Social Work, DSW

The Doctorate of Social Work (DSW) program was developed with practitioners in mind. This high-quality, rigorous program prepares practitioners to navigate the complexities of a contemporary practice landscape by providing education and experiences congruent with advanced practice proficiency among specialized populations.

The DSW program utilizes an innovative Core Plus model that offers students a flexible, affordable, and efficient way to earn their degree. Courses are taught online through asynchronous models, with the exception of residency week during the summer which is taught synchronously.  An asynchronous option is offered for those who cannot be in attendance. The Core Plus approach offers flexibility, allowing learners to progress through the program at their own pace, while the cohort model and residency week foster support via concentrated time with classmates and faculty.

Beyond the core curriculum, students will select one of five concentrations:

• Administrative Leadership
• Clinical Social Work
• Social Work Education
• Military Behavioral Health
• Sports Social Work

Social workers with DSW degrees are often leaders in the profession in areas of practice, policy, and scholarship and are well-qualified to serve in higher-level administrative positions. Many also assume academic positions and make substantive contributions to the knowledge base of the profession. Graduates from our DSW program are uniquely poised to excel and advance in a competitive job market and make the most of forecasted growth within the social work profession.

From start to end, students can complete the DSW degree full-time in two years, or part-time in three years. The preparation will contribute to fostering the development of a cadre of practitioners adeptly trained to address social challenges in the Commonwealth and beyond.

Application Materials

1. Unofficial transcripts from all higher education institutions attended. (Official transcripts must be submitted after admission.)
2. Employment history (resume or vita)
3. Personal statement
4. Contact information for two references who will be sent a request for recommendation at the time of application. Please exclude personal, pastoral and relative references. If you have graduated within the past 5 years, you must provide at least one academic reference.

Personal Statement

Your personal statement serves as a writing sample and should demonstrate critical thinking, graduate level writing, and be formatted in APA style (7th edition), including a title page and reference section (not included in the 5-page limit). All prompts listed in the three paragraphs below are to be addressed in your statement.

• Why are you interested in pursuing a DSW at this stage in your career? Two pieces to address are: how your practice experience informs the concentration area you are interested in (i.e., administration and leadership, clinical social work, military behavioral health, or social work education) and what impact do you expect a DSW education to have on your career?
• Contemporary social work calls for practice informed research and research informed practice. Identify a social work practice domain of your interest and practice that has been overlooked or lacks adequate research and attention in academia. How does the contemporary literature influence your understanding of your identified issue and how does it impact your identified population? Articulate how you might tackle this concern.
• Your discussion should demonstrate critical thinking about social work practice, application of current literature, a basic understanding of the practice problem or challenge identified and reflect an interest in improving practice.

Admissions Requirements

• Applicants should hold a Master of Social Work degree from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) with a minimum cumulative graduate GPA of 3.0 (above a 3.5 is preferred).
• Additionally, students should have sufficient information technology skills to be successful in an online doctoral program.
• Finally, a minimum of two years post-MSW experience is required at the time of application.

Application Deadlines

Submissions for the Summer 2025 application have reached capacity and are now closed. Applications for Spring 2026 continue to be accepted and reviewed. We are now accepting applications for Summer 2026. Reviews for Summer 2026 applications will begin mid-August, with admission decisions starting September 1.

• Summer 2025: Closed
• Spring 2026: Priority Deadline: October 1; Final Deadline: November 1
• Summer 2026: Priority Deadline: March 1, 2026; Final Deadline: April 15, 2026

Applications submitted must be complete by the deadline to be considered.