Doctor of Philosophy in Social Work
The goal of the University of Kansas School of Social Welfare Ph.D. program is to prepare students to become leaders nationally and internationally in advancing social work practice and policy through research, teaching, and scholarship. Our 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. The school is known nationally and internationally as a prime innovator in the Strengths Perspective for social work practice. Ph.D. students have played a key role in advancing this work to its 21st century applications.
Program Highlights
- Creative, critical thinking about social work practice, social policy, and guiding theoretical frames
- Advanced quantitative and qualitative research skills
- Opportunities for innovative scholarship and for the development of teaching skills
- Student-centered educational approach
- Financial support and mentoring for students
- Appreciation for human diversity and the development of a global perspective
- Racial, social, economic, and environmental justice focus
- Study Abroad opportunities
Ph.D. students are immersed in the excitement and creativity in the profession — how professionals come to know what they know, how they put that knowledge into practice and how it affects social justice.
Consider Our Program
The Ph.D. program offers effective options for building knowledge by initiating systematic inquiry into methods, forms, and outcomes of social work practice and social welfare policy. We are dedicated to educating scholars who desire to build knowledge for the profession through quantitative, qualitative, theoretical, or conceptual analyses, and historiographic investigations. Demand for our Ph.D. graduates is high. Our alumni are engaged in teaching, research, and administrative endeavors and are found in faculty positions at premier research universities and at smaller colleges and universities throughout the United States and abroad.
Curriculum
Ph.D. courses prepare students as scholars with conceptual and methodological sophistication.
- The history and philosophy course focuses on the intellectual history, current status, and innovation of social work ideas, ideologies, and theories.
- In the research sequence, students learn both qualitative and quantitative methodologies, designs, advanced modes of analysis, theory for research, appropriate applications, and research design which centers racial and social justice.
- The policy course provides the opportunity to analyze policies of interest to the student and how policies impact populations of interest. Students develop and apply a critical perspective when considering human problems, strengths, and strategies for change and transformation.
- Integrative papers and electives help students develop deep understanding in areas of special interest.
- A required course as well as teaching seminars for GTAs prepare students to be effective educators.
- The dissertation involves advanced and focused research into a topic selected by the student, based on quantitative, qualitative, historical, conceptual, or other methods of inquiry.
GTA & GRA - Teaching and Research Opportunities
Our Ph.D. program contributes significantly to the ongoing development of the Strengths Perspective. The program utilizes community-based research, service, and education as a pathway for scholarly development while addressing the need to develop best practices when serving the community. We strive to educate students to practice with integrity and competence, which contributes to bridging the gap between research and practice. It is part of the School’s mission to transform the lives and social contexts of individuals, families, and communities in a manner characterized by high levels of engagement and relationship building to facilitate multi-system competency.
Admission Criteria & Requirements
Standard Admission Requirements for all Graduate Programs
- All applicants must meet the requirements outlined in the Admission to Graduate Study policy.
- Bachelor’s degree: A copy of official transcripts showing proof of a bachelor's degree (and any post-bachelor’s coursework or degrees) from a regionally accredited institution, or a foreign university with equivalent bachelor's degree requirements is required.
- English proficiency: Proof of English proficiency for non-native or non-native-like English speakers is required. There are two bands of English proficiency, including Admission and Full proficiency. For applicants to online programs, Full proficiency is required.
School of Social Welfare Ph.D. Admission Requirements
Criteria used in judging applications include the applicant’s potential for excellence in academic performance, professional practice experience, and potential for contributions to knowledge-building for social work. We take a holistic approach to admissions, attending to the various strengths and areas for growth of each prospective student.
Required
- Master's degree in social work or related field.
- Graduate grade-point average of 3.5 or higher.
- Personal statement of scholarly and research interests in social work practice and why the candidate wishes to pursue their Ph.D. at KU.
- Three letters of reference, transcripts from all previously attended schools regardless of degree status, and resume.
- Completion of a basic statistics course within the past two years with a grade of B or higher. If the applicant has not completed this requirement, they must include a written statement showing how it will be met before entering the program, or indicate they plan to apply for a waiver of this requirement based on extensive research experience.
- Completion of the online graduate application.
- Students whose native language is not English must follow the policy for English Proficiency Requirements for Admission to Graduate Study.
Preferred
- Undergraduate grade-point average of 3.0 or higher preferred.
- MSW degree preferred. Applicants with master's degrees related to social work and affiliation with social work activities and values are considered.
- Two years of social work or related practice; ideally two years of post-master’s professional social work experience preferred.
Application Timeline and Procedure
Ph.D. admissions are considered every other year. Application information and deadlines may be found on the program website. Applications are not reviewed until all materials are received. Late applications are considered only on a space-available basis.
Learn more about the admission process.
International Students
International students from all regions of the world are encouraged to apply. For more information about international student applications and resources and regulations contact International Support Services and the Applied English Center.
Ph.D. Degree Requirements
The program requires a minimum of 64 credit hours, as follows:
- 37 credit hours of required coursework.
- 9 credit hours of electives.
- An integrative paper.
- A comprehensive examination process.
- Completion of a dissertation.
In fulfilling the elective hours, students may take graduate-level courses in any substantive area or research skills necessary for successful completion of their goals. Students can take electives in social science or other relevant graduate disciplines. They may also complete Independent Study under faculty direction and/or choose from one of the study abroad courses offered by the School.
Beyond course work, students complete one integrative paper under the guidance of a faculty committee. This demonstrates their ability to integrate knowledge and skills across the curriculum areas in relation to a theme of inquiry developed by the student in their chosen specialization. After the integrative paper is completed, students complete an oral comprehensive exam (dissertation proposal defense) and then undertake and complete an approved research project, and write and defend the doctoral dissertation.
Required course work can be completed in 2-3 years. Additional time is needed to complete the integrative paper and dissertation. The program can be completed in 4 years of focused work.
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Two (2) semesters (fall and/or spring) of full-time enrollment in KU coursework, as defined by University Policy.
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At least 18 hours of enrollment in KU coursework spread out over several part-time semesters.
Summer enrollment is not required to maintain registration, but may be counted toward the (18) part-time pre-comprehensive hours.
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| SW 911 | PhD Seminar I (taken fall and spring semester) | 2 |
| SW 912 | PhD Seminar II (taken fall and spring semester) | 2 |
| SW 975 | Racial Equity and Social Justice in Research and Practice | 3 |
| SW 976 | Practice and Politics of Writing | 3 |
| SW 978 | Research Design and Methods | 3 |
| SW 979 | Methods of Qualitative Inquiry I | 3 |
| SW 980 | History and Philosophy of Social Work | 3 |
| SW 981 | Advanced Quantitative Research Methods I | 3 |
| SW 982 | Social Welfare Policy | 3 |
| SW 983 | Advanced Quantitative Research Methods II | 3 |
| SW 985 | Theory for Social Work Research | 3 |
| SW 987 | Teaching Social Work: Philosophy and Methods | 3 |
| SW 989 | Methods of Qualitative Inquiry II | 3 |
| SW 990 | Graduate Research | 9 |
| SW 999 | Dissertation | 9 |
| 9 |
| Total Hours | 64 |
The program requires a minimum of 64 credit hours.
At the completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate critical thinking skills related to anti-oppressive research from conceptualization and implementation through dissemination. Demonstrate a commitment to pursuing anti-oppressive research.
- Infuse and apply a critical perspective with an explicit focus on equity and social justice within one’s pedagogy.
- Commit to ongoing critical self-reflection and development in one’s teaching and work with students with an anti-oppressive lens.
- Take an active role in facilitating relationships in the school, the doctoral student community, and the national and international network of social work educators and scholars.
- Demonstrate professional accountability, integrity, and ethical practice in one’s research and role as an educator of developing future social workers in the field.
- Critically incorporate the strengths perspective in one’s scholarship, research, pedagogy and practice. Specifically, clients served, collaborators, research participants, colleagues, and students.
- Position one's scholarship within social work and the broader interdisciplinary evidence base.
- Situate one's teaching, research, and service within a multi-systemic framework.
- Conceptualize the impact of one's scholarly work within empirically informed social work using a systems lens which integrates across micro and macro levels.
