Program Overview

Social Work (Ph.D.) Program

The School of Social Work at Wayne State University offers a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in Social Work. The doctoral curriculum is designed to provide social work educators with rigorous training in social work theory and research methodology to address contemporary issues associated with social work practice or social welfare policy at all levels.

Overview

The program offers full-time and part-time study options, with a minimum of ninety credits beyond the foundation year of the M.S.W. required for graduation. The doctoral program also offers a clinical scholarship concentration, which prepares graduates for careers in clinical social work teaching, scholarship, and research, as well as leadership positions in the clinical social work community.

Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission, applicants must meet the admissions standards of the Graduate School and the School of Social Work. The doctoral degree in social work indicates not merely superior knowledge of the discipline but also intellectual initiative and the ability to design and conduct independent research and evaluation of social work practice and/or social welfare policy.

• Grade Point Average: A minimum undergraduate and graduate grade point average of 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale)
• Prior Degree: An M.S.W. degree from a CSWE accredited institution. Applicants not having an M.S.W. must complete established requirements for the M.S.W. degree while working towards the Ph.D.
• Practice Experience: Two years post B.S.W. or post M.S.W. social work practice experience
• Graduate Record Examination: GRE scores (verbal, quantitative, and writing) taken within the three years prior to the application should be included in the application. Scores at or above the 50th percentile on the verbal, quantitative, and writing components of the GRE are preferred.
• English Proficiency: International students must meet the English Proficiency requirements for Wayne State University.
• References: Applicants should submit three professional references from former supervisors or instructors. At least two of these should be academic references from social work faculty, researchers, and/or practitioners holding the Ph.D., J.D., or medical degree who can evaluate the applicant's scholarship and aptitude for research.
• Statement of Professional Goals: Applicants should write a brief statement describing their motivation for doctoral study, career goals, research interests, and interest in research mentorship by specific doctoral program faculty.
• Academic Scholarship: Applicants should submit one example of scholarly writing (published or unpublished). The writing example should be first-authored or sole-authored work that demonstrates the applicant's ability to critique, synthesize, and make conclusions about social work relevant issues or problems.
• Interviews: Promising candidates for admission will be invited to complete an in-person interview with program faculty for final consideration after the above requirements have been completed.
• Applications: Applicants must submit the School of Social Work Application for Admission to the online Graduate Application, specifying that they are applying for fall admission to the Social Work Ph.D. Program. Students are also required to specify a Ph.D. concentration (policy and practice or clinical scholarship)

Application Deadline

Completed application packets must be received by December 18 prior to the fall term of desired admission.

Program Requirements

Candidates for the Doctor of Philosophy must complete a minimum of ninety graduate credits, including up to 25 credits transferred from the MSW and thirty earned through the dissertation.

• Plan of Work: Doctoral students structure their course work in terms of an area of specialization within the discipline of social work. Doctoral students, with the assistance of their academic advisor, plan a sequence of studies.
• Annual Review: Student progress toward degree completion will be monitored annually by the Steering Committee and Director of the Doctoral Program.
• Residency: The Ph.D. requirement of one year of residence is met by completion of six graduate credits in course work (not dissertation) over two successive semesters.
• Candidacy: Admission to candidacy for the doctoral degree will usually require two years of full-time graduate study beyond the M.S.W.
• Qualifying Examinations: Must be applied for following completion of all of the required social work courses in the doctoral curriculum.
• Approval of Dissertation Prospectus: The candidate is required to prepare a Dissertation Prospectus and have it approved by their dissertation committee prior to beginning work on the dissertation.
• Submission of Dissertation: The candidate is required to submit a doctoral dissertation on a topic satisfactory to his/her Dissertation Committee.
• Dissertation Defense: Upon completion of the dissertation, the candidate is required to make a public presentation of his/her research.
• Time Limitations: Students have a seven-year time limit to complete all requirements for the Ph.D.

Doctoral Program Curriculum

The curriculum includes:

• Social Work Transfer Courses: (up to twenty-five MSW or post-MSW certificate credits relevant to the student's proposed area of research)
• Theory Courses:
  • SW 9160: Knowledge Creation and Theory Development for Social Science Research (3 credits)
  • SW 9170: Theories of Problems and Change across the Micro-Macro Continuum (3 credits)
• Research and Statistics Courses:
  • SW 9100: Social Statistics and Data Analysis (3 credits)
  • SW 9300: Applied Regression Analysis and Generalized Linear Models (3 credits)
  • SW 9400: Qualitative Research Methods in Social Work (3 credits)
  • SW 9410: Quantitative Research Methods in Social Work (3 credits)
  • SW 9420: Research Practicum (2 credits)
• Professional Seminars:
  • SW 9050: Social Work PhD First Year Seminar (1 credit)
  • SW 9240: Social Work Education (3 credits)
  • SW 9430: Dissertation Seminar (1 credit)
  • SW 9650: Preparing for the Job Search (1 credit)
• Cognate Courses: Courses other than Social Work that support the candidate's area of research (9 credits)
• Elective Coursework: Twenty-five credits in elective courses, which may include transferred M.S.W./post-M.S.W. credits of coursework relevant to the student's proposed area of research.