classes with a diverse, talented and committed faculty. Students work closely with faculty members on research projects which provide them with hands on experience in the various stages of the research process.

The Social Work doctoral program provides full-time incoming doctoral students with a multi-year funding package that should fund much of their graduate career at the University of Texas at Arlington. The school combines fellowship awards, stipends for graduate assistants and graduate teaching assistantships and tuition to offer students three years of funding. Students may also apply for other funding from sources within and outside of the university. Throughout their doctoral studies, students also benefit from a well-developed system of advisement and mentorship. The program offers a variety of supports for career development with regular workshops on professional writing and publication; practice and preparation for job interviews and colloquia presentations of dissertation research. Students also mentor each other in a system of peer mentorship organized by the active Doctoral Student Association.

#26  University of South Carolina

The College of Social Work Doctoral Program at the University of South Carolina prepares social work scholars to advance social well-being and social justice through leadership in transdisciplinary community-engaged research and education. In the Ph.D. program, students immediately begin advancing social well-being and social justice through scholarship. The program’s dynamic approach to doctoral education prepares students for transdisciplinary community-engaged research and education. The school merges social justice with community-engaged research that cuts across disciplines. Students are directly involved in research, technical assistance, and training within the school’s various research and advocacy centers. And many faculty and students are involved in collaborative research with other colleges, departments, and universities.

The school offers graduate and research assistantships to Full-time and Advanced Standing students. Assistantships are competitive and a limited number are awarded. Assistantships are awarded based on the applicant’s academic achievement and merit. Care is taken to arrange connections with one or more faculty members who share interests. Faculty members are currently conducting social work research on: food security, youth and college sports, robotics and the elderly, religious congregations, kidney dialysis, refugee resettlement, community violence, interprofessional education, parenting children with autism, Buddhism and social work, and social entrepreneurship as well as research in more familiar social work settings such as child welfare, mental health, the military, criminal justice, and schools.

#27  University of Denver

Founded in 1968, GSSW’s PhD program is among the oldest social work doctoral programs in the nation. Doctoral students are encouraged to develop a solid understanding of the theories, social interventions and policies that guide research in their substantive area. The doctoral curriculum includes advanced content in theory, policy and research methodology. In consultation with faculty advisers, students develop a plan of study that includes required core courses and elective courses in their chosen substantive area of inquiry. Coursework for a full-time doctoral student is usually completed in two academic years. Before beginning the dissertation, students must successfully complete a comprehensive examination that demonstrates knowledge of theory, research and policy.

Most students are admitted to the program with a very competitive funding package that typically provides three years of financial support. A two-year graduate assistantship includes a living stipend, 100% tuition waiver and a health care subsidy. Students must have an applied research experience while enrolled in the program. This experience is generally obtained through a University of Denver graduate research assistantship or as a research assistant on a funded research project. Factors that set UD’s program apart: Excellent mentorship; Emphasis on collaboration; Strong foundation in theory; Strong commitment to social justice; Community-based research; Strong commitment to producing excellent teachers; Valuing different methodologies.

#28  University of Alabama

University of Alabama’s Social Work PhD program prepares leaders in social work scholarship, research, and teaching. The curriculum addresses theory, research methods, and the critical evaluation of social work policies and practice. Students in the PhD program benefit from small class sizes, a supportive learning environment and excellent resources. Located less than hour from the Birmingham metro area and surrounded by rural counties, UA’s School of Social Work is the destination for research focusing on: Disparities in health, services, and social policies; Economic and social barriers; Services to military families; Aging and end of life; and matters of racial and social justice. The mission of the University of Alabama’s social work PhD program is to prepare social work scholars who develop and disseminate knowledge.

Students receive three-years of funding, which includes tuition, health insurance, and a stipend. Some financial aid is also available from the School of Social Work, including the Ben Avis Orcutt and the Leslie J. Shellhase endowed scholarships, which are administered by the PhD program. Financial aid commonly takes the form of graduate teaching, research assistantships, special grants or fellowships. Earning a PhD in social work from UA prepares students to solve important social problems with research and to teach future social workers. Students gain knowledge in: Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methods; Statistics; Practice Theory; Social Welfare History and Policy; and Social Work Education. Faculty research areas include: Aging and End of Life; Child Maltreatment and Child Welfare; Health and Mental Health; International Social Work; and Social Welfare Policy.

#29  University of Minnesota

Established in 1946, UMN’s social work doctoral program is one of the oldest in the United States, and develops a mentoring partnership between nationally prominent faculty and students to promote knowledge and skills in theory development and community-based research. Graduates include internationally recognized scholars in diverse areas of study. Alumni go on to faculty and academic leadership roles in schools of social work around the world, as well as agency and program directors, and high-level servants in federal, state, and local government agencies. Faculty at UMN are highly productive. Students can collaborate with faculty and research and training centers to conduct, write, and publish research in child welfare, aging, adult mental health, violence prevention, and social services development and delivery.

The majority of students receive a three-year funding package which covers tuition, health insurance, and a stipend. Many students also secure dissertation fellowships, and the school helps many students secure assistantships for funding into their fourth and fifth years. Teaching and professional development is an emphasis of the program. Students gain skills in teaching and curriculum development. Graduates go on to faculty positions in universities and colleges. The school provides doctoral colloquia focusing both on current research and professional and career development. The school has a uniquely diverse student body. Graduate students come from Minnesota, across the nation, and from around the world, giving the learning and research experience depth and breadth in lived experiences and perspectives.

Program Website Offers combined Masters/PhD? On a limited basis Offers part-time option? No

#30  Indiana University (IUPUI)

Located in downtown Indianapolis on the campus of IUPUI, the doctoral program in Social Work from Indiana University graduates interprofessional scholars, educators, and leaders with cutting-edge theoretical and methodological expertise who advance social justice in a changing global landscape. Their mission is to prepare research-oriented scholars and innovative educators and leaders imbued with the knowledge, values, and skills necessary to advance health, well-being, and social and economic justice in a diverse world.  Advanced research and scholarship are woven through a comprehensive program to prepare students for leading roles in areas such as social work education, social welfare, policy analysis and development, administration, social work practice, and advocacy.

Tuition is waived for full-time doctoral students on Research Assistantships or Fellowships. University Fellowships grant students $22,500, plus $1,000 travel allowance, full tuition, and health insurance.  Primary areas of faculty research expertise include: mental health, racial and cultural diversity, gerontology, family and children services, juvenile corrections, and housing & health care. All Ph.D. students complete an External Minor in a department or school other than the School of Social Work. This enables students to tie their research interests to another academic discipline (e.g., African American Studies, Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Women’s Studies, etc.) and professional schools (e.g., Education, Public and Environmental Affairs, Medicine, Philanthropy, Nursing).

#31  University of Texas (Austin)

The PhD program in the Steve Hicks School of Social Work at The University of Texas at Austin prepares its graduates for successful academic careers as social work educators and researchers. The school’s unique setting provides the best in learning and living environments. Students have the advantages of a smaller learning community within a large, world-class, research-one university located in a city known for its vitality, music, creativity and laid-back style. The curriculum is practical to the skills that students need for future job prospects within academia. The curriculum includes course work, research and teaching experiences, an opportunity to master individualized content and original research, and chances to publish in leading journals.

The primary sources of financial support for PhD students are graduate teaching and research assistantships, graduate fellowships administered by the university, and financial aid administered by the Office of Student Financial Services. Faculty and staff provide career advice and specific coaching to develop interviewing skills and a competitive CV and portfolio for the academic job market. While in the program, students are personally mentored by world-renowned and interdisciplinary faculty. Working within any of UT Austin’s research institutes, students have numerous opportunities to develop research competencies while solving the critical social problems of the day. Finally, students gain teaching competencies through assistantships and opportunities to teach their own classes.

#32  University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign)

The PhD program in Social Work at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign equips students with tangible skills to use rigorous scientific methods to develop and disseminate knowledge, teach the next generation of social workers, and serve their communities. Grounded in social work values and related theories, the program’s social-justice oriented students are prepared for leadership roles in conducting high impact interdisciplinary work, educating students, and meeting the changing needs of a global social work landscape. PhD students conduct research and analyze policies on issues of importance to society, and will be prepared for university-level teaching and for social work research upon graduation. The School works closely with PhD graduates in pursuing job opportunities.

The School of Social Work has a competitive financial aid program which results in several of our students receiving some type of aid that does not have to be repaid. Included in the possibilities are grants, assistantships, fellowships, stipends, tuition waivers, and endowed awards. Financial aid is available on the basis of academic merit and experience and not financial need. Graduate Assistantship positions are for first year students only and include an in-state base rate tuition waiver, general fee waiver, and monthly stipend. Students typically work 10 or 20 hours per week while holding an assistantship position. Each entering doctoral student is assigned a faculty as her/his academic advisor. The assignment of a student’s advisor is based on the focus interests of the student and those of a faculty member.

#33  University of Tennessee

The goal of the doctoral program at UT Knoxville is to train researchers and teachers who can work in a variety of settings to develop and disseminate knowledge about interventions, programs, and policies that will be used by professional social workers. Students who go through the PhD program will receive extensive training in research methods and statistics and will critically examine issues relevant to social work practice at both the micro and macro levels. Students also gain extensive experience in effective college teaching, including online teaching and best practices for the use of technology in the classroom. Working closely with a faculty mentor, students will become thoroughly familiar with the professional literature in their selected area and will conduct empirical research that will contribute to the knowledge base of social work.

The PhD program faculty are dedicated to producing outstanding social work scholars and educators. The program is closely linked with the Center for Behavioral Health Research, a renowned and well-established center for social work research excellence (and a part of the College of Social Work). The Center works with faculty and PhD students on research in such areas as the structure and coordination of services, aggressive and antisocial youth, child welfare, and measurement and assessment. PhD students have multiple opportunities to publish research papers, make presentations at national conferences, and develop their skills as social work educators. Many graduates are now on the faculty of social work programs around the country and abroad. The school also has graduates working in such settings as psychiatric hospitals and state agencies.

#34  Rutgers University (New Brunswick)

The Ph.D. program in Social Work at Rutgers prepares students to assume positions of leadership in the field of social welfare. Graduates contribute to the knowledge base of social work and related fields as faculty, researchers, policy analysts, and executive administrators. The program aims to maximize student choice with regard to dissertation research studies. Students work with their advisors to assemble elective courses, research internships, and mentored research projects that will build a coherent body of knowledge and expertise in the student’s chosen area of interest. The distribution of PhD courses includes required, restricted choice electives, and free elective courses.

The Doctoral Program offers a range of possible funding packages to accepted students in need of financial aid. These may include full or partial tuition remission or other financial support. Qualified students may also be eligible for Graduate Assistantships which include full tuition and a stipend. Rutgers University provides merit-based financial aid to many of its doctoral students. Applicants to the PhD program in social work may qualify for teaching and research assistantships, or school-specific awards or tuition waivers. Students have the opportunity to choose from a range of courses in top ranked departments within the Graduate School.  Research Internships may be completed at university research institutes or with social work or social science faculty. Cross-registration may be arranged with Princeton University, New Brunswick Theological Seminary, or Robert Wood Johnson Medical Center.

#35  University at Albany (SUNY)

The doctoral program in Social Work at Albany is nationally renowned for studies on aging, children and families, diversity and minority health disparities, addictions, and mental health. Graduates and current students include leaders in state government, research institutes, and community-based agencies in the U.S. and around the world. The School’s faculty are nationally recognized, year in and year out, for their scholarship and productivity. The School’s unique location in New York’s Capital Region — the seat of government for one of America’s largest states — provides opportunities for policy and practice pilot programs that often inform services and laws. Recent studies have consistently ranked Albany among the top five schools in the country on measures of faculty productivity in research and scholarship.

Ph.D. students in social work collaborate with faculty of international reputation while conducting research in the areas that intrigue them most — anything from developmental disabilities to homeless GLBT youth. After graduation, they are in great demand as faculty, researchers, practice leaders, and initiators of social welfare policy, as well as in other capacities.  The curriculum is designed to accomplish three objectives: To enable students to acquire a core of advanced knowledge of social work practice theory, social policy, research methods, and statistics; To permit students to obtain specialized knowledge in areas of their own choosing; and to facilitate the contribution of students to knowledge-building and education in social work and social welfare.

#36  University of Houston

The GCSW at UH is committed to preparing the next generation of social work scholars for faculty appointments in schools of social work or for high level positions in research. As students progress through the doctoral program, they identify, develop and pursue an area of research that prepares them to contribute to scholarship and advance the knowledge base of social work. The curriculum is oriented towards evidence-based social work (EBSW) so that students are trained to generate and use valid research evidence to inform the decisions social workers make at all levels of practice and policy. By training students in EBSW, we increase the capacity of the profession to build interdisciplinary partnerships in both research and practice. The GCSW provides the kind of personal attention that enables students to succeed in their doctoral education.

Research Assistantships and Teaching Fellowships/Instructional Assistantships  are awarded to Ph.D. students on a competitive basis.  Through their teaching and advisement, the GCSW faculty share their knowledge and social work values with students. By emphasizing scholarship and research, GCSW faculty help students engage in critical thinking and intellectual discovery. Houston is the fourth largest city in the United States with many diverse, multicultural populations. The Texas Medical Center, located in the heart of Houston, is one of the largest medical complexes in the world. As such, the greater Houston area offers doctoral students a vast array of opportunities for research activities. The program offers small classes, individualized studies with faculty members, training workshops, research internships and a doctoral publication that is managed by the doctoral students.

#37  University of Connecticut

UConn’s Social Work PhD program prepares scholars and researchers to serve as faculty members in higher education and as leaders in human service organizations and research centers. The curriculum offered reflects the powerful role research plays in relation to applied social work practice and knowledge building. Nine core courses provide students with competency in advanced research methods and statistics, and social science theories. Doctoral students are expected to attain mastery of critical thinking and logic of inquiry skills focused on specific social work research methods, statistical analysis, social welfare history and philosophy, social policy analysis, theories of human behavior and social environment, and social work practice theories. The PhD program curriculum is comprised of: Core curriculum; Dissertation preparation; and Electives.

Several characteristics distinguish UConn’s program: A proven record of equipping students with the necessary knowledge base and research skills to develop their own research in their area of interest; Courses and advising are provided by outstanding scholars, researchers and leaders in the profession; A community of supportive mentors, distinguished faculty, and peers; Opportunities to teach in the MSW program and participate in the Teaching Preparation Program, including Teaching Seminars; and opportunities to serve as Research Assistants on faculty-led research; The School is an academic unit of UConn which is ranked among the top 20 public universities nationally and the highest ranked in New England; Graduates serve as faculty members in Schools of Social Work across the country and as researchers and leaders in public and private agencies.

#38  University of Illinois Chicago

The mission of the UIC Jane Addams College of Social Work is to educate professional social workers, develop knowledge, and provide leadership in the development and implementation of policies and services on behalf of the poor, the oppressed, racial and ethnic minorities, and other at-risk urban populations. Consistent with this mission and Jane Addams’ Hull House tradition, the PhD Program in Social Work responds to the urgent demand for more effective human services, the need for changes in social policy and the growth in social work education at all levels. The program is designed to support the development of scholars of social and economic justice, providing students with the knowledge and skills for advancing social work treatment theory and research and for development and direction of social welfare programs.

Students fund their education in a number of ways including: University-based Fellowships; JACSW-based Research Assistantships; Faculty-grant-based Research Assistantships; Teaching Assistantships; and Tuition Waivers. The program provides for two broad research tracks: social planning, policy and administration, and social work practice scholarship within which a more specialized area of individualized study is selected. Most graduates of the program either teach in colleges and universities or hold positions as agency executives. Smaller numbers are working in research positions, with a very few in direct practice. Current research includes: Systems and communities support of youth within the juvenile justice system; domestic minor sex trafficking in Chicago; and the well-being of African American males and their families, among many others.

#39  Saint Louis University

The Ph.D. in social work program at SLU provides a solid foundation for an academic career or as a social work research scientist in practice or policy settings. The program has a strong interdisciplinary and methodological orientation. SLU’s School of Social Work’s interactive teaching methods integrate community-based practice with classroom activities and discussions. Small class sizes facilitate an atmosphere of intellectual dialogue that fosters relationships between students and faculty. SLU’s Ph.D. in social work requires 72 credit hours and offers rigorous methodological and interdisciplinary training for social workers and related professionals.

New and continuing students are eligible for merit-based scholarships. Newly accepted master’s or doctoral students and students in the first year of a program are eligible to apply for the Diversity, Dissertation and Presidential university-funded fellowships. Students are also able to apply for a full or partial graduate assistantship with the School of Social Work. Building on the foundations of required coursework, students develop an individualized plan of study that will meet their intellectual and professional requirements. These concentrations consist mainly of elected coursework and participation in mentored research. Students also complete a dissertation project corresponding with their educational and professional goals.

#40  Portland State University

The Ph.D. Program in Social Work at Portland State admitted its first cohort in 1992, and since then doctoral graduates have been hired into tenure-track academic positions in universities across the country. Many conduct research as principal investigators on major research projects, and others hold leadership roles in diverse communities and at social service organizations. All coursework is built through a focused social justice lens. The program teaches students to recognize and interrupt the expression or perpetuation of privilege, discrimination, inequality, and structural systems of oppression. The program is rigorous, relevant, and responsive to the future of social work education and scholarship and continues its focus on the promotion of social and economic justice for the improvement of communities.

The Ph.D. Program guides students to build mentor/mentee relationships with doctoral faculty throughout the various phases of study, and to build collegial relationships among fellow students. All graduates will learn how to promote justice and equity through critically informed research, teaching, and action. The School’s commitment to cutting edge research is at the heart of the program. It is all about turning research into action for the people and communities students serve. Doctoral students work with senior researchers at PSU’s three nationally recognized research centers: the Regional Research Institute for Human Services; the Center for Improvement of Child and Family Services; and the Center for Interdisciplinary Mentoring Research.

#41  University of Missouri

The University of Missouri School of Social Work PhD program is nationally distinct in its interdisciplinary emphasis, theory-driven research, community-based collaborative research, and student-faculty collaborative research. The program’s purpose is to produce researchers who investigate social problems and disseminate research knowledge, as well as to produce high quality social work educators. It also prepares graduates with the highest level of knowledge and skills needed to inform policy making, program development and evaluation, and research on clinical practice issues. The School is also a member of the St. Louis Group for Excellence in Social Work Research and Education, an elite group of research oriented schools of social work. The goal of the PhD program is to prepare students for excellence and leadership in social work research and teaching.

A number of scholarships are available to qualified students based on private philanthropy of donors who have established endowments in support of the School. One of the strengths of the program is that students have opportunities for collaborative research and teaching with other disciplines across campus, such as family and community medicine, health sciences, nursing, public health, women’s and gender studies, interdisciplinary research centers, and others. Frequently, such collaboration makes an important contribution to student success in the program. Doctoral faculty are dedicated to producing outstanding researchers and educators. They encourage students to publish papers in refereed journals, make presentations at regional and national conferences, and have teaching opportunities while in the program.

#42  University of Utah

Utah’s PhD Program in Social Work balances theory-driven research based on strong methodological and analytic skills. Graduates are prepared to be productive researchers and skilled teachers in prominent schools of social work, and the school offers competitive support for qualifying students. Designed for students to obtain their degree in three to five academic years, the first part of the program consists of core doctoral coursework, including epistemology, statistics, systematic reviews, and qualitative and quantitative methods, as well as substantive elective classes, followed by independent research culminating in the dissertation process. Coursework in the interdisciplinary program promotes strong critical and inter-professional thinking, and integrative, evidence-based approaches to social problems, drawing from a solid social science theory base.

Research and teaching assistantship opportunities are available at the College of Social Work. PhD students find that working in the Social Research Institute, Goodwill Initiatives on Aging, Center on Mindfulness and Integrative Health Intervention Development (C-MIIND) or the Utah Criminal Justice Center offers critical career and scholarship enhancement. These institutes sponsor grant-funded research and demonstration projects regarding such issues as child welfare practice and cross-system reforms, juvenile and criminal justice reforms, aging, mental health, the challenges faced by welfare families, substance involved families, and services for persons with disabilities. Students learn foundational skills of research and scholarship while specializing in individualized areas of substantive interest. Doctoral students at the University of Utah collaborate extensively with their faculty mentors to graduate with a balanced portfolio that demonstrates excellence in both teaching and research publication.

#43  Fordham University (New York)

Fordham University’s PhD in Social Work program empowers students to be leaders of change in education, research and organizations. Their accredited integrated curriculum allows students to focus on social work practice or policy and implementation, while also concentrating on a specific field such as gerontology, children and family services, and health or mental health. From the campus at Lincoln Center, the unparalleled diversity of the New York metropolitan area offers unique opportunities for students to collaborate with faculty in research, training, and educational projects while earning their PhD in Social Work. Students must identify an area of study in which to specialize – social policy or social work practice. Each area of specialization consists of courses focusing on the specialization in social policy or social work practice after foundation courses are completed.

Up to two Rogler Doctoral Fellowships will be available during the each academic year. This two-year, pre-dissertation social work fellowship is available for students in need of scholarships who plan to examine Latino/Hispanic-related topics in their dissertation. The fellowship provides a stipend to support student’s progress in the program. Hallmarks of the program include: Specializations in practice or policy development and implementation; Focus on areas of concentration in gerontology, children and families, and mental health; Close collaboration with a faculty of skilled educators and researchers; Flexible scheduling and student-centered plans of study—including part-time and full-time—to fit students’ needs; and opportunities to teach in the MSW program.

#44  Simmons College

The Ph.D. in social work is designed for experienced practitioners to develop applied scientific methodological skills and to improve the health and wellbeing of individuals and populations. The Ph.D. program prepares students to become talented and effective educators. They receive formal training in the pedagogy of adult learning — in the classroom and through a teaching practicum — and are offered opportunities to teach with our seasoned professors. There is substantial interest in combining education in social work with education in public health. Faculty and staff at the Simmons School of Social Work (SSW) and faculty at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health will collaborate with interested students to facilitate such an opportunity.

Interdisciplinary Social Work/Public Health Training Opportunity with the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the Simmons College School of Social Work provides highly qualified M.S.W. and Ph.D. students with the opportunity to combine the applied clinical expertise of a social work degree with comprehensive scientific public health training. Graduates of each of these degree programs enter the workforce with advanced skills to address health and mental health needs of diverse populations. Career paths include program and policy development, administration, and evaluation in international and domestic organizations. Potential employers include NGOs, departments of health, humanitarian agencies, advocacy coalitions, hospitals, and health-care organizations.

#45  University of Kentucky

The Ph.D. program in social work at Kentucky is designed to develop highly-skilled research scholars who will make meaningful contributions to the advancement of scientific knowledge. Through small group seminars and hands-on collaboration with nationally and internationally renowned scholars, students are immersed in the important and challenging work of advancing the profession’s knowledge base. The program provides graduates the knowledge and skills to become successful social work scholars and educators. Faculty members are affiliated with such prominent UK centers as: The Training Resource Center; Center on Drug and Alcohol Research; and the Center on Trauma and Children. Students work with faculty mentors within the college and university in such areas as health and mental health, substance abuse, international social work, social work education, child welfare, criminal justice, military social work, gerontology, suicidology, macro-level interventions, and others.

A fellowship (stipend plus tuition and health insurance) is funded in part by Bill Beaven of Eidetik, Inc. Applicants for this competitive fellowship with an interest in developmental disabilities or aging will be given special consideration. The doctoral curriculum provides students with the skills to critically analyze the state of the art in social work knowledge, to develop theory-informed research questions, and to design and implement scientific procedures to find answers to advance the knowledge base. Students also hone their skills as educators through a mentored teaching experience across their course of study. Students work with faculty from Education, Public Health, Family Science, and others. There is a strong emphasis on students acquiring the research competencies needed to conduct research and publish their scholarship. At the same time, students learn how to become top-notch educators through teaching assistantships, teaching practica, and a course in teaching.

#46  University of Georgia

The University of Georgia School of Social Work Ph.D. Program, founded in 1990, has a two-fold primary emphasis: producing scholars who have the capacity to work interdisciplinarily through an epistemologically diverse, research-intensive program of study; and preparing tomorrow’s social work educators through instruction in sound pedagogical practice and opportunities for mentored experiential learning. The University of Georgia is committed to a vigorous public service tradition — a tradition the Ph.D. program upholds by recruitment of a diverse student body; focus on community-engaged scholarship informed by cultural humility to address persistent and emerging inequities through socially just research, with implications for practice, policy, and education; and the development of leadership skills for careers in academic, public, and private settings.

Students admitted as prospective candidates in full time study are generally offered graduate assistantship funding. Recipients are selected through a competitive process, and assistantships are awarded only to the University’s most qualified individuals to aid them in their pursuit of study or research. UGA offers: An emphasis on community-engaged scholarship; A sustained commitment to social justice; A diverse student body; Excellent financial support in the form of research and teaching assistantships; Opportunities for interdisciplinary scholarship within a robust program of study; A rich and nurturing research environment; Nationally and internationally recognized faculty with innovative and expansive areas of expertise; Opportunities to participate in faculty driven and independent research and publish in top tier refereed journals; and Multiple graduate certificate opportunities, including gerontology, women’s studies, qualitative studies, quantitative methods, and nonprofit leadership.

#47  Smith College

Smith’s Ph.D. program prepares advanced clinical scholars and practitioners to contribute to knowledge about clinical social work theory and practice. Students are trained to be leaders in education, research and scholarship, as well as clinical supervisors, consultants and advanced practitioners. Ph.D. students take specialized courses in teaching philosophy and methods to help them prepare for academic careers. The program also encourages all doctoral students not already employed in social work education to engage in some form of clinical teaching—in the classroom, in an agency, as a supervisor or as a consultant—as part of the course of study. Typically students take on this work during the second internship or the final summer of on-campus study, and they are mentored by an adviser or by individual faculty members.

All students and applicants are invited to submit an application for financial aid to the School. Need-based financial aid for Ph.D. students is extremely limited and awarded to the most needy doctoral students. The Ph.D. program invites students to: Prepare to contribute to the development and dissemination of knowledge about clinical social work practice; Learn to design and undertake research and scholarship on clinical practice; Advance their capacity for critical thinking in relation to the knowledge, values and skills relevant to the practice of clinical social work and research on clinical practice; Refine and further develop their clinical skills in order to achieve and conceptualize an advanced level of clinical and research competence; and hone leadership skills that will help students promote the social work profession’s commitment to social justice and to serving diverse, vulnerable and oppressed populations.

#48  Wayne State University

For over 75 years, the School of Social Work at Wayne State University has been recognized nationally as a leader in producing highly competent practitioners as well as for developing innovative models in social work practice and social work education. Building on this rich tradition, the purpose of the Ph.D. and certificate programs are to prepare social work scholars equipped to engage in research on contemporary urban issues and problems for the advancement of social work practice and social welfare policy. Our students are preparing to assume leadership positions as social work educators, researchers, and agency administrators. At the time of admission, all students select from two concentrations: Policy and Practice, or Clinical Scholarship, both of which require intensive courses in research and theory. Policy and practice students complete courses in a cognate that include coursework outside of the School of Social Work. Clinical scholarship students complete advanced coursework in clinical theory and advanced practice.

To encourage talented students to continue their education at Wayne State’s School of Social Work, the school offers scholarships and financial aid. Private scholarships, loans, grants, fellowships and other forms of financial aid are available on a limited basis to students enrolled in the School of Social Work. In addition to electing a concentration, students may also choose to elect a dual title degree in Infant Mental Health or Gerontology. The School also provides an interdisciplinary degree program in Social Work and Anthropology (SWAN). The first two years of graduate study for full-time students are focused on core coursework in statistics, research methods, and social work theory at the Micro, Mezzo, and Macro levels. These courses provide a foundation for PhD-level knowledge and skills, and are assessed through qualifying exams in these core curricular areas.

#49  Hunter College (CUNY)

The Ph.D. Program in Social Welfare is guided by the past achievements and future aspirations of the human services professions. On one hand, the program remains committed to social work’s historic role in developing effective change strategies at the individual, agency, community, national, and international levels. On the other hand, the program strives to produce scholars who are expert in using research to answer leading edge, practice-relevant questions of the future. As a result, graduates successfully compete for academic positions in public and private universities and occupy influential positions in social service agencies and foundations. The program does not privilege any particular research methodology or approach. Instead, the school offer courses in both quantitative and qualitative methods and analysis and encourage students to deepen their research skills through elective courses in advanced and mixed methods.

Faculty members are experts in a wide range of social problem areas such as child welfare, aging, public education, entitlement services, criminal justice, health care, and mental health. Faculty and students are fully engaged in the policy and practice issues of the day, and student scholarship explores social welfare concerns that emerge from their own experiences in the field. Within this shared devotion to enquiry and social problem solving, the faculty is committed to mentoring students in all aspects of the craft of social research. Learning Goals include: Broad and Specialized Knowledge in the Discipline; Oral and Written Communication Skills, Other Skills, and Experience Appropriate to the Discipline; Professional Ethics; and A Substantial and Original Contribution to Their Field.

#50  Adelphi University

The Adelphi University School of Social Work Ph.D. program expands students’ capacities to conceptualize, develop, evaluate and disseminate knowledge of the problems that impact the human condition—and strategies designed to change those conditions. In becoming social work scholars, students must develop a critical and sophisticated understanding of the historical, global, national and community forces that shape contemporary human experience and social work practice. The Adelphi doctorate in Social Work curriculum is grounded in an evolving knowledge base, and fosters the critical thinking that will prepare students for leadership in the development of knowledge for all levels of social work practice.

The program’s classes are small and supportive, whether they’re taught in a traditional classroom setting or online. The curriculum is challenging, but the schedule is not — faculty teach at multiple locations in convenient formats. Faculty members are engaged social work scholars with extensive teaching experience. They’re also recognized leaders in their respective fields. The program offers students a part-time and full-time option. In the part-time option, students take two courses per semester on one afternoon and evening a week for eight semesters. Students who have completed the first two years of study with a minimum grade point average of 3.3 are eligible to take qualifying examinations based on their first two years (eight courses and 24 credits) of course work. If they pass all four examinations, they may proceed with the remaining eight courses and development of a proposal for their dissertations.

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Doctor of Philosophy

NYU Silver School of Social Work’s PhD program prepares students to become leading researchers and educators in the promotion of social justice and the health and well-being of marginalized communities nationally and globally.

Our intensive doctoral training competitively positions graduates for top-tier academic and research opportunities—such as faculty positions at leading research universities—cultivating the next wave of independent investigators, scholars, and social work leaders. Building on Silver’s nationally recognized strength in intervention and implementation research and our focus on addressing inequities, the PhD program prepares students to make their own unique contributions to the field of social welfare. 

Our rigorous coursework educates students in classic and contemporary theory, cutting-edge quantitative, qualitative and mixed methodologies, and specialized learning in their substantive areas. The opportunity to take electives within the larger university allows students to explore further their areas and methodologies in an interdisciplinary classroom. NYU Silver also prepares students to be educators through training, including in anti-racist pedagogies, and hands-on experience teaching BSW and MSW level courses.

At the heart of our program is the mentored research practicum offering students the opportunity to put their learning into practice. NYU Silver PhD students are paired from day one with a research mentor as part of our  personalized mentoring program , helping them develop competencies in core research, scholarship, and teaching areas.  NYU Silver  Faculty  are renowned for their expertise in several key research areas, including racial and social justice, behavioral health services, child welfare, and aging. Being part of a large Global Network University and located in the diverse and dynamic city of New York, NYU Silver offers an unparalleled environment for the study of areas critical to local, national and global well-being. 

In fact, PhD Program Director Dr.  Rohini Pahwa was recently awarded a  five-year, $3.1 million grant from the National Institute of Mental Health  to gain insight into the factors that influence the social networks and and mental health services use of Black and Latinx people with serious mental illnesses. 

Associate Professor of Social Work and PhD Program Director

“I chose NYU Silver for my PhD . . .

because of the program’s emphasis on preparing students to become leading researchers and educators in the health and well-being of marginalized communities and in the promotion of social justice.”

Sabrina Cluesman, PhD candidate and recipient of a NIDA Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (F31)

In an Emerati Women’s Day video from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Embassy in Washington, DC, PhD student  Layla Al Neyadi  discusses her inspiration to seek her degree at NYU Silver and her aspiration to improve mental health policy and services for her fellow Emiratis:

Please email the doctoral program office or call (212) 998-5941 for additional information.

Social Work Graduate Programs in America

1-25 of 310 results

University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy & Practice

Philadelphia, PA •

University of Pennsylvania •

Graduate School

• • Rating 3.89 out of 5   9 reviews

Master's Student: The school offers so many resources for their students. My cohort is really small, which pairs big campus amenities with a closer student professor relationship. ... Read 9 reviews

Blue checkmark.

University of Pennsylvania ,

Graduate School ,

PHILADELPHIA, PA ,

9 Niche users give it an average review of 3.9 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says The school offers so many resources for their students. My cohort is really small, which pairs big campus amenities with a closer student professor relationship. .

Read 9 reviews.

Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis

St. Louis, MO •

Washington University in St. Louis •

• • Rating 3.59 out of 5   17 reviews

Master's Student: In my opinion, the foundation courses are quite repetitive and redundant. However, the faculty really knows their stuff and I am finding the concentration courses much more engaging! ... Read 17 reviews

Washington University in St. Louis ,

ST. LOUIS, MO ,

17 Niche users give it an average review of 3.6 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says In my opinion, the foundation courses are quite repetitive and redundant. However, the faculty really knows their stuff and I am finding the concentration courses much more engaging! .

Read 17 reviews.

Social Sciences Division - University of Chicago

Chicago, IL •

University of Chicago •

• • Rating 3.75 out of 5   4 reviews

Master's Student: The University of Chicago offers many clubs you can attend. Do to COIVD most of the clubs meet online and some in person one day out of the week. There's boxing, archery, fencing, and one of my personal favorites ju-jutsu, just to name a few. These sports are completive but they also have clubs that are just for fun and any body of any skill level can join. There is also this amazing climbing wall in the recreation center but we are not allowed to climb it at the moment because of COVID restrictions. It's also convent to be surrounded by hospitals (Rush and UIC). I got hurt while I was at school, I broke my arm, and I did not have to call on anyone to take me to the hospital, I could just walk. The food is okay and you get to chose from a good selection of things. The rooms where a nice size and most of the students were so friendly it was easy to make friends. ... Read 4 reviews

University of Chicago ,

CHICAGO, IL ,

4 Niche users give it an average review of 3.8 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says The University of Chicago offers many clubs you can attend. Do to COIVD most of the clubs meet online and some in person one day out of the week. There's boxing, archery, fencing, and one of my... .

Read 4 reviews.

Miami University - College of Education, Health, and Society

Miami University •

Graduate School •

• • Rating 5 out of 5   1

University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work

University of Pittsburgh •

PITTSBURGH, PA

• • Rating 3.9 out of 5   10

Miami University

• • Rating 4.56 out of 5   25

Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work

Los Angeles, CA •

University of Southern California •

• • Rating 4.56 out of 5   25 reviews

Master's Student: I was disappointed to see that many scholarship programs funded by the school weren't available for my specific department regarding my field hours I would be completing in my 2nd year. I'm worried since I work full time and am the main financial provider for my family, but I am really excited about getting experience in my community! I have loved going to campus and meeting new people, especially since they live near LA, and they also want to make new friends to attend football games etc. I got involved in the Latinx Caucus of Social Work, this has given me the opportunity to start connecting more in my community and other students to feel welcomed and involved as well. I will be planning events on campus and outreaching to local non-university related members to increase education and be a resource. I have to explore more but it's not far from home so I love that :) ... Read 25 reviews

University of Southern California ,

LOS ANGELES, CA ,

25 Niche users give it an average review of 4.6 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says I was disappointed to see that many scholarship programs funded by the school weren't available for my specific department regarding my field hours I would be completing in my 2nd year. I'm worried... .

Read 25 reviews.

University of Michigan School of Social Work

Ann Arbor, MI •

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor •

• • Rating 4.17 out of 5   12 reviews

Master's Student: The MSW program is so accessible and helpful. There is always someone available to help you on your entire journey. And there is the accelerated program option, which I am participating in. It allows you to graduate in as little at 16 months. ... Read 12 reviews

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor ,

ANN ARBOR, MI ,

12 Niche users give it an average review of 4.2 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says The MSW program is so accessible and helpful. There is always someone available to help you on your entire journey. And there is the accelerated program option, which I am participating in. It allows... .

Read 12 reviews.

Luskin School of Public Affairs

University of California - Los Angeles •

• • Rating 3.33 out of 5   3 reviews

Master's Student: I really love this program. The field education gives students a great glimpse into the field while being heavily supported by faculty and instructors. Faculty here really is amazing, as are the students and their passions. ... Read 3 reviews

University of California - Los Angeles ,

3 Niche users give it an average review of 3.3 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says I really love this program. The field education gives students a great glimpse into the field while being heavily supported by faculty and instructors. Faculty here really is amazing, as are the... .

Read 3 reviews.

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UC Berkeley School of Social Welfare

Berkeley, CA •

University of California - Berkeley •

• • Rating 4 out of 5   2 reviews

Master's Student: The academics at UC Berkeley's MSW program was excellent. I was sufficiently challenged and educated and I truly believe that I left the program well prepared to succeed in the social work field. I have observed that I have a similar knowledge base to that of my peers in my recent work environments. I find myself well equipped to operationalize my learning and adapt to new situations in my field. If I were to recommend the UC Berkeley MSW program, it would be for the rigorous academic experience incoming students will receive. ... Read 2 reviews

University of California - Berkeley ,

BERKELEY, CA ,

2 Niche users give it an average review of 4 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says The academics at UC Berkeley's MSW program was excellent. I was sufficiently challenged and educated and I truly believe that I left the program well prepared to succeed in the social work field. I... .

Read 2 reviews.

School of Social Work - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC •

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill •

• • Rating 5 out of 5   3 reviews

Master's Student: I am in their online Master of Public Administration (MPA) program pursuing a concentration in nonprofit management. I love how applicable the curriculum is, how even though it's online, the work feels diverse and engaging, and most of the professors are very knowledgeable, kind, helpful, and make the classes fun and applicable to the real world. The class sizes are small, so I'm getting to know other students and still have some sense of community despite not being on campus. My advisors and other faculty have always gone the extra mile to answer my questions and make sure I am having a worthwhile experience. So far, I cannot speak highly enough of this program. It's been a great fit for me and the flexibility to go at my own pace is so helpful as I also work full-time and have other commitments and responsibilities. ... Read 3 reviews

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ,

CHAPEL HILL, NC ,

3 Niche users give it an average review of 5 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says I am in their online Master of Public Administration (MPA) program pursuing a concentration in nonprofit management. I love how applicable the curriculum is, how even though it's online, the work... .

Silver School of Social Work

New York, NY •

New York University •

• • Rating 4.4 out of 5   10 reviews

Alum: Completing the Extended program at NYU Silver School of Social Work was an exceptional experience that provided me with valuable learning opportunities. The program had a strong emphasis on social inclusion and clinical social work development, which helped me grow both academically and personally. I felt a sense of belonging to a supportive community throughout my time in the program, and this made it an enriching educational experience. I would highly recommend this program to anyone looking for a fulfilling and rewarding educational journey. Overall, the program exceeded my expectations and has equipped me with the knowledge and skills needed to excel in my career. ... Read 10 reviews

New York University ,

NEW YORK, NY ,

10 Niche users give it an average review of 4.4 stars.

Featured Review: Alum says Completing the Extended program at NYU Silver School of Social Work was an exceptional experience that provided me with valuable learning opportunities. The program had a strong emphasis on social... .

Read 10 reviews.

Boston College School of Social Work

Chestnut Hill, MA •

Boston College •

Master's Student: The School of Social Work fosters a welcoming place where students can further develop their academic interests as well as actively prepare us for the workforce as culturally humble social workers. ... Read 2 reviews

Boston College ,

CHESTNUT HILL, MA ,

Featured Review: Master's Student says The School of Social Work fosters a welcoming place where students can further develop their academic interests as well as actively prepare us for the workforce as culturally humble social workers. .

Steve Hicks School of Social Work

Austin, TX •

University of Texas - Austin •

University of Texas - Austin ,

AUSTIN, TX ,

School of Social Work - Boston University

Boston, MA •

Boston University •

• • Rating 4.23 out of 5   22 reviews

Alum: I completed an off campus master of social work program. It was incredible. I would recommend it for graduate students who may be working full time, need flexibility, and unable to make it to Boston. ... Read 22 reviews

Boston University ,

BOSTON, MA ,

22 Niche users give it an average review of 4.2 stars.

Featured Review: Alum says I completed an off campus master of social work program. It was incredible. I would recommend it for graduate students who may be working full time, need flexibility, and unable to make it to Boston. .

Read 22 reviews.

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Smith College

Northampton, MA •

• • Rating 4.27 out of 5   11 reviews

Master's Student: Smith College not only offers a full time student stipend ($21,000/year) and tuition waiver (valued ~ $35,000) for the Biological Sciences department, but you are able to pull from resources within a neighboring R1 institution: University of Massachusetts Amherst. Research experiences vary based on the selected advisor, but Smith maintains a cutting-edge genomics facility and nearly limitless resources as a well-endowed college. Faculty maintain impressive accolades and are easily reachable, as a leader in my lab, I've learned about lab management, lab training, grant writing, and the nuances behind lab operations. I've worked collaboratively with researchers at UMass and felt that my experience at Smith has been one of growth. I feel confidently in my abilities and that I am a very desirable candidate in the biotech industry after receiving my MS degree. ... Read 11 reviews

NORTHAMPTON, MA ,

11 Niche users give it an average review of 4.3 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says Smith College not only offers a full time student stipend ($21,000/year) and tuition waiver (valued ~ $35,000) for the Biological Sciences department, but you are able to pull from resources within a... .

Read 11 reviews.

School of Social Work - UW-Madison

Madison, WI •

University of Wisconsin •

Master's Student: I got accepted to the accelerated Master of Social Work program. The accelerated program allows you to complete the program in one year. I start this fall and am excited to get started! ... Read 9 reviews

University of Wisconsin ,

MADISON, WI ,

Featured Review: Master's Student says I got accepted to the accelerated Master of Social Work program. The accelerated program allows you to complete the program in one year. I start this fall and am excited to get started! .

University of Illinois School of Social Work

Urbana, IL •

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign •

• • Rating 4 out of 5   3 reviews

Master's Student: The professors are knowledgeable about their subjects and as they work in the field and teach they are all e to offer additional insights and understanding to the material. If you are a student working in a related field while taking classes the subject matter can often be applied to your job right away. ... Read 3 reviews

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign ,

URBANA, IL ,

3 Niche users give it an average review of 4 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says The professors are knowledgeable about their subjects and as they work in the field and teach they are all e to offer additional insights and understanding to the material. If you are a student... .

University of Georgia School of Social Work

Athens, GA •

University of Georgia •

• • Rating 4 out of 5   8 reviews

Master's Student: The coursework was/is engaging and extremely useful. There is a requirement to complete two practicums that allowed you (me) to hone in skills that were/are relevant to the social work field. The progression of coursework allowed me to build upon my skills with each class. My challenge has always been statistics, however, my then professor assisted me in understanding, so I made a 'B'. ... Read 8 reviews

University of Georgia ,

ATHENS, GA ,

8 Niche users give it an average review of 4 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says The coursework was/is engaging and extremely useful. There is a requirement to complete two practicums that allowed you (me) to hone in skills that were/are relevant to the social work field. The... .

Read 8 reviews.

Bryn Mawr College Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research

Bryn Mawr, PA •

Bryn Mawr College •

• • Rating 4.8 out of 5   5 reviews

Master's Student: The best part of my experience so far has been the atmosphere. Everyone is extremely welcoming and always asks how I am doing. I have yet to have a bad experience with any of my professors and fellow classmates. ... Read 5 reviews

Bryn Mawr College ,

BRYN MAWR, PA ,

5 Niche users give it an average review of 4.8 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says The best part of my experience so far has been the atmosphere. Everyone is extremely welcoming and always asks how I am doing. I have yet to have a bad experience with any of my professors and fellow... .

Read 5 reviews.

BYU College of Family, Home, and Social Sciences

Provo, UT •

Brigham Young University •

• • Rating 5 out of 5   2 reviews

Master's Student: I will be starting the EMPA program at Brigham Young University this fall, and have been so impressed with the communications I have received as a new grad student. BYU's faculty have been professional, welcoming, and enthusiastic, which has inspired an excitement in me to begin studying. ... Read 2 reviews

Brigham Young University ,

PROVO, UT ,

2 Niche users give it an average review of 5 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says I will be starting the EMPA program at Brigham Young University this fall, and have been so impressed with the communications I have received as a new grad student. BYU's faculty have been... .

Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences

Cleveland, OH •

Case Western Reserve University •

Master's Student: it is a great school, very supportive and lives up to its reputation. the classes are small and engaging and the students are helpful. faculty is great as well. i really enjoy the classes i am taking and have learned a lot. i really enjoy going to this school! ... Read 3 reviews

Case Western Reserve University ,

CLEVELAND, OH ,

Featured Review: Master's Student says it is a great school, very supportive and lives up to its reputation. the classes are small and engaging and the students are helpful. faculty is great as well. i really enjoy the classes i am taking... .

Tulane University School of Social Work

New Orleans, LA •

Tulane University •

• • Rating 4.56 out of 5   9 reviews

Master's Student: The program has been great so far. The professors are helpful and understanding of each student's learning capabilities. They have been very professional throughout my matriculation. However, the program as a whole is very rigid. They are not understanding of outside commitments and expect you to be nothing other than a student. While this attitude might be acceptable as an undergrad professor, it is not as a graduate one because of the demographic of students who are being taught. Many of us are parents, full-time workers, among other things. While school is very important it is certainly not the only thing in our lives. ... Read 9 reviews

Tulane University ,

NEW ORLEANS, LA ,

9 Niche users give it an average review of 4.6 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says The program has been great so far. The professors are helpful and understanding of each student's learning capabilities. They have been very professional throughout my matriculation. However, the... .

College of Education and Human Development - University of Minnesota Twin Cities

Minneapolis, MN •

University of Minnesota Twin Cities •

• • Rating 4.33 out of 5   3 reviews

Alum: This is a well-known school for education. They are on top of the latest research and development in the field and share this knowledge with their students. The school has its own lab school for early childhood development where students are able to observe child behavior, learn hands-on how to connect and make meaningful relationships with children, and how to conduct basic research. ... Read 3 reviews

University of Minnesota Twin Cities ,

MINNEAPOLIS, MN ,

3 Niche users give it an average review of 4.3 stars.

Featured Review: Alum says This is a well-known school for education. They are on top of the latest research and development in the field and share this knowledge with their students. The school has its own lab school for... .

University of Washington School of Social Work

Seattle, WA •

University of Washington •

• • Rating 2 out of 5   1 review

University of Washington ,

SEATTLE, WA ,

1 Niche users give it an average review of 2 stars.

Read 1 reviews.

The Ohio State University College of Social Work

Columbus, OH •

The Ohio State University •

• • Rating 3.57 out of 5   7 reviews

Master's Student: I completed my undergraduate degree and loved the campus. Because of that, I wanted to come back to OSU for graduate school. I still love being on campus but I am not there often as I take my courses online now. ... Read 7 reviews

The Ohio State University ,

COLUMBUS, OH ,

7 Niche users give it an average review of 3.6 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says I completed my undergraduate degree and loved the campus. Because of that, I wanted to come back to OSU for graduate school. I still love being on campus but I am not there often as I take my courses... .

Read 7 reviews.

College of Humanities and Social Sciences - NC State University

Raleigh, NC •

North Carolina State University •

• • Rating 5 out of 5   1 review

Graduate Student: NC State's MSW program will prepare you to handle a wide variety of social work careers. The professors are amazing and teach students how to engage in various social justice activities on multiple levels. This grad program was an excellent career decision. ... Read 1 review

North Carolina State University ,

RALEIGH, NC ,

1 Niche users give it an average review of 5 stars.

Featured Review: Graduate Student says NC State's MSW program will prepare you to handle a wide variety of social work careers. The professors are amazing and teach students how to engage in various social justice activities on multiple... .

Pittsburgh, PA •

• • Rating 3.9 out of 5   10 reviews

Alum: Let me put it this way - I spent at least the first year of grad school crying about the realities of oppression I was learning about. My social work education changed my life, and I do attribute that to the academic rigor at Pitt. ... Read 10 reviews

University of Pittsburgh ,

PITTSBURGH, PA ,

10 Niche users give it an average review of 3.9 stars.

Featured Review: Alum says Let me put it this way - I spent at least the first year of grad school crying about the realities of oppression I was learning about. My social work education changed my life, and I do attribute... .

Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania

SHIPPENSBURG, PA

• • Rating 4.86 out of 5   14

Erikson Institute

CHICAGO, IL

• • Rating 4.68 out of 5   85

Waldron College of Health and Human Services

Radford University •

RADFORD, VA

• • Rating 5 out of 5   2

Showing results 1 through 25 of 310

Master of Social Work

Do you enjoy helping people improve their lives and solve stressful problems? Do you want a job where you can make a difference every day? If so, a career as a social worker may be right for you.

Social workers help communities in need by helping vulnerable people overcome complicated health, financial, psychological, and social issues. They work in a variety of settings, including government agencies, hospitals, nursing homes, and schools.

Some social workers start working in the field immediately after graduating from college with a bachelor of social work (BSW) or a related degree. However, a master's in social work (MSW) can boost your income and open up new career opportunities.

What Is a Master of Social Work?

A master of social work is an advanced degree that prepares students for administrative and clinical practice jobs in social work. You can expect to develop strong research skills, gain clinical experience, and learn advanced social work theories.

Generally, graduate students who pursue an MSW should expect the program to take two years — or four semesters — of coursework. However, some schools offer an accelerated one-year program for incoming students who already hold a BSW.

If you have a bachelor’s degree in a different field, such as English or psychology, you're still eligible for two-year MSW programs. The degree will provide you with a strong foundation in social work as well as more advanced knowledge.

Selecting a Specialization

Hundreds of colleges and universities offer graduate programs in social work. Many MSW programs allow students to specialize in particular areas of social work, depending on factors like available electives and faculty expertise.

Specialties include child and family social work, clinical social work, criminal justice social work, domestic abuse and trauma, geriatric social work, and substance abuse counseling. If you’re interested in working with particular groups or in specific settings, search for programs that align with your personal career goals.

Not sure what you want to specialize in yet? In advanced generalist MSW programs, you can gain a variety of skills that will allow you to succeed in any social work job.

Challenges in Master of Social Work Programs

Graduate degrees are more difficult and time-consuming than undergraduate programs. No matter the degree and school you choose, you can expect to spend long hours learning advanced theories, studying, and writing research papers. However, an MSW can pose unique emotional and mental challenges.

For instance, as an MSW student, you may:

• Encounter disturbing or upsetting course materials
• Experience burnout
• Work with people facing extreme difficulties, like homelessness and substance abuse

Despite these obstacles, an MSW can lead to a meaningful career that gives you a chance to make a tangible difference in your community.

Applying to Graduate Programs in Social Work

If you’ve decided to pursue an MSW, the next step is to apply to graduate schools . Although each program has individual application requirements, you can expect to submit materials such as:

• An application fee
• Letters of recommendation
• A personal statement
• Undergraduate transcripts

By pursuing a master's in social work, you'll be well on your way to developing advanced social work knowledge and launching a career that will have a positive impact.

• Faculty & Research

PhD in Social Work

Preparing the next generation of social work and social welfare scholars and leaders.

Our students develop core competencies that are integral to contemporary social work practice, teaching, and research. The critical linkages between social work and social science research, theory, and practice build upon our faculty  strengths and expertise, and grow through interdisciplinary collaborations and expertise in areas such as health, mental health, trauma, addictions, child welfare, and aging. The PhD in Social Work program offers an opportunity for students to work with, and learn from, these leaders and to pursue a multi-method and highly individualized course of study.

The core curriculum requires a mixed methods foundation, grounding in social work values and a social justice lens, and training in teaching excellence. Student knowledge is deepened through hands-on teaching-practicum experience, the development of a specialization area, and mentored research training. These integrated experiences provide a rich educational foundation for social work leadership in academic, policy, research, and practice arenas.

Please Note: The PhD Program in Social Work no longer requires that applicants take the GRE or MAT exams.

For further information about the PhD program, request information below or contact Daniel P. Miller , Director of the PhD Program in Social Work, at [email protected] .

See the 12 Best Social Work Graduate Programs

Check out these highly ranked graduate schools for social work.

(Getty Images) |

Social workers lend helping hands.

Do you like to care for other people? If so, you may enjoy a career as a social worker, providing support and guidance to people who are coping with difficult circumstances, such as individuals who are unemployed, facing a family crisis, struggling with addiction or diagnosed with a serious illness. Social workers cater to vulnerable individuals in a variety of settings, including employment centers, schools, child welfare agencies, addiction rehabilitation centers and hospitals. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that employment of social workers will grow 16 percent from 2016 to 2026, much faster than the average for all occupations. That means a graduate degree in social work can help set you ahead of the pack when looking for jobs. These are the best social work graduate programs.

(Caitlin Cunningham) |

Boston College

Location: Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts

U.S. News graduate program in social work ranking: 10 (tie)

Interesting fact about the program: Field placements are a key component of the education offered by the Boston College School of Social Work, which matches students with placements that align with their career interests, according to the school website.

Learn more about the School of Social Work at Boston College .

(Boston University Photography) |

Boston University

Location: Boston

Interesting fact about the program: Master of Social Work students at Boston University can choose between two majors. They can major in clinical practice, which focuses on addressing emotional and behavioral problems that affect individuals, groups and families, or they can major in macro practice, which revolves around mitigating major societal problems, such as poverty and racism.

Learn more about the School of Social Work at Boston University .

(Scott Spitzer | Office of University Communications)

University of Pennsylvania

Location: Philadelphia

Interesting fact about the program: Master of Social Work students at Penn are required to take a course on social work research, so that they can gain basic research skills and learn how to analyze research.

Learn more about the School of Social Policy & Practice at the University of Pennsylvania .

(Gina Prodan | Case Western Reserve University)

Case Western Reserve University (OH)

Location : Cleveland

U.S. News graduate program in social work ranking: 9

Interesting fact about the program: Case Western offers numerous paths of study to students pursuing its Master of Science in Social Administration, or MSSA degree, which is comparable to a Master of Social Work or MSW degree. Paths of study within the program include one focused on substance use disorders and recovery and another focused on community practice for social change.

Learn more about the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences at Case Western .

(University of Texas—Austin McCombs) |

University of Texas—Austin

Location: Austin, Texas

U.S. News graduate program in social work ranking: 8

Interesting fact about the program: Students enrolled in the university's Master of Science in Social Work program may elect to complete their degree in either two years, three years or three-and-a-half years, depending on how heavy they want their course load to be. It takes two years to complete the program as a full-time student.

Learn more about the Steve Hicks School of Social Work at UT—Austin .

(Eileen Barroso | Columbia University)

Columbia University (NY)

Location: New York City

U.S. News graduate program in social work ranking: 3 (tie)

Interesting fact about the program: Columbia's social work school is home to a research center that focuses on issues that interfere with workers' successful participation in the workforce, called the Center for Social Policy and Practice in the Workplace. The school also offers its Master of Social Work students the option to focus on the "World of Work" field of practice, which prepares them to assist workers with situations that interfere with their ability to work.

Learn more about the School of Social Work at Columbia .

(UC—Berkeley) |

University of California—Berkeley

Location: Berkeley, California

Interesting fact about the program: Berkeley's Master of Social Welfare program offers several specializations, including one that focuses on child welfare social work and another that focuses on school-based social work.

Learn more about the School of Social Welfare at the University of California—Berkeley .

(Tom Rossiter) |

University of Chicago

Location: Chicago

Interesting fact: Master of Social Work students at the university can apply to enter a program of study, which is a faculty-designed series of elective courses customized for students who are interested in specific career paths. For instance, one program of study focuses on trauma-responsive social work, and another focuses on combating educational inequities.

Learn more about the School of Social Service Administration at the University of Chicago .

University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill

Location: Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Interesting fact: MSW students can choose between two concentrations: "Direct Practice," which focuses on how to assist individuals, families and small groups, or "Community, Management and Policy Practice," which prepares students for organization leadership positions.

Learn more about the School of Social Work at the University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill .

(Katherine B. Turner) |

University of Washington

Location: Seattle

Interesting fact: The University of Washington is home to Forefront, a suicide prevention research center that involves collaboration between its social work school and its other academic programs. In addition, the university's School of Social Work hosts the Innovative Programs Research Group, which conducts research on what types of social programs are most helpful for vulnerable populations, such as military veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress.

Learn more about the School of Social Work at the University of Washington .

(Joe Angeles | Washington University)

Washington University in St. Louis (MO)

Location: St. Louis

U.S. News graduate program in social work ranking: 2

Interesting fact: Master of Social Work students at this university have several unique concentrations available to them, including ones that focus on American Indian and Alaska Native populations; violence and injury prevention; and international social and economic development.

Learn more about the George Warren Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis .

(Daryl Marshke | MichiganPhotography)

University of Michigan—Ann Arbor

Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan

U.S. News graduate program in social work ranking: 1

Interesting fact: Master of Social Work students at the school must choose a concentration in either community organization, interpersonal practice, management of human services or social policy and evaluation. The school offers a Jewish Communal Leadership program, which is a five-semester program that provides both a master's in social work and a certificate in Jewish communal leadership.

Learn more about the School of Social Work at the University of Michigan—Ann Arbor .

Learn more about top graduate programs.

Check out all of the 2020 Best Graduate Schools rankings. Stay up to date on education news by following U.S. News Education on Facebook ,  Twitter  and LinkedIn . 

(Robert Kozloff) |

Explore highly rated social work graduate programs.

• 1. University of Michigan—Ann Arbor
• 2. Washington University in St. Louis
• 3 (tie). Columbia University
• 3 (tie). University of California—Berkeley
• 3 (tie). University of Chicago
• 3 (tie). University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill
• 3 (tie). University of Washington
• 8. University of Texas—Austin
• 9. Case Western Reserve University
• 10 (tie). Boston College
• 10 (tie). Boston University
• 10 (tie). University of Pennsylvania

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• Graduate School of Social Work

PhD in Social Work

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A Doctoral Degree for Social Change Agents

The Graduate School of Social Work is home to one of the nation’s oldest social work PhD programs, but nothing about it is old-fashioned. We see ourselves as more than social work researchers; we're social justice scholars, educators and policy experts whose work responds to today's most pressing community needs.

There’s never been a better time to embark on a PhD in social work. Social work job opportunities in academia are plentiful, and given the social challenges of the 21st century — challenges such as the growing wealth and achievement gap in the U.S. and the impacts of climate change on vulnerable populations worldwide — the need for social work research and scholarship is greater than ever.

• Request Information about the PhD in Social Work
• Sign Up for a PhD Information Session

6 Cohort size

4-5 years to complete the program, 14% projected job growth for postsecondary social work educators, financial aid.

Most students are admitted to our PhD program with a competitive funding package that typically provides four years of financial support.

Years 1 & 2 

In the first two years, PhD students receive a graduate assistantship, which includes a living stipend, 100 percent tuition waiver and a health care subsidy.

Students receive a pre-dissertation fellowship, which includes a living stipend. (A tuition waiver is no longer necessary because all classes are completed during the first two years of the program.)

Students receive a dissertation fellowship, which includes a living stipend. We also support students in seeking adjunct teaching roles, research assistant roles on funded faculty projects, and external fellowships. 

Offered on our campus in Denver, Colorado, the PhD program is geared toward those who already have an MSW or a master’s degree in a related field and who want to work as a faculty member or researcher in an academic setting. From team-based mentorship to an emphasis on training excellent teachers, several features make our program stand apart:

An Emphasis on Teaching

One of the best predictors of success in doctoral programs is the strength of the relationship between students and their faculty mentors. The GSSW faculty is passionate about doctoral education, works collaboratively with students to help them succeed in their job search, has strong national networks within the discipline, and supports students in becoming excellent social work scholars.

Whether it is partnerships between faculty and doctoral students, among doctoral students, or with community partners, most GSSW research involves collaboration. When students share common research interests, they work with faculty as teams that support incoming students with multiple mentors, provide opportunities for more advanced students to mentor, and enhance the productivity of doctoral students and faculty.

Although most programs provide a solid foundation in research methodology and statistics, the focus on theory and the philosophy of science can vary significantly. Because we are committed to developing scholars who are solidly grounded in theory, students are required to take a philosophy of science course along with courses in social work theory and theory in their substantive area.

Across our academic programs, you’ll find a deep commitment to scholarship that is centered in issues of social justice. We educate students to understand practice, teaching and research in the context of social justice.

Most of our faculty members are involved in community-based research, and we have an extensive network of community-based partners — from large health care systems to social service providers to schools and community organizers — that co-create much of our research.

Not all doctoral programs emphasize producing graduates who are excellent teachers, as well as excellent researchers. We require a course on pedagogy and a teaching practicum. GSSW also has a number of faculty members who conduct research on evidence-based teaching and pedagogy.

Unlike most doctoral programs, we provide training in a broad array of research methodologies. You will learn and practice quantitative, qualitative and mixed-methods research designs as well as analytic techniques. This variety will allow you to select the best research methods for the questions you’re pursuing in your independent research.

Important Links

• PhD Curriculum
• GSSW Research
• GSSW Centers & Institutes
• GSSW Faculty
• GSSW PhD Students

Recent Doctoral Student Research

Brain Injuries and Homelessness

Addressing Ageism

Caregiving During COVID-19

“I wanted to find an opportunity where I could pair that passion for social justice with learning how to sharpen my research skills.”  Stephanie Begun, PhD ’17, Assistant Professor, University of Toronto

GSSW researchers are doing a world of good. Want to know more?

GSSW Research Projects

Featured Courses

Advanced social welfare policy analysis.

Applies analytical techniques to development of social welfare policy stressing the ability to formulate a policy hypothesis (i.e., a statement, in testable form, of a basic premise undergirding a policy position) and to reach conclusions based on analysis of empirical evidence related to the policy hypothesis. This course is for SOWK PhD students only.

Seminar in Professional Social Work Issues

Examines the dilemmas and challenges confronting the social work profession and social work education. Examines the nature of professional education, the nature of the profession itself and the forces internal and external to the profession that have an impact upon practice and education. Required.

Jennifer Greenfield

Associate professor & associate dean for doctoral education.

Passionate about educating future social work researchers, Greenfield mentors all doctoral students when they first begin the program and throughout their time at GSSW. Her student-focused approach places students’ individual goals at the center of their learning plans and gradually moves them from learning specific tasks to becoming independent scholars. “At GSSW, our scholars-in-training identify how their strengths can align with programs of scholarship that will maximize their impact in the world,” she says.

Career Opportunities

Do you want to train the next generation of social workers and create solutions to pressing social problems? Unlike most other disciplines, the job outlook for social work faculty positions is robust. As the demand for master’s-level social workers continues to increase, so does the demand for new educators to train them at a time when nearly 25 percent of U.S. social work faculty members are nearing retirement.

Most of our PhD graduates pursue careers as social work faculty members or researchers in university settings. Approximately 25 percent of our graduates work in other settings, such as nonprofit organizations and policy think tanks where they can put their research training to work.

Where our PhD Graduates Work

The GSSW PhD program prepared our graduates for teaching positions at Universities across the U.S.

• Amber McDonald : University of Colorado Anschutz (Denver)
• Amy Lopez : University of Colorado Anschutz (Denver)
• Angela Lavery : West Chester University (West Chester, PA)
• Ann Obermann : Metropolitan State University (Denver)
• Antonia Alvarez: Portland State University
• Ashley Daftery (Hanna) : University of Nevada at Reno
• Ashley O'Connor : University of Alaska at Anchorage
• Brittanie Atteberry-Ash : University of Texas at Arlington
• Ceema Samimi : University of Minnesota (Minneapolis)
• Chris Knoepke : University of Colorado Anschutz (Denver)
• Christopher Veeh : University of Iowa (Iowa City)
• Darren Whitfield : University of Maryland
• Dawn Matera : Metropolitan State University (Denver)
• Erin Boyce : Metropolitan State University (Denver)
• Heather Kennedy : Colorado School of Public Health (Denver)
• Jamie Yoder : Colorado State University (Ft. Collins)
• Jennifer Boeckel : Walden University (Minneapolis)
• Jennifer Dickman Portz : Ohio State University (Columbus)
• Jennifer Middleton : University of Louisville
• Jessica Sparks : Tufts University (Boston)
• Jessica Yang : Winthrop University (Rock Hill, SC)
• Jon Phillips : University of Connecticut (Storrs Center, CT)
• Jonah DeChants : Colorado State University (Ft. Collins)
• Jordan Farrar: Boston College
• Katie Massey Combs : University of Colorado at Boulder
• Kristie Seelman : Georgia State University (Atlanta)
• Laurie Walker : University of Montana (Missoula)
• Lin Jiang : University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (Edinburg, TX)
• Lisa Langenderfer-Magruder : Florida State University (Tallahassee)
• Mark Plassmeyer : University of Arkansas (Fayetteville, AR)
• Samantha Brown : Colorado State University (Ft. Collins)
• Sarah Nickels: Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (Denver)
• Shandra Forrest-Bank : University of Tennessee (Knoxville)
• Shanna Kattari : University of Michigan (Ann Arbor)
• Shelby McDonald: Rutgers (Newark)
• Stephanie Begun : University of Toronto
• Stephanie Lechuga Peña : Arizona State University (Phoenix)
• Susanne Klawetter : Portland State University

Living at GSSW

An inclusive environment.

Ours is an environment where every voice matters and a culture that welcomes and embraces the rich diversity of our extended community. We stand in solidarity with immigrants, religious groups, people of color, indigenous communities, people with disabilities, survivors of sexual violence, members of the LGBTQIA community, and all other communities whose civil rights have been threatened and/or violated. As a school dedicated to the development of future social workers who will embody and represent the values and ethics of social justice, we commit ourselves to understanding our place in the larger context of institutional injustice.

• Diversity and Inclusion at GSSW
• Diversity at DU

The Denver Difference

The University of Denver campus is just a short train or bus ride from downtown Denver (all University of Denver students get a free pass!), a city that U.S. News & World Report has named one of the nation’s best places to live. Craft beer, food trucks and art crawls are plentiful, as are urban and mountain parks and recreation opportunities. Denver also is home to a thriving, engaged community of social justice activists. And as one of the nation’s fastest-growing cities with several major universities nearby, Denver has no shortage of job opportunities.

• Campus Life
• City of Denver

"I’ve had colleagues in other PhD programs in social work across the nation who were not as well prepared as I have been in this program. The school really sets you up for a great experience. It’s very supportive but also extremely rigorous." Ann Obermann, PhD ’17, Assistant Professor, Metropolitan State University of Denver

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College of Education and Human Development

School of Social Work

PhD in Social Work

Established in 1946, our program is one of the oldest in the United States, and develops a mentoring partnership between nationally prominent faculty and students to promote knowledge and skills in theory development and community-based research. The research productivity of our faculty was ranked 20th out of 76 U.S. social work doctoral programs in a recent study 

Our graduates include internationally recognized scholars in diverse areas of study. Alumni go on to faculty and academic leadership roles in schools of social work around the world, as well as agency and program directors, and high-level servants in federal, state, and local government agencies. 

Learn about the PhD program in social work at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

Scholarship, research, and teaching which contribute to the knowledge base of social work and foster a just, nurturing, inclusive society.

Program Highlights

• Highly productive faculty. Collaborate with our faculty and research and training centers to conduct, write, and publish research in child welfare, aging, mental health, violence prevention, health disparities, social welfare policy, international social work, work with immigrants and refugees, and other social work related research areas.
• Generous funding for PhD students. The majority of our students receive a four-year funding package that covers tuition, health insurance, and a stipend. Many students also secure dissertation fellowships, and we help students secure assistantships for funding for their fifth year.
• Teaching and professional development. Gain skills in teaching and curriculum development. We provide doctoral colloquia focusing both on current research and professional and career development.
• Diverse student body. Our graduate students come from Minnesota, across the nation, and from around the world, giving the learning and research experience depth and breadth in lived experiences and perspectives.
• Structured research mentoring experiences. Our PhD program relies heavily on a mentoring model, and PhD students work closely with faculty members throughout the program. Mentoring is seen as a vital part of the teaching and learning process within the doctoral program. 

Fall 2023 Applications

Please note: the application deadline was December 1, 2023

Program Outline

Students take two years of coursework both inside and outside the School of Social Work, including required courses in research methods, statistics, theory, history, policy and teaching, as well as supporting program courses from across the university. Students typically complete their preliminary examinations and defend their dissertation proposal, and then complete their dissertation in their fourth or fifth year.

Careers of Social Work PhD Graduates

This is a selected list of institutions where recent University of Minnesota School of Social Work graduates have found positions:

Research Universities

• State University of New York at Buffalo
• Tulane University
• University of Arkansas
• University of Kansas
• University of Memphis
• University of Texas
• University of Utah
• Virginia Commonwealth University

Teaching Universities

• Augsburg University
• California State University - Chico
• Colorado State University - Pueblo
• Providence College
• Radford University 
• University of Wisconsin - Green Bay

Institutes and Foundations

• Institute on Community Integration, University of Minnesota
• Health Partners Research Foundation
• Minnesota Minority Education Partnership

Applied/Administrative Positions

• Children’s Defense Fund
• Minnesota Department of Human Services
• NASW-MN  

International Universities

• National University Taiwan
• Tel Aviv University
• Self-Directed Services for the Long-Term Supports of Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis
• Social Work, Intractable Conflict and Professionalism: A Case Study of Jewish-Israeli Social Work Practice
• Omayeletumbulo [wisdom sayings] as a Pathway to School Engagement for Young Mothers in Rural Namibia
• County Exemption from Social Work Licensure in Minnesota: Understanding the Past and Present to Affect the Future
• Animal-Assisted Interactions for College Student Mental Health and a Conceptual Model of Practice
• Environmental Effects on Cognitive Health in Older Adults: Insights for Long-Term Care Services
• “This is how we show up for our relatives”: Understanding How Indigenous Relative Caregivers Embody Traditional Kinship to Resist the Colonial Child Welfare System
• Perceived Discrimination and Depressive Symptom Trajectories of Middle-aged and Older Adults with Chronic Diseases
• Student Stories of Resilience After Campus Sexual Assault
• How do Contextual Factors and Family Support Influence Disclosure of Child Sexual Abuse During Forensic Interviews and Service Outcomes in Child Protection Cases?
• Moral Injury Among Professionals in K-12 Education: A Mixed Methods Inquiry
• Making Sense of Poverty in Child Welfare: A Grounded Theory Informed Study of Public and Tribal Child Welfare Workers' Poverty Constructions, Perceptions of Causes, and Praxis
• Neighborhood Social Capital and the Health and Health Risk Behavior of Adolescent Immigrants and Non-Immigrants

Sampling of PhD Student Publications

Our PhD students routinely co-author with faculty and other researchers at the School of Social Work and across campus. Nearly all PhD students graduate with multiple peer reviewed articles, multiple presentations at national/international research conferences, and teaching experience as the instructor of record of undergraduate or graduate courses. The following is just a sampling of the recent peer-reviewed articles published by our students, either as sole author or in collaboration with others.

Carlson , W. C. (2023). Implementation challenges of T visa eligibility for human trafficking survivors: a role for social work. Social Work , 68(3), 222-229.

Flangan, S. , Sterman, J., & Merighi, J. R., Batty, R. (2023). Bridging the gap – How interprofessional collaboration can support family-centered emergency preparedness: An exploratory qualitative study. BMC Public Health, 23(1):777.

Haight, W. L., Suleiman , J. , Flanagan , S. K. , Park, S. , Soltani, L. J. , Carlson, W. C. , Otis , J. R. , & Turck, K. S. (2023). Reflections on social work education during the COVID-19 pandemic: Experiences of faculty members and lessons moving forward. Qualitative Social Work , 22(5), 938-955.

Samimi, C., Jefferson, N., Flanagan , S. , & Anyon, Y. (2023). Intersections of disproportion: A critical quantitative examination of dis/ability and gender in Black students’ school discipline outcomes. The Urban Review , 1-20.

Soffer-Elnekave , R. , Haight, W., Nashandi , N. J. , Cho, M., Suleiman , J. , & Park , S. (2023). Re-orienting narratives of moral injury towards positive development: The experiences of emerging adults with child welfare histories. Children and Youth Services Review , 149, 106922.

Soria, K. M., Horgos , B. , & Shenouda, J. D. (2023). Disparities in college students’ financial hardships during the Covid-19 pandemic. Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice , 60(1), 31-48.

Toft, J., Lightfoot, E., Calhoun, M ., Choy-Brown, M., Merighi, J. R., Renner, L. M., Soffer-Elnekave, R. , Mendel, J., & Marsalis, S. (2023). Effects of neoliberalism on social work practice in the United States: A scoping review. Social Work Research , 47(2), 99-110. 

Renner, L. M., Driessen, M. C. , & Lewis-Dmello, A. (2022). An evaluation of a parent group for survivors of intimate partner violence. Journal of Family Violence , 37(2), 247-259.

Soria K., Horgos B ., Roberts B.J. (2022). The COVID‐19 pandemic and students’ mental health. New Directions for Student Services, 176, 37-45. 

Lee, M. H., Hong, S., & Merighi, J. R. (2021). The effect of fatalism on mammography use in Korean American women. Health Education & Behavior , 49(4), 740−749.

Lightfoot, E., Yun, H. , Moone, R., Otis, J ., Suleiman, K., Turck, K ., & Kutzler, C. (2021). Changes to family caregiving of older adults and adults with disabilities during COVID-19. Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine , 7, 1-8.

Mervis, J. E., Fischer, J ., Cooper, S. E., Deckert, A. C., Lysaker, P. H., MacDonald III, A. W., & Meyer-Kalos, P. (2021). Introspective accuracy for substance use across a year of treatment for first episode psychosis. Schizophrenia Research: Cognition , 26, 100200.

Renner, L. M., Hartley, C. C., & Driessen, M. C. (2021). Provider, caretaker, nurturer, hero: Perceptions of parenting changes among women who experienced intimate partner violence. Journal of Child and Family Studies , 30(9), 2191-2203.

Soria, K., & Horgos, B. (2021). Factors associated with college students’ mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of College Student Development, 62(2), 107-113. 

An, S., Lee, H. Y., Choi, Y. J., & Yoon, Y. J. (2020). Literacy of breast cancer and screening guideline in an immigrant group: importance of health accessibility. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health , 22, 563-570.

Lightfoot, E., Zheng, M ., & DeZelar, S . (2021). Substantiation of child maltreatment among parents with disabilities in the United States. Journal of Public Child Welfare , 15(5), 583-596.

Renner, L. M., Driessen, M. C. , & Lewis-Dmello, A. (2020). A pilot study evaluation of a parent group for survivors of intimate partner violence. Journal of Family Violence , 35, 203-215.

Cho, M. , Haight. W., Choi, W. S., Hong, S. H., & Piescher, K. (2019). A prospective, longitudinal study of risk factors for early onset of delinquency among maltreated youth.Children and Youth Services Review, 102, 222-230.

Choi, Y. J., Lee, H. Y., An, S., Yoon, Y. J. , & Oh, J. (2019). Predictors of cervical cancer screening awareness and literacy among Korean-American women. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, 7(1), 1–9.

Driessen, M. C. (2019). Campus sexual assault policies: A feminist policy analysis framework. Affilia, 35(3) 1-16. doi:10.1177/0886109919878273

Driessen, M. C. (2019). Campus sexual assault & student activism, 1970-1990. Qualitative Social Work, 19(3), 1-16. doi:10.1177/1473325019828805

Emery, C. R., Wu, S., Eremina, T., Yoon, Y. J. , Kim, S., & Yang, H. (2019). Does informal social control deter child abuse? A comparative study of Koreans and Russians. International journal on child maltreatment: research, policy and practice, 2(2), 37–54.

Gibson, P., Haight, W., Cho, M., Nashandi, N. J., & Yoon, Y. J. (2019). A mixed methods study of Black Girls' vulnerability to out-of-school suspensions: The intersection of race and gender. Children and Youth Services Review, 102, 169–176.

Haight, W., Waubanascum, C., Glesener, D. , Day, P., Bussey, B., & Nichols, K. (2019). The Center for Regional and Tribal Child Welfare Studies: Reducing disparities through Indigenous social work education. Children and Youth Services Review, 100, 156-166.

Kiesel, L, DeZelar, S. & Lightfoot, E. (2019). Equity in social work employment in the United States: Opportunity and challenges for social workers with disabilities. Disability & Society.

Kivnick, H. Q., Driessen, M. C., Santavasy, C. , Wardwell, C., & Davis, L. D. (2019). “Who’s Been Putting Socks in My Drawer?” Narrative case study of an elder role model. The Gerontologist, 1-10. doi:10.1093/geront/gnz114

Lee, H.Y., Beltran, R.M. , Kwon, M., Kim, G.N., Lee, D.K. (2019). Racial disparities in cervical cancer screening: Implications for relieving cervical cancer burden in Asian American Pacific Islander women. Cancer Nursing: An International Journal for Cancer Care.

Lightfoot, E. & DeZelar, S . (2019). Social work with parents with disabilities: Historical interactions and contemporary innovations. Social Work Review, 2, 1-10.

Lightfoot, E., Franklin, C., & Beltran, R . (2019). Preparing for the academic job market: A guide for social work doctoral students and their mentors. Journal of Social Work Education.

Newman, T., Okamoto, K. , Kimiecik, C., Sohns, E., Burns, M., & Magier, E. (2019). The role of social workers in sport: Shared values and opportunities for interprofessional collaborations. Journal of Sport Psychology in Action, 10(3), 160-173.

Renner, L. M., & Driessen, M . C. (2019). Siblings who are exposed to child maltreatment: Practices reported by county children's services supervisors. Journal of Public Child Welfare, 13(5), 491-511. doi:10.1080/15548732.2018.1514350

An, S., Choi, Y. J., Lee, H. Y., Yoon, Y. J. , & Platt, M. (2018). Predictors of breast cancer screening among Korean American women: Is having an annual checkup critical? Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention, 19(5), 1281–1286.

Bayless, S. D., Jenson, J. M., Richmond, M. K., Pampel, F. C., Cook, M., & Calhoun, M. (2018). Effects of an afterschool early literacy intervention on the reading skills of children in public housing communities. Child & Youth Care Forum, 47, 537-561.

DeZelar, S. , & Lightfoot, E. (2018). Use of parental disability as a removal reason for children in foster care in the US. Children and Youth Services Review, 86, 128-134.

Fink, A. (2018). Bigger data, less wisdom: The need for more inclusive collective intelligence in social service provision. AI & Society, 33, 61-70.

Haight, W., Waubanascum, C., Glesener, D. , & Marsalis, S. (2018). A scoping study of Indigenous child welfare: The long emergency and preparations for the next seven generations. Children and Youth Services Review, 93, 397-410.

Jenson, J. M., Veeh, C., Anyon, Y., St. Mary, J., Calhoun, M. , Tejada, J., & Lechuga-Peña, S. (2018). Effects of an afterschool program on the academic outcomes of children and youth residing in public housing neighborhoods: A quasi-experimental study. Children and Youth Services Review, 88, 211-217.

Kiesel, L., DeZelar, S. & Lightfoot, E. (2018). Challenges, barriers and opportunities: Social workers with disabilities and experiences in field education. Journal of Social Work Education. 54(4), 696-708.

Lee, H. Y., Choi, Y. J., Yoon, Y. J. , & Oh, J. (2018). HPV literacy: The role of English proficiency in Korean American immigrant women. Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, 22(3), E64–E70.

Lightfoot, E. & LaLiberte, T. & Cho, M. (2018). Parental supports for parents with disabilities: The role of informal supports.Child Welfare, 96(4), 89-110.

Merighi, J. R., Zheng, M. , & Browne, T. (2018). Nephrology social workers' caseloads and hourly wages in 2014 and 2017: Findings from the National Kidney Foundation Council of Nephrology Social Workers Professional Practice Survey. Journal of Nephrology Social Work, 42(1), 31−59.

St. Mary, J., Calhoun, M. , Tejada, J., & Jenson, J. M. (2018). Perceptions of academic achievement and educational opportunities among Black and African American youth. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 35(5), 499-509.

Haight, W., Sugrue, E., Calhoun, M. , & Black, J. (2017). “Basically, I look at it like combat”: Reflections on moral injury by parents involved with child protection services. Children and Youth Services Review, 82, 477-489.

Haight, W., Sugrue, E., Calhoun, M. , & Black, J. (2017). Everyday coping with moral injury: The perspectives of professionals and parents involved with child protection services. Children and Youth Services Review, 82, 108-121.

Haight, W., Sugrue, E., Calhoun, M. (2017). Moral injury among child protection professionals: Implications for the ethical treatment and retention of workers. Children and Youth Services Review, 82, 27-41.

Hewitt, A., Stancliffe, R., Hall-Lande, J., Nord, D., Pettingell, S., Hamre, K. , Hallas-Muchow L. (2017). Characteristics of adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder who use residential services and supports through adult developmental disability services in the United States. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Horn, T. L. , Piescher, K., Shannon, P. J., Hong, S., & Benton, A. (2017). Experiences of Somali and Oromo youth in the child protection system. Children and Youth Services Review.

Kayama, M., Haight, W., Ku, M. L. M., Cho, M. , & Lee, H. Y. (2017). East Asian and U.S. educators' reflections on how stigmatization affects their relationships with parents whose children have disabilities: Challenges and solutions. Children and Youth Services Review, 73, 128-144.

Khuu, B. P. , Lee, H. Y. (2017). Health literacy and associated factors among Hmong American immigrants. Journal of Community Health, 1-8.

Kim, Y.S., Lee, H.Y., Lee, M.H., Simms, T. , & Park, B.H., (2017). Mental health literacy in Korean older adults: A cross-sectional survey. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing. doi: 10.1111/jpm.12395

Lightfoot, E. & LaLiberte, T. & Cho, M. (2017). A case record review of termination of parental rights cases involving parents with a disability. Children and Youth Services Review, 79, 399-407.

Sugrue, E. & Lightfoot, E. (2017). Preschool Policymaking by Stealth: Application of an Alternative Framework for the Policy Process. Journal of Policy Practice. DOI: 10.1080/15588742.2016.1266982

Carlson, J., Nguyen, H. , and Reinardy, J. (2016). Social justice and the capabilities approach: Seeking a global print for EPAS. Journal of Social Work Education, 52, Issue 3.

Haight, W., Bidwell, L., Choi, W. S., & Cho, M. (2016). An evaluation of the Crossover Youth Practice Model (CYPM): Recidivism outcomes for maltreated youth involved in the juvenile justice system. Children and Youth Services Review, 65, 78-85.

Haight, W., Kayama, M., Ku, M. L., Cho, M. , & Lee, H. Y. (2016). Perspectives of elementary school educators in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and the US on disability, stigmatization and children's developing self Part 1: Defining the problem in cultural context. Children and Youth Services Review, 70, 214-228.

Haight, W., Sugrue, E., Calhoun, M. , & Black, J. (2016). A scoping study of moral injury: Identifying directions for social work research. Child and Youth Services Review, 70, 190-200.

Hoffman, S. J., Robertson, C. L., Shannon, P. J., Cook, T.L. , Letts, J., & Mathiason, M. A. (2016). Physical Correlates of Torture Exposure in Karen Refugees. Journal of Loss and Trauma, 1-15.

Kayama, M., Haight, W., Ku, M. L. M., Cho, M. , & Lee, H. Y. (2016). Perspectives of elementary school educators in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and the US on disability, stigmatization and children's developing self Part 2: Solutions. Children and Youth Services Review, 70, 403-418.

Khuu, B. P. , Lee, H.Y., Zhou, A.Q., Shin, J. & Lee, R.M., (2016) Healthcare providers’ perspectives on parental health literacy and child health outcomes among Southeast Asian American immigrants and refugees, Children and Youth Services Review, 67 (2016) 220–229. doi: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2016.06.006

Lightfoot, E., Blevins, J. , Lum, T. & Dube, A. (2016). Cultural health assets of Somali and Oromo immigrants in the United States: Findings from a community-based participatory research project. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 27(1), 252-260.

Lightfoot, E. & DeZelar, S. (2016). The experiences and outcomes of children in foster care who were removed because of a parental disability. Children and Youth Services Review, 62, 22–28.

Lightfoot, E., Nienow, M., Moua, K., Colburn, G. , & Petri, A. (2016). Insights on professional identification and licensure from community practice social workers. Journal of Community Practice, 24 (2), 123-146. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10705422.2016.1165328

McCleary, J., Shannon, P. J., Cook, T. (2016) Connecting refugees to substance use treatment: A qualitative study. Social Work and Public Health, 31(1), 1-. 10.1080/19371918.2015.1087906.

Shannon, P.J., Vinson, G.A., Cook, T.L. , Lennon, E. (2016). Characteristics of successful and unsuccessful mental health referrals of refugees. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 43(4), 555-568. doi:10.1007/s10488-015-0639-8

Simms, T. (2016). Statutory compensation for the wrongly imprisoned. Social Work, 61, 155-162. doi: 10.1093/sw/sww003

Yang, H., Yoon, Y. J. , Jeong, B., & Emery, C. R. (2016). The effects of parental abuse and aggression on mobile phone dependency: Focused on the moderated mediation effect of youth activity. Youth Facilities and Environment, 14(2), 5–15.

Doctoral Admissions

The application for admission to the 2024-2025 academic year closed on December 4, 2023.

The University of Chicago Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice has been a leader in social work and social welfare scholarship since we helped establish social work as a field of scholarly inquiry in 1908 and our doctoral program in 1920. The University itself is home to six graduate and professional schools, offering Crown Family School doctoral students extraordinary opportunities for cross-disciplinary study and research.

The Doctoral Program is flexibly structured so that students can pursue a curriculum matched to their individual interests. The Crown Family School is at the forefront of schools of social work that emphasize the role of social science theory and rigorous empirical methods in guiding the investigation of social problems and interventions. In consultation with a faculty advisor, each student develops a program of study that includes two years of coursework, a qualifying examination, a publishable pre-dissertation research project, and a dissertation thesis. Doctoral students also have the opportunity to collaborate with faculty in their research and to serve as teaching assistants or instructors.

The Doctoral Program at the Crown Family School is a PhD program for people who want to have a career in research and teaching. We do not offer a DSW or provide specific clinical training for practitioners beyond the master's level. We also do not have a part-time doctoral program.

Each year the Admissions Office receives about 100 applications, and we expect to enroll approximately 5-7 students.

Financial Supports

All students entering the Doctoral Program are offered a financial aid package that includes a stipend, full tuition, health insurance, and fees. A variety of financial resources are available to doctoral students to support travel to conferences and methods training. Many Crown Family School doctoral students receive additional funding through outside training and fellowship programs.

Doctoral Fellowship Opportunities

Crown Family School students have been very successful in obtaining competitive fellowships such as the Illinois Consortium for Educational Opportunity Program Fellowships, Fahs-Beck dissertation fellowships, and the Center for Gender Studies dissertation awards.

IES Pre-Doctoral Training Program in Education Sciences    The Committee on Education offers a fellowship opportunity for incoming doctoral students in the social sciences, the Harris School of Public Policy or the Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice with an interest in education research, funded by a federal grant from the Institute of Education Sciences.  This program allows fellows to join an interdisciplinary cohort of students who follow a common program of courses, workshops, and a 2-year research apprenticeship while they are earning a PhD in their respective discipline. Accepted fellows receive a five-year package of support that includes a full tuition waiver and a generous stipend of $34,000 annually, as well as access to additional funds to support travel and education-related research. Learn more about this program at:  https://voices.uchicago.edu/coed/about-ies-2/  

Email the Office of Admissions .

Admissions Home   Application Requirements   Financial Aid

The Crown Family School is so special because it gives you access to much more than a classroom.

Doctoral Program

Phd-phs in social and behavioral sciences.

Prospective doctoral students interested in the Department of Social & Behavioral Sciences should apply to the Doctor of Philosophy ( PhD ) Program in  Population Health Sciences  and choose  Social & Behavioral Sciences as their Field of Study.

The PhD in Population Health Sciences is offered under the aegis of the Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) and is awarded by the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. Students in this program will gain broad, interdisciplinary knowledge in quantitative and qualitative methods of enquiry for understanding the health of populations, and developmental approaches to population health science. In addition, students will belong to one of the following Fields of Study associated with the departments of: Environmental Health , Epidemiology , Global Health and Population , Nutrition , or Social and Behavioral Sciences .

For further details on the PhD program, please visit this website .

Curriculum Guide

2023-24 SBS-PhD Curriculum Guide

What are the admission requirements for the PhD program?

For applicants that are applying into the PhD in Population Health Sciences check out this admission requirement  checklist .

I’m applying to the PhD program in Population Health Sciences, do I need to secure an advisor? Do faculty make advising commitments before applying to the program?

Advisors for PhD students in the PHS program are chosen after we know who will be joining us in the new cohort. Generally, the assignment takes place in early to mid-May. An essential part of the PhD admissions process is the consideration of appropriate mentoring faculty for the applicant. Therefore applicants do not get prior advising commitments from a potential faculty mentor prior to applying to the program. We recommend listing up to three faculty members of interest in your personal statement, articulating how your current research interests align with the faculty listed.

I’m applying to the PhD program in Population Health Sciences, do I need to have prior quantitative coursework?

Our program has a strong emphasis on quantitative methods so showing preparation in this area is strongly recommended. The doctoral program in SBS is very quantitative-focused and we do require students to take a year of Quantitative Research Methods in Population Health Sciences (PHS 2000 A + B). Although the committee looks at the application holistically, some emphasis is placed on how well applicants do in specific course areas such as Biostats, EPI and the social sciences.

It’s always helpful to the admissions committee to be able to assess quantitative skills in an applicant’s background and that is usually demonstrated through coursework, professional experiences and letters of recommendation.

What are you looking for in applicants to the PhD program?

While applications are looked at holistically, the admissions committee does place an emphasis on prior coursework in biostatistics, epidemiology and the social sciences, so highlighting these types of courses in your application will be useful.  Additionally, it could be helpful if one of your recommenders is a professor from your last degree program who can comment positively on your quantitative abilities.  Your statement of purpose is a chance for you to tell the committee about your motivation for pursuing doctoral work in SBS and to describe yourself as a researcher. A key part of the admissions review process is making sure there is appropriate mentorship, so we suggest naming up to three SBS faculty whose interests align with your own. You can read about the faculty here .

You may find the information on this page helpful as you prepare your application.

Will graduate course work from my master’s degree be accepted for some of the coursework required in the PhD (e.g. statistics courses etc.)?

You can submit a substitution form with the course syllabus for courses you have taken in your Master’s program. Substitution requests are carefully reviewed by the instructor of the required HSPH course to determine if the course is truly equivalent.

Where can I find out more information on the research in the SBS department?

You can get some information on faculty research by viewing their profiles on the department website.

You can read about the research areas of current students here .

News from the School

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Graduation 2024: Award winners

Once a malaria patient, student now has sights set on stopping the deadly disease

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PhD in Social Work

We are committed to training the next generation of scholars in social work, whose research will inform policy and practice addressing society’s most pressing problems. 

Doctoral education in Social Work prepares students for leadership roles in social work research, social work education, social policy, planning, and administration. We provide students with advanced academic training that will allow them to contribute to the knowledge base of our profession. 

Our faculty includes nationally recognized leaders in every area of social work practice and research, and we take a hands-on, supportive approach to doctoral education.  The doctoral program is open to applicants who have demonstrated intellectual capacity, critical thinking skills, and potential for research and scholarship.

Please visit our PhD Admissions webpage for admissions-related information.

Dual/Joint Cooperative Degrees/Certificates

Member Institutions: PhD Programs

Doctor of philosophy (phd) programs.

The Directory of Doctoral Social Work Programs, formerly the GADE Guide, includes program information on GADE’s PhD program members. These programs very in the auspices of the university (public or nonprofit), the delivery of the program (in-person, hybrid or totally online), and the program schedule (full-time or part-time). Explore the individual program pages for more details on the various PhD programs.

• Adelphi University
• Arizona State University
• Barry University
• Baylor University
• Boston College
• Boston University
• Bryn Mawr College
• Carleton University
• Case Western Reserve University
• The Catholic University of America
• City University of New York
• Clark Atlanta University
• Colorado State University
• Columbia University
• Florida International University
• Florida State University
• Fordham University
• Howard University
• Indiana University
• Loma Linda University
• Louisiana State University
• Loyola University Chicago
• Memorial University of Newfoundland
• Michigan State University
• Morgan State University
• New York University
• Norfolk State University
• The Ohio State University
• Our Lady of the Lake University
• Portland State University
• Rutgers University
• Sacred Heart University
• Saint Louis University
• Simmons University
• Smith College
• State University of New York at Albany
• State University of New York at Buffalo
• State University of New York at Stony Brook
• Temple University
• University of Alabama
• University of Calgary
• University of California at Berkeley
• University of California at Los Angeles
• The University of Chicago
• University of Connecticut
• University of Denver
• University of Georgia
• University of Hawaii at Manoa
• University of Houston
• University of Illinois, Chicago
• University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
• University of Iowa
• University of Kansas
• University of Kentucky
• University of Louisville
• University of Manitoba
• University of Maryland, Baltimore
• University of Michigan
• University of Minnesota
• University of Mississippi
• University of Missouri
• University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
• University of Pennsylvania
• University of Pittsburgh
• University of South Carolina
• University of South Florida
• University of Southern California
• University of Tennessee-Knoxville
• University of Texas at Arlington
• University of Texas at Austin
• University of Toronto
• University of Utah
• University of Washington
• University of Windsor
• University of Wisconsin-Madison
• University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
• Virginia Commonwealth University
• Walden University
• Washington University in St. Louis
• Wayne State University
• West Virginia University
• Widener University
• Wilfrid Laurier University
• Yeshiva University

To update your program's profile, please complete the Program Directory Update Form .

Please visit our commencement page to watch the 2024 ceremony and view the Class of 2024 Name Book

Fall 2024 On-Campus MSW Application FINAL Deadline: July 16, 2024

USC Master of Social Work

Be an agent of change.  .

Society is changing more rapidly than ever, creating dynamic and complex challenges that require us to develop integrative practice methods to empower students and the field. Our curriculum revolves around experiential, practice and competency-based learning, and culturally-responsive training all informed by evidence and best practices. From the classroom to the field, the USC-SDP MSW experience will stretch, grow and broaden our students' perspective and practice — positioning our graduates to create lasting social change.

Request Information

So, are you ready to reimagine the future? 

Social workers make a real difference, driving change at a policy level, within an organization, or by working with individuals one-on-one. 

USC’s Master of Social Work will empower you to pursue bold, compassionate solutions to complex social challenges. Our program will prepare you to enter the workforce and immediately engage with the issues that matter most to you.  

Our MSW Program 

For decades, as a faculty, we have delivered bold, principled, and forward-thinking training to social workers. We will build upon our history and our identity to advance our field. We are innovators and change-makers. Our MSW is designed to empower USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck graduates to see and understand their clients through an integrative, nuanced, and dynamic lens. Culturally-responsive and evidence-informed practice has always been the core focus.

Our Integrative Social Work specialization is created for people like you who cannot wait to change the world. Our MSW provides an Advanced Generalist education with a specialization in Integrative Social Work practice. Integrative Social Work is the intentional use of a person in environment perspective that offers a comprehensive understanding of a client across all practice domains to implement the most effective intervention. It brings historical, cultural, and political perspectives and a critical understanding of difference and oppression to bear in understanding the person and environment, social problems, interventions, and possibilities for social justice-oriented action.

MSW coursework's designed to be accessible and customizable to meet students with varied interests and needs. Students may take courses full-time or part-time, fully in-person on campus in LA or completely online. Hybrid options (first year in person in LA or San Diego) and second-year online also are available. 

Foundational courses in assessment and clinical practice, theory, research, social policy, self-care and wellness, professional values, and ethics in complex decision-making. Specialized courses can be customized along tracks such as courses focused on military, adult health and wellness, children, youth and families, and schools and military. Students may also choose not to identify a track and take courses across tracks. Hands-on practicum education allows students to apply skills learned in class. Students may also choose to enhance their degree with additional specialized education with University certificates.  Certificates are offered within the School of Social Work and across programs at the University. 

This intensive program includes 1,200 hours of hands-on practicum education to practice and apply the skills you learn in class. After you complete this program, you will be prepared to find meaningful work that makes a difference.

Our Curriculum

Licensure and Credentialing

The Master of Social Work (MSW) program at USC is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), and designed to help meet the eligibility requirements for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) and Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) examination to obtain licensure. The MSW program provides a pathway to licensure, but does not satisfy all requirements for licensure upon completion of the program.

Requirements for licensure, including levels of licensure, vary by state and students should review the USC Licensure and Certifications site for state-specific MSW course requirements and restrictions. Students interested in pursuing licensure should also contact the licensing board for the state in which they hope to become licensed to determine specific requirements for licensure, including any requirements that are beyond the scope of the MSW program.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you care about changing the world for the better, a degree in social work will give you the skills and experience to make a real difference in the lives of individuals and society as a whole.   The MSW prepares you for a wide variety of career paths — in public, private and nonprofit sectors — and the flexibility and expertise to move from one setting, population and organization to another with ease.

The MSW was designed to be accessible and flexible in order to meet the needs of students who want a full-time program or those who are simultaneously working or have other responsibilities and are looking for more of a part-time option. In-person, online or hybrid (first-year in-person and second-year online) exist in full-time and part-time options.

Accelerated 12 Months

Students who previously earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from an accredited university may be eligible to complete their MSW in 12 months. Perfect for career-changers who want to go back to school full-time to get back in the workforce as quickly as possible.

Full-Time 24 Months

Perfect for career changers or recent graduates that have some exposure to social work practice and have the time to engage in an immersive educational program in person or online.

Part-Time 28 Months

Perfect for working professionals who need to work around a day job while pursuing their master’s degree.

Online Variable

Perfect for students who live further away or cannot get to campus regularly. 

We partner with four other prestigious professional schools at USC, in addition to Hebrew Union College, to offer eight options for a concurrent degree. While obtaining your MSW, you can earn one of the following:

• Juris Doctor (JD)
• Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• MS in Gerontology  (MSG)
• MA in Jewish Nonprofit Management  (MAJNM)
• Master of Urban Planning (MUP)
• Master of Public Administration (MPA)
• Master of Public Health (MPH)
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Social Work

A dual degree option requires separate admission to each program.

We require all new students to attend orientation sessions that introduce you to campus resources, support services, curriculum, financial aid, field instruction and technology. An international student adviser also is available to help foreign students become oriented to the school.

Yes. Graduate student housing is offered to graduate students in LA at the University Park Campus. USC Housing Services offers a wide variety of housing options for graduate students, from residence halls to apartments. Most MSW students do not live in university housing since the Los Angeles area has numerous interesting communities in which to live, many within a reasonable commuting distance from USC. If you decide to apply for housing, we recommend that you meet the Priority Deadline for the MSW program so that you can receive your admission decision as early as possible — housing applications may only be submitted once you have been admitted to USC.

Practicum Education

Our students are energized by the vibrant urban classroom of Los Angeles , a global city on the frontlines of social change. We have partnerships with some of the largest providers of social services in the country, so there is no better place to get the practicum training that will prepare you for the real challenges of the work. Many of our internships lead to permanent job placements post-graduation. 

Practicum Education

The University of Southern California consistently ranks among the nation's top accredited social work graduate programs in U.S. News & World Report . Our cutting edge research makes us a go-to program for students interested in:

Aging Artificial Intelligence     Behavioral and Mental Health Child Welfare Crisis and Disaster Recovery    Homelessness    

Human Trafficking Substance Use Social Determinants of Health Social Response to Climate Change Trauma-Informed Care Veterans and Military Families

MSW students have the option to receive specialized training along a track . Tracks are reflective of common areas of interest and may change in order to adapt to changing needs.

Adult Mental Health & Wellness

Children, Youth and Families

Social Change and Innovation

School and Educational Settings

Military Populations and Settings

How can I learn more about the MSW?

Attend an Info Session

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Paying for Graduate School

Request More Info

MSW Formats

Customize your MSW degree based on your timeline, interests and preferred method of delivery.

12-36 Months 

Study social work in the heart of Los Angeles and learn face-to-face with your peers and renowned faculty.

• 1-, 2- and 3-Year courses of study
• Full- and part-time options
• Day and evening classes
• Classes on-campus in Los Angeles
• Advanced Standing option available

Earn your MSW while you work or tend to other responsibilities with our flexible hybrid formats.

• 2-, 2.5- and 3-Year courses of study
• Full- and part-time hybrid options
• Day, evening and weekend classes
• Up to 12 synchronous units online with remaining classes on-campus in Los Angeles or San Diego
• Part-time option  only available in LA

18-24 Months 

Engage with our integrative social work curriculum wherever you are with the online MSW. 

• 1.5- and 2-Year courses of study
• Synchronous classes can be taken anywhere

What careers can I have with an MSW?

An MSW from Suzanne Dwork-Peck School of Social Work will provide you with many ways to change the world. You can choose the path that you want to take, whether that's working with specific groups of people or affecting policy changes that improve our society for everyone. 

Our dynamic, supportive academic environment makes space for you to think deeply, act courageously and explore new ways to create meaningful change. 

How to Apply     Apply Now

Career Tips , Choosing a Job , Getting a Job

Navigating the Path to Social Work Careers

Published: May 24, 2024

Social work is a deeply rewarding field where you can make a significant impact on individual lives and communities. You might be drawn to social work because it provides a tangible way to help others, or perhaps you want to be on the front lines of social change. Let’s take a closer look at the profession below.

Social Work Careers

Social work is a field with a wide range of career opportunities, each offering the chance to make a significant difference in the lives of others. Whether through direct client interaction or community-wide programs, social workers play a crucial role in improving societal well-being.

The core values of social work are service, social justice, dignity, and integrity. These four values guide practitioners in their professional actions and their commitment to serving individuals and communities effectively. 

Social workers fill roles in a variety of sectors, including healthcare, education, community, nonprofit, and government. The best career in social work is different for each person and depends on that person’s strengths along with the type of work they are passionate about. Below are some of the most popular careers in social work.

Clinical Social Work Therapist

Clinical social work therapists specialize in diagnosing and treating mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders.

Medical Social Worker

Medical social workers work in healthcare settings to help patients navigate the emotional and practical challenges associated with acute, chronic, or terminal illnesses.

School Social Worker

School support workers support student success by addressing social, emotional, and behavioral problems that interfere with education.

Hospice Social Worker

Hospice social workers provide end-of-life support to patients and their families, helping them manage psychological and logistical challenges.

Substance Use and Recovery Treatment Counselor

Substance use and recovery treatment counselors assist individuals recovering from addiction, providing counseling and support to help them reclaim control of their lives.

Mental Health Counselor

Mental health counselors offer therapy and support for individuals dealing with mental health issues.

Community Service Manager

Community service managers oversee programs and staff that provide social services to the public.

Health Educator

Health educators focus on community-wide health education and intervention to promote wellness and healthy living.

Child and Family Social Worker

Child and family social workers work with children and families to improve situations in cases of abuse, neglect, or parental incapacity.

Social Research Scientist

Social research scientists research to evaluate and improve social services systems.

What Does a Social Worker Do?

Social workers fulfill a variety of critical functions in their daily roles. These tasks demonstrate the comprehensive nature of social work, requiring a blend of empathy, problem-solving skills , and practical knowledge of social services. Here’s a more detailed look at a social worker’s typical tasks.

Client Assessment

Social workers begin their intervention with a thorough assessment of the client’s needs, strengths, and challenges. This process includes interviewing clients, and possibly their families, to gather detailed social, economic, and psychological information.

Developing Plans 

Based on their assessments, social workers develop tailored intervention plans to address the client’s specific circumstances. This might involve setting goals, outlining steps to meet those goals, and identifying appropriate resources.

Resource Connection

A key task is to connect clients with community resources and services. This can include mental health services, healthcare, housing, job training, and more, depending on what the client needs to improve their situation.

Social workers often act as advocates for their clients to access services and resources. They may work to change policies or access resources that are not readily available, ensuring that clients receive necessary services, such as healthcare or legal aid.

Crisis Intervention

In urgent situations, such as cases of abuse or mental health crises, social workers intervene to provide immediate support and safety. They are trained to handle emergencies and can provide critical support services during crises.

Counseling and Support

Counseling is a fundamental part of social work. This includes therapeutic interventions aimed at helping individuals cope with their circumstances and improving their emotional and psychological well-being.

Monitoring and Evaluation

After implementing intervention plans, social workers monitor the progress of their clients and evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention. Adjustments to the plan may be made to better meet the client’s needs.

Documentation

Accurate documentation is crucial in social work. Social workers keep detailed records of assessments, plans, client progress, and sessions. This documentation ensures continuity of care and accountability.

What are the Benefits of Being a Social Worker?

The field of social work comes with a variety of benefits, including the ability to help others, a diverse working environment, and personal growth. One of the most fulfilling aspects of being a social worker is the opportunity to make a positive impact on individuals, families, and communities. Social workers play a crucial role in mental health care, crisis intervention, and employment counseling, often seeing firsthand how their efforts improve the lives of those they help. This aspect of the job provides a deep sense of purpose and accomplishment, which is a significant source of job satisfaction.

In addition to personal fulfillment, social work offers a diverse work environment where professionals can interact with people from various backgrounds and experiences. This diversity enriches the job experience, fostering a broader understanding and appreciation of different perspectives and needs. Social work also supports professional development through ongoing training and educational opportunities, allowing practitioners to stay current in their field and advance in their careers. 

How to Become a Social Worker?

The path to becoming a social worker typically begins with obtaining a bachelor’s degree in social work or a related field such as psychology, sociology, or health sciences. This foundational step provides the essential knowledge and skills needed in the profession, including an understanding of social welfare policy, human behavior, and ethical practice. 

UoPeople offers a comprehensive bachelor of science in health science program, with an opportunity to earn a certificate in behavioral health . This program offers a curriculum in human development, psychopathology and mental health, community health, biology, and bioethics. You will gain an in-depth understanding of how social, cultural, and biological factors contribute to mental health and will prepare you for the next career step.

Besides offering a top-notch education, UoPeople’s courses are taught completely online , making our programs a great fit for students who are working or juggling family responsibilities. Because of our flexible model, our courses contain a diverse mix of students from around the world, providing unique perspectives and networking opportunities unmatched by in-person programs.

Once you have completed a bachelor’s degree, aspiring social workers who wish to enter clinical practice or advance in their careers typically pursue a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree. An MSW not only broadens their knowledge and expertise but also meets the educational requirements for licensure, which is mandatory for clinical social workers in most states. 

After earning an MSW, candidates must complete a period of supervised clinical experience, often two to three years, before they can apply for licensure. The final steps include passing a professional state licensing exam and fulfilling any additional state-specific requirements.

Choosing a career in social work offers an exceptional opportunity to positively impact the lives of individuals, families, and entire communities. Social workers stand at the forefront of addressing societal challenges, from advocating for social justice to providing critical mental health support. 

This profession is not just a job; it’s a calling that attracts those who wish to make a meaningful difference. The role of a social worker extends beyond mere occupation—it’s about fostering change, supporting resilience, and empowering the most vulnerable to achieve their full potential. It’s a career that embodies the spirit of service, making it deeply fulfilling for those who pursue it.

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SSW graduates 216

Wednesday, May 22, 2024 • Jaelon Jackson :

The University of Texas at Arlington's School of Social Work held its Spring Commencement Ceremony Friday, May 10, celebrating the achievements of one Ph.D., 129 master’s, and 86 bachelor’s students.

The ceremony, held at Globe Life Field in Arlington, highlighted the dedication and hard work of these students. 

The graduates stepped into the next chapter of their lives equipped with the knowledge and skills gained from the Bachelor of Science in Substance Use and Treatment, Bachelor of Social Work, Master of Social Work, and Ph.D. in Social Work programs.

Dr. Christine Highfill, the sole social work doctoral graduate for this semester, represented the pinnacle of academic achievement in the field. 

She was recognized for her significant contributions to social work research and scholarship, and her dedication to advancing knowledge in the field was applauded. 

Reflecting on her journey, Dr. Highfill describes what it feels like to be a Ph.D. graduate.

"I think you stand a little bit taller. The change in name reflects the change in identity that I've experienced over the past five years in the program," Highfill said.

The School of Social Work at UTA takes pride in preparing graduates for careers promoting social justice, community development, and individual well-being. The diverse array of programs offered, from undergraduate to doctoral levels, ensure students receive a comprehensive education, equipping them to address the complex challenges of contemporary society.

The ceremony concluded with a triumphant procession of graduates, symbolizing the collective achievements of the School of Social Work community.

Master of Social Work graduate Makita Johnson described graduation as an emotional experience filled with moments of joy. 

"It was seeing the fruits of my labor come to fruition - from taking night and weekend classes over the past 13 years to earn my Associate’s, to scheduling classes around my family and work obligations to earn my Bachelor's, and then spending long nights glued to the computer to earn my Master's," Johnson said.

Johnson added graduating meant fulfilling a promise to herself and setting an example for her children about determination and hard work.

Dr. Regina Praetorius noted Johnson joined the MSW program after earning a Bachelor of Social Work at St. Edward’s University in Austin.  Praetorius said Johnson has successfully integrated her tech and organizational skills into her social work practice.

"She has been the lead GSL (Graduate Student Leader) intern in both fall and spring and has helped build great infrastructure for moving forward," Praetorius said.

To look at photos from the commencement ceremony click here: Facebook

To watch the Spring 2024 Commencement, click here: https://www.uta.edu/commencement/photos-videos

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U-M SSW Field Instructor Training: What is Field Instruction

5/17/2024 - 8:30 am to 10:30 am et, webinar recording.

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• When: 5/17/2024 - 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM

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