PhD Admissions and Application Information

Admission Requirements
Application Checklist and Instructions

Individual decisions regarding admission to the College of Social Work PhD Program are based on practice experience, training, scholarship, test scores, and other factors. We view the application as a package so that weak components might outweigh stronger components of the applicant’s materials. We specifically look for career objectives (research and teaching, primarily), identification with the social work profession, as well as research and writing ability.

The annual Application Deadline is February 1st
Newly admitted students to the campus PhD Program
(both full-time and part-time) begin classes only during fall semester.
We are not currently accepting applications for
the Technology-Enhanced Doctorate (TED) at this time.
We anticipate opening a TED cohort every 5-6 years.

Students who hold an MA or MS in a related field may be required, at a minimum, to complete the first year of the MSW Program curriculum. Students who hold an MA or MS in an unrelated field will be required to complete the entire MSW program. The Admissions Committee will recognize international social work MA/MS degrees as equivalent to MSW, MSSW, etc. from U.S. schools of social work. The Admissions Committee accepts foreign degrees as admissible, provided the applicant has plans to return to her or his nation of origin to teach or practice.

The admission requirements include the completion of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), with scores forwarded to the College of Social Work. Preparatory courses have proven to effectively raise the test scores; for further information, contact University of Utah Preparatory Courses at 801-581-5361 or aoce.utah.edu/prep. Students concerned that their GRE scores are less than reflective of their quantitative skills may want to consider enrolling in a statistics course prior to admission so that grades or a letter of support from a professor can be submitted as part of the application. Applicants should also include a sample of their writing in the form of a published article, an article submitted for publication, or a manuscript prepared specifically in relation to application to the PhD Program.

As a general rule, applicants should have a Master’s degree in Social Work (MSW) from an accredited school of social work and a minimum of two years social work experience. We encourage you to make application as early as possible.

Program requirements and admission procedures are the same for both campus and TED applicants. We always welcome an opportunity to answer questions and talk with you.
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