Program Overview
Doctor of Philosophy in Social Work
Overview
The Doctor of Philosophy in Social Work program at the University at Albany prepares students for academic positions that educate future generations of practitioners, or for research, practice, and policy leadership positions that further social and economic justice. Students develop expertise in their area of interest, learning alongside students with diverse social work practice and social service program experiences.
Program of Study
The PhD Social Work program allows students to tailor courses and other requirements to their own research, policy, and practice interests. In required courses, students gain knowledge of social welfare and practice theory and develop skills necessary for a successful academic or research-oriented career. Electives, independent studies, and optional internships in teaching, practice, and research enable students to deepen their individual interests and areas of expertise.
Required Courses
- Social Work Practice Theory
- Social Welfare Policy
- Social Welfare Research I and II
- Statistics and Data Analysis I and II
- Qualitative Methods
- Advanced Data Analysis
- Advanced Methodology
- Preparation for Scholarly Writing in Social Work
- Social Work Teaching and Pedagogy
- Independent Study or Elective
Additional Requirements
- Foreign language or computer programming language proficiency, fulfilled by completing Statistics and Data Analysis I and II
- Comprehensive essay
- Written dissertation
Admissions Requirements
Deadlines
- Departmental Assistantship Consideration: Fall (January 31 at 11:59pm), Spring (Not Available), Summer (Not Available)
- No Departmental Assistantship Consideration: Fall (January 31 at 11:59pm), Spring (Not Available), Summer (Not Available)
Required Application Materials
- Transcripts from all schools attended
- Three letters of recommendation
- Personal statement (addressing educational background and professional experience, substantive areas of interest for research, evaluation, and/or teaching, and professional goals)
- CV/Resume
Graduate Student Funding
As a full-time student in the doctoral program, students may be eligible for a competitive graduate research assistantship that provides an $18,000 annual stipend and tuition waiver for three years. A fourth year of funding is possible if students have advanced to candidacy by the end of their third year.
Research Opportunities
PhD students at the School of Social Welfare at UAlbany have many opportunities to join research projects designed to have positive impact on people, service systems, and policies. Students develop their skills alongside faculty members who are conducting nationally significant studies on the most pressing social issues of the 21st Century.
Research Centers
- National Child Welfare Workforce Institute
- Center for the Elimination of Health Disparities (CEHD)
- Center for Human Services Research
- Hindelang Criminal Justice Research Center
Student Learning Objectives
- Analyze and compare practice theories and evidence in support of them at multiple levels of practice
- Display broad knowledge of the development of US social policy, analyze current and proposed policies, and evaluate alternative policies
- Apply critical thinking to compare perspectives from social work and other disciplines, including national and international contexts and perspectives
- Competently utilize research methods and statistics
- Read, synthesize, critique, and write about research on a substantive topic
- Conduct specialized research using application of theory, research, and data analysis methods
- Prepare graduates to contribute to the field of social work/social welfare through knowledge-building, education, or both
Supplemental Degree Programs
Graduate students can typically request a supplemental degree in one or more subordinate degrees without needing to go through the full admissions process again.
Available Supplemental Programs
- Africana Studies CGS
- Community College Leadership CGS
- Demography CGS
- Health Disparities CGS
- International Education Management CGS
