Ph.D. in Social Work

The mission of the PhD program is to prepare competent scholars to advance knowledge and scholarships, pursue excellence, and provide leadership and service and to promote social and economic justice and cultural competence with diverse populations. The program builds on the premise that social welfare must be scientifically and theoretically based and continually responsive to changing local and global societal needs.
The primary goal of the program is to prepare scholars to advance knowledge development and dissemination for the profession of social work. The program seeks to provide students with an opportunity to contribute to the advancement of knowledge in the field and the profession in order to provide more effective and efficient services in social welfare and qualify for leadership positions in teaching, research, and administration. Graduates of the program are expected to make a significant contribution to the profession of social work through continued research, scholarship, teaching and service.
Upon completion of the PhD Program, students will display competency in: • Theory and theory development; • Knowledge and skills in research methods and data analysis; • Theory, research, and policy as applied to a specialty practice area; • Understanding and commitment to the underlying values, ethics, and social and economic justice perspectives in the scientific inquiry in social work; • Research as applied to social work practice, policy and social work education.