CSW PhD Program

Our PhD Program balances theory-driven research with strong conceptual and analytical skills. Graduates are prepared to be teaching-research faculty in prominent schools of social work. Designed for students to obtain their degree in three to five academic years, the first part of the program consists of PhD core courses and the second part consists of the dissertation process. Classes in our interdisciplinary program promote strong inter-professional thinking and integrative approaches to social problems drawing from a solid social science theory base. The graduation requirements and our curriculum enhance our intensive, research-driven approaches to build new practice paradigms with a focus on practice and systems change. Our principal goal is to prepare students to contribute to the development of knowledge in the field of social welfare and the profession of social work.

We have two curriculum delivery strategies with the same program requirements, standards of rigor, and expectations for students and our flexible course work options enable students to maintain their roles in the community. Both full-time and part-time students are admitted each fall semester to our regular campus program which has been in existence since 1972. Our summer-intensive Technology-Enhanced Doctorate (TED) began in 2000, and our second cohort started Summer 2006. We are now accepting applications for our 3rd TED cohort which is expected to begin Summer 2010.

Well known for our work with native American communities, the College of Social Work has an exceptional faculty also recognized for their work in fields of child welfare, aging, family supports, juvenile justice and corrections, disabilities, health, mental health, and substance abuse. Specialty areas in the school include partnerships with public sector agencies, now spanning a four-state collaborative of schools and indigenous helping communities. In addition, the College of Social Work and the Department of Political Science offer campus students the option of obtaining a dual Ph.D./MPA Degree.

Please feel free to direct specific questions to us as we always welcome an opportunity to answer questions and talk with you.

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