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Social Work PhD Doctorate Program

Overview

The mission of Widener University's Center for Social Work Education is to help you develop as an academic leader and sharpen your skills and expertise in research, teaching, and application of theory. Through Widener's social work PhD program, you will cultivate leadership qualities and interpersonal skills to further your development for a career:

• as social work faculty in undergraduate and graduate college and university programs
• as administrators in private and public organizations
• as advanced clinical, community, or policy practitioners

Program Details

Format

• On Campus
• Part-time, cohort-based format

Credits

• 54

Average Time to Completion

• 5 years

College/School

• College of Health & Human Services

Campus Location

• Chester, PA

Curriculum, Outcomes, & Coursework Requirements

In the social work PhD program, we aim to develop you as an academic leader proficient in research, teaching, and advanced social work practice. As you progress through the program, you'll learn to critically analyze social work interventions, delve into the underlying theories and assumptions, and gain a comprehensive understanding of how political, economic, sociocultural, and organizational contexts shape the field.

You'll also have the opportunity to collaborate with interdisciplinary perspectives, use established quantitative and qualitative methods for research, evaluate different social work approaches, develop effective teaching skills, and enhance your writing and scholarship abilities.

Dual MSW/PhD Option

Our PhD program accepts students who have either a MSW degree or a master’s degree in a related discipline.

We offer an MSW/PhD option for those students who have a master’s degree in a related field and would like to earn the MSW in conjunction with their PhD.

Career Outcomes

Potential Careers

• Professor of Social Work
• Advanced Practice Clinical Social Worker
• Social and Community Service Manager
• Non-Profit Director
• Human Services Administrator

Median Pay

• $103,713 per year (average annual salary of a professor of social work in PA)

Industry Growth

• Overall employment of social workers is projected to grow 12% by 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations.

Admissions & Aid

Admissions Information

• A personal statement (4–6 double-spaced, typed pages) describing professional goals and reasons for seeking a PhD in social work.
• Transcripts from undergraduate and graduate courses of study.
• Sample of scholarly (academic) writing that illustrates capacity for critical thinking, writing skill, and appropriate citation of sources.
• Three letters of reference—two academic and one professional—addressing applicant’s professional and academic performance.
• Completed application form.
• Current résumé.

Application Deadlines

• The application deadline for the next academic year is March 30th.
• Our Social Work PhD program starts reviewing applications on February 1st and then uses a rolling admissions format.

Transfer to Widener

• Widener transfer applicants follow the same application process as general applicants.
• After you apply, our admissions team will work with you to determine whether completed undergraduate and graduate coursework will count towards foundation/core courses that can be waived or substituted.

International Admissions

• Widener University serves as a "second home" for students from around the world.
• We are located just outside of Philadelphia and close to New York City and Washington, D.C.—offering many unique professional and personal opportunities to explore.

Financial Aid

• Widener is a private institution, and we're able to offer financial assistance that brings our education within reach for individuals who might otherwise not be able to afford it.

Applying for Aid as a Graduate Student

• Getting started is easy. Simply apply to Widener and submit your FAFSA to be automatically considered for scholarships and grants.
• Our school code is .

Paths to Savings

• Graduate Assistantships
• Employer Discounts & Tuition Reimbursement
• 20% Discount for Widener Alumni (some restrictions apply)

Program Cost

• $1,000 per credit

Why Earn Your Social Work (PhD) at Widener?

• Optimize Your Schedule With Part-Time Classes
• Navigate Your Coursework and Dissertation Journey
• Build a Network of Industry Insiders

Our Faculty

• Brent A. Satterly, Professor
• Margo M. Campbell, Director of PhD Program

Recent News

• A Legacy of Care: Chester Community Clinic Marks 15 Years
• A Spotlight on Graduate Research at Virtual Symposium
• Professor Brent Satterly Publishes Sexuality Concepts for Social Workers Book

Take the Next Steps

• Visit Us
• View Admissions Events
• Request Information
• Apply

Get in Touch

• Center for Social Work Education
• Kat LeConey, Assistant Director of Admissions & Enrollment
• Margo M. Campbell, Director of PhD Program

Contact Information

• One University Place
• Chester, PA 19013
• 1-888-WIDENER

Copyright

• 2025 Widener University

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