PhD in Social Work
About the Program
The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program in social work focuses on research that informs social welfare policy and practice. It is designed to prepare scholars for research, teaching and program development positions in academic and professional social work practice and policy settings.
Degree Requirements
The PhD program is available to both persons with a Masters of Social Work (MSW) degree and those with other master’s degrees. The curriculum consists of a minimum of 55 post MSW semester credit hours or, for applicants without an MSW, 67 hours. The curriculum is divided among three distinct but highly interrelated elements designed to complement one another in assisting students to achieve the competencies expected of a graduate of this program. A core of social work courses provides the foundation in the traditions and knowledge in the profession and exposure to state-of-the-art research and techniques for the 21st century. Electives from the broad spectrum of social and behavioral sciences offering available through MU departments provide students with the opportunity to design an individualized plan of study that capitalizes on their unique interests and talents. A strong regimen of research methodology, theory, and policy analysis are designed to prepare students for use of both current and emerging methods of scientific inquiry.
| Required Social Work Courses | ||
| SOC_WK 9001 | Topics in Social Work (Applied Theory Workshop (1) Social Measurement (3) and Qualitative Methods (3)) | 7 |
| SOC_WK 9090 | Teaching Practicum in Social Work | 1 |
| SOC_WK 9150 | Statistical Concepts in the Social and Behavioral Sciences | 3 |
| SOC_WK 9300 | Research Methodology and Design Seminar | 3 |
| SOC_WK 9350 | Research Methods & Design II | 3 |
| SOC_WK 9650 | Pedagogical Methods in Social Work and Applied Professional Programs | 1 |
| SOC_WK 9350 | Advanced Quantitative and Qualitative Methods in Social Research | 3 |
| SOC_WK 9800 | Research Application I | 1 |
| SOC_WK 9890 | Dissertation Seminar | 3 |
| SOC_WK 9900 | Doctoral Dissertation Research in Social Work | 12 |
| Total Credits | 37 | |
Sample Plan of Study (full-time student)
| First Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| SOC_WK 9001 (Applied Theory Workshop) | 1 | Advanced Stat | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| SOC_WK 9150 | 3 | SOC_WK 9001 (Qualitative Methods) | 3 | ||
| SOC_WK 9300 | 3 | Elective | 3 | ||
| SOC_WK 9650 | 1 | SOC_WK 9090 | 1 | ||
| 8 | 10 | 3 | |||
| Second Year | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| SOC_WK 9800 | 3 | SOC_WK 9850 (if needed) | 1 | Comprehensive Examination | |
| Elective | 3 | SOC_WK 9890 | 3 | ||
| Advanced Statistics | 3 | Elective | 3 | ||
| SOC_WK 9001 (Social Measurement) | 3 | SOC_WK 9350 | 3 | ||
| Qualifying Exam at the end of the semester | |||||
| 12 | 10 | 0 | |||
| Third Year | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| SOC_WK 9900 | 6 | SOC_WK 9900 | 6 | ||
| 6 | 6 | ||||
| Total Credits: 55 | |||||
Financial Aid from the Program
Scholarship opportunities are available for full-time program applicants who meet the application deadline. Graduate teaching and research assistantships are also often available. Some forms of support require additional forms from those who wish to be considered for internal assistantships, fellowships or other funding packages. Check the program Web site or ask the program contact for details.
Admission Criteria
Admission deadline: Midnight December 1
- Minimum GPA: 3.0; 3.5 in graduate study
- Minimum TOEFL scores:
| Internet-based test (iBT) | Paper-based test (PBT) |
|---|---|
| 80 | 550 |
- An MSW or related master’s is required. Applicants without the MSW must take a minimum of 12 credit hours of MSW course work. This requirement may be waived for applicants with additional graduate work.
- Minimum of two years post-master’s practice experience encouraged.
Note: These criteria are used flexibly to assess the applicant’s potential for study and research in this program.
Required Application Materials
To the Office of Graduate School:
- All required Office of Graduate School documents
To the Director of the Doctoral Program in Social Work (via the Graduate School's online application system):
- Three letters of recommendation
- CV
- Writing proficiency sample
- Personal statement
- A personal interview is required, and if possible, will be arranged at MU. A Zoom interview may be utilized in some cases.
Admission Contact Information
Program Contact: Crystal Null (nullc@health.missouri.edu)
573-884-9385
PhD Program Director: Dr. Virginia Ramseyer Winter (ramseyerwinterv@health.missouri.edu)
705 Clark Hall; Columbia, MO 65211
573-884-8077
PhD Program Website: https://healthsciences.missouri.edu/social-work/phd/