Social Work

Website: www.socwk.utah.edu/phd

College of Social Work Building

Phone: 801-585-5979

Doctoral studies in social work at the University of Utah are grounded in empirical research and focus on the preparation of research scholars for academic or professional leadership whose potential for influence is in the wider society and the global community. The program emphasizes theory and skill development for applications in research, teaching, policy, and practice. The principal goal of the doctoral program is to prepare students to contribute to the development and dissemination of knowledge in the field of social welfare and the profession of social work. Specifically, the program seeks to achieve the following goals:

• To provide students with applied knowledge and analytical skills to address major policy and practice issues, challenges and trends in social work and social welfare.,

• To prepare students for leadership roles: analyzing, evaluating, and guiding practice and policy for a variety of social work fields and populations.,

• To equip students to contribute to the development and dissemination of research informed practice and practice informed research using traditional and emerging methods.,

• To prepare students for academic roles including the development and delivery of courses, curricula, and programs.,

There are two delivery strategies for the Ph.D. program with identical standards of rigor, program requirements, and expectations for students.

The campus-based program admits full- and part-time students each fall semester.

Our distance-delivered PhD program is offered as a synchronous cohort model that will require distance students to be on campus for the first week of each semester in the first two years of the program. Please note that this is not an online program; distance students will attend classes remotely at the same time as on-campus classroom-based students and thus will receive the same content and interaction opportunities with students and faculty as on-campus students.

Applications for admission to the program must be received by the College of Social Work no later than January 15 (This date is subject to change. For information contact the program at 801-585-5979). Late applications are accepted on a space-available basis. Admission requirements include:

• A master’s degree in social work from an accredited school of social work.

• Evidence of superior academic achievement in undergraduate and graduate education.

• Priority will be given to students who have completed an introductory statistics course (graduate or undergraduate) in the last two years with a final grade of B or better. At a minimum, the statistics course should have covered probability, descriptive statistics, and an introduction to t-tests and the general linear model.

• Minimum of two years of social work experience that demonstrates the applicant’s professional competence, ability to undertake advanced study, potential for leadership, and emotional maturity. (This requirement may be waived at the discretion of the Social Work Ph.D. Committee)

• Satisfactory performance on the GRE, taken within five years prior to the admission year.

• For international applicants whose primary language is not English, the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) must be taken.

• A personal interview, if requested by the Ph.D. Committee.

• Three letters of reference.

• A sample of writing in the form of a published article, a manuscript being submitted for publication, a report completed in connection with a research interest, or a paper prepared specifically for admission to the Ph.D. program.

• A written statement of educational and professional intent.

• A Curriculum Vitae/Resume. Include: academic honors; membership and participation in professional organizations; and voluntary activities with community, social welfare or civic organizations.

Transfer Credit. All transfer work must be approved by the student’s supervisory committee and conform to policy guidelines and requirements of the University and of the respective departments. The last full year of work must be taken at the University of Utah.