The PhD in Social Work offers an interdisciplinary curriculum with emphasis on advanced research methods and statistics. The program requires 47 credit hours excluding dissertation.
Required Coursework
| Foundational Courses | Credit hours |
|---|---|
| Colloquium on Social Work Education and Research | 2 |
| Theories of Social Work: From Conceptualization to Application | 3 |
| Three foundational seminars in research methods: > Research Methods I: Quantitative Methods > Research Methods in Minoritized Populations > Research Methods III: Qualitative Methods | 9 |
| Two foundational seminars in quantitative data analysis: > Quantitative Data Analysis I > Quantitative Data Analysis II | 6 |
| Pedagogy in Social Work | 3 |
| Specialization Area Seminar | 3 |
| Elective Courses | |
| Research practicum or one advanced research methods course or one advanced statistical methods course | 3 |
| One advanced research methods course or one advanced statistical methods course | 3 |
| Writing practicum or one elective | 3 |
| Four additional electives of the student’s choosing | 12 |
| Total | 47 |
Typical Progress for Full-time Students
Year 1
Fall
- Theories and Social Work
- Data Analysis I
- Research Methods I
- Colloquium on Social Work Education and Research
Spring
- Data Analysis II
- Research Methods III
- Research Methods in Minoritized Populations
- Colloquium on Social Work Education and Research
Summer
- Elective
Year 2
Fall
- 2 Electives
- Pedagogy in Social Work
Spring
- Area of Specialization Course (Comp. exam prep)
- 2 Electives
Summer
- Elective
Year 3
Fall
- Elective
- Research in social work
Spring
- Dissertation
Summer
- Dissertation
Year 4
Fall
- Dissertation
Spring
- Dissertation
Summer
- Dissertation
Progress
| Activity | Target | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Course work completed | 2 years | None |
| Comprehensive exam passed | 1 year | None |
| Dissertation proposal approved | 3 years | None |
| Application to candidacy approved | 3 years | 6 years |
| Dissertation defended | 4 years | 2 years after candidacy |
Rules
- The Doctoral Program in Social Work is a full-time, in-residence program. We do not offer part-time or distance-learning options
- No more than 20% of the required credit hours can be taken on a credit/no credit basis (CR/NC). A student must perform at a B- or better level for the course to count. An overall 3.0 GPA (Grade Point Average) excluding dissertation courses is necessary in order to graduate.
- At the time of application for candidacy, all course work that is included in a student’s program of work must have been taken within the previous six years.
- Additional requirements for candidacy include successful oral defense of the comprehensive examination paper and submission of a first-authored manuscript to a peer-reviewed scientific journal
- The 99-hour rule: The university charges nonresident tuition to all students, resident and nonresident, who have accumulated more than 99 doctoral hours.
For more information, go to the Graduate School page
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