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.
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.
See frequently asked questions about the PhD Program.To learn more about our PhD program and the admissions process, please RSVP for an information session.
Please note: the application deadline is December 2, 2022
Information Session Dates:
Tuesday October 11, 2022 (5:00-6:00pm via Zoom)
Wednesday November 2, 2022 (12:30-1:30pm via Zoom)
How to apply to the PhD program
Visit our application information page for details about admission deadlines, a list of required application materials, and what we're looking for in our applicants.