Program Overview

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Social Work - PhD (PhD-SW)

Overview

The PhD in Social Work program at the University of Louisville is designed to prepare students for careers in research, academia, and social work practice. The program focuses on developing advanced research skills, theoretical knowledge, and practical expertise in social work.

Course Fees

Some courses may carry fees beyond the standard tuition costs to cover additional support or materials. Program-, subject- and course-specific fee information can be found on the Office of the Bursar website.

Course Descriptions

SW 698. Structured Independent Study

• Prerequisite(s): Permission of the Director, Instructor/Advisor.
• Description: Addresses content not covered in existing courses; provides for the development of content otherwise unavailable. Prescribed content is addressed in seminars, conferences and readings.

SW 729. Pro Seminar I: Foundations of Scholarly Writing

• Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
• Prerequisite(s): This section is restricted to students admitted to the PhD Program in Social Work.
• Description: This is the 1st of 2 Professional Seminar courses, which bookend the PhD coursework. This course is also aligned with SW 761: Advanced Scholarly Writing to Fund and Disseminate Research to Diverse Audiences, which it taken in the fall of your second year. The goals of this course are to improve your understanding of the process and mechanics of writing within academia and provide a foundation for you to become leaders in the social work profession as researchers, academicians, and advocates for social justice.

SW 732. Theory I: Philosophy of Science & the Development and Application of Theory in Social Work Research

• Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
• Prerequisite(s): Restricted to students admitted to the PhD Program in Social Work.
• Description: This course explores the nature of knowledge and how it is generated and acquired. We will be focusing on the nature and role of theory in contemporary social welfare scholarship informed by a central commitment to social justice.

SW 733. Foundation Research Methods

• Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
• Prerequisite(s): This section is restricted to students admitted to the PhD Program in Social Work.
• Description: The goals of this course are to teach students: (1) to implement the most appropriate research strategies in the pursuit of knowledge pertinent to social work-relevant topics, (2) to understand and critically assess reports of experimental and observational research studies, (3) to develop methodological strategies for testing important hypotheses and answering salient social work research questions.

SW 734. Introduction to Social Statistics and Data Analysis

• Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
• Prerequisite(s): This section is restricted to students admitted to the PhD Program in Social Work.
• Description: This is the first of two required PhD courses that focuses on quantitative data analysis. This course will focus on how to apply statistical approaches and ethical principles to all dimensions of diversity including ability, age, class, color, culture, ethnicity, family structure, gender identity/gender expression, marital status, national origin, race, religion or spirituality, sex, and sexual orientation.

SW 741. Systemic Change: Identifying and Intervening in Issues of Social Justice

• Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
• Prerequisite(s): This section is restricted to students admitted to the PhD Program in Social Work.
• Description: This course will allow students to learn and develop skills in effecting systems-level change to further anti-oppression, with a focus on anti-racism as an example to both illustrate system processes but also as core content needed to understand systemic oppression.

SW 742. Theory II: Theory-Driven Analysis of Social Problems to Inform Practice & Social Welfare Policy

• Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
• Prerequisite(s): SW 732 Theory I: Philosophy of Science and the Development and Application of Theory in Social Work Research and Interventions.
• Description: This section is restricted to students admitted to the PhD Program in Social Work. SW 742 is the second of two theory courses in the program, building on the foundation provided in SW 732.

SW 743. Advanced Research Methods

• Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
• Prerequisite(s): SW 733 Foundation Research Methods.
• Description: This section is restricted to students admitted to the PhD Program in Social Work. This course is the second of two courses focused on quantitative methods, compliments the two data analysis courses, and prepares students for future independent studies and advanced scholarly writing to fund and disseminate research to diverse audiences.

SW 744. Applied Regression Analysis

• Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
• Prerequisite(s): SW 734 Introduction to Social Statistics and Data Analysis.
• Description: This section is restricted to students admitted to the PhD Program in Social Work. This is the second of two required PhD courses focusing on quantitative data analysis.

SW 750. Independent Study: Examination of Scholarly Literature

• Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
• Prerequisite(s): This section is restricted to students admitted to the PhD Program in Social Work.
• Description: Student will focus in on a specific topic area for future research by conducting thorough literature reviews on the topics related to the area.

SW 751. Independent Study: Mentored Research Experience

• Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
• Prerequisite(s): This section is restricted to students admitted to the PhD Program in Social Work.
• Description: Helps students understand the basics of research and statistical procedures so they are prepared to move through the additional research and statistical procedures in the doctoral program.

SW 752. Qualitative Methods: Design, Data Collection, and Analysis

• Term Typically Offered: Summer Only
• Prerequisite(s): This section is restricted to students admitted to the PhD Program in Social Work.
• Description: SW 752 examines the philosophical foundations and epistemological perspectives involved in qualitative research.

SW 761. Advanced Scholarly Writing to Fund and Disseminate Research to Diverse Audiences

• Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
• Description: Facilitates the student's completion of the dissertation prospectus and the dissertation itself.

SW 763. Teaching Practicum

• Prerequisite(s): Consent of instructor.
• Description: Experience in planning and teaching a social work course including classroom teaching and evaluation of students' work.

SW 764. Teaching in Social Work

• Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
• Prerequisite(s): This section is restricted to students admitted to the PhD Program in Social Work.
• Description: This course is the first of two designed to expose doctoral level students to teaching and social work education.

SW 765. Advanced Qualitative Research: Design, Data Collection, and Analysis

• Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
• Prerequisite(s): SW 752.
• Description: This section is restricted to students admitted to the PhD Program in Social Work. Interpretive approaches to systematic inquiry that contrast with the natural science model of social research will be critically examined.

SW 766. Doctoral Foundations

• Grading Basis: Pass/Fail
• Description: Preparation for entering SW doctoral students for two semesters of study of Advanced Research & Design and Analysis (ARDA I and ARDA II).

SW 780. Pro Seminar II: Comprehensive Examination Preparation

• Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
• Prerequisite(s): SW 729.
• Description: This section is restricted to students admitted to the PhD Program in Social Work. This is the 2nd part of the pro-seminar series.

SW 781. Teaching Practicum

• Grading Basis: Pass/Fail
• Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
• Prerequisite(s): SW 764; restricted to students admitted to the PhD Program in Social Work.
• Description: This teaching practicum seminar is a structured opportunity for students who are teaching to engage in dialogue, structured activities, and reflection focused on teaching topics.

SW 797. Independent Study

• Description: Independent studies for doctoral students.

SW 798. Special Topics in Social Work

• Prerequisite(s): Kent Doctoral Student, topic cleared by Director or Assistant Director.
• Description: Exploration of one or more topics not covered in the regular course offerings.

SW 799. Dissertation Preparation

• Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
• Prerequisite(s): Completion of coursework and submission of 'PhD Program Completed Coursework and Comprehensive Exam Committee/Schedule' form to PhD Social Work Program Coordinator.
• Description: This section is restricted to students admitted to the PhD Program in Social Work. Research on dissertation project.