Instructions for PhD Program Application

Welcome to our guide for applying to the PhD program. Careful attention to (1) the application materials, requirements, and instructions, (2) the description of standards of behavior, and (3) the Applicant Checklist found via the School of Social Work Admissions Forms web page, should smooth the entire process. To avoid following outdated guidelines, please be certain to use only current year application materials.

The materials and information needed to apply to the PhD Program in Social Welfare are on this website. Applicants must observe the deadline of DECEMBER 15 for submission of application forms. Early applications are accepted. [Go to end of instructions for mailing address and contact info.]

Several documents may be submitted online or by mail, whichever is convenient for the applicant. However, applicants are responsible for ensuring that all necessary materials are received. The instructions below note which items may be submitted online.

Annual admission of new students into the Social Welfare PhD Program is limited, and the applicant pool tends to be quite competitive. Applicants who are selected for admission are those who have completed a Master's Degree in Social Work or a related field and whose scholastic achievement, previous experience, and aptitude for social welfare research and scholarship indicate the greatest promise for achieving the objectives of the program. Although an MSW is not required for admission, an MSW and two years post-BASW or post-MSW practice experience are required by the Council on Social Work Education in order to teach foundation practice courses in accredited programs. Thus, an MSW can be beneficial when doctoral graduates seek jobs in schools of social work. An effort is made to maintain a balance among the students that reflects a range of interests in social work and social welfare areas of research.

Decision-making process: Faculty members on the PhD Steering Committee make admissions decisions on the basis of the following: aptitude for social welfare research and scholarship as shown by articulation of social welfare research area(s) of concern to applicant and capacity to undertake such training and research, letters of reference, professional experience, commitment to diversity, institutional resources available to support the applicant's research, scholastic achievement, and scores on the Graduate Record Examination.

Diversity: The PhD Program recognizes the contribution to the intellectual and social enrichment of the program by students with diverse backgrounds. One area to address in personal statement is information concerning personal history, family background, work experiences, and influences on intellectual development. This information should include cultural and educational opportunities (or lack thereof), social, economic, or physical advantages and/or disadvantages that you have experienced, and the ways in which these experiences have affected your life and decisions concerning social welfare research as a career goal. Include special interests and abilities, career plans, and future goals. Please describe life and work experiences in ethnic or sexual minority communities wherever appropriate in the application materials.

Policies: Three policies with which all applicants to the School should become familiar are located in the Important University Policies section; these should be carefully reviewed. The first is entitled Standards for Essential Abilities and Attributes for Admission and Continuance in the School of Social Work. The second is Academic Performance and Conduct Which May Result in a Review and Possible Dismissal from the School of Social Work. The last is the Unprofessional Conduct Law. All applicants should review these to attain an understanding of the qualities and professional behavior expectations required of students.

Timing of Application and Admission

Individuals are admitted to the program as first-year, full-time PhD students in autumn quarter only. The University of Washington does not accept transfer credits from other doctoral programs. The deadline for application for the autumn quarter is DECEMBER 15; all forms and documents that the applicant completes must be submitted by then. We will accept letters of reference until January 15 and GRE and TOEFL scores until January 31. We cannot evaluate your application until all materials are received. International applicants especially need to note that files will not be reviewed until the GRE and TOEFL scores are received.

Completing the School of Social Work Application for Admission

The application form and its accompanying documents provide you with the opportunity to describe fully your past experiences, your current status, and your future plans as a doctoral student and social welfare scholar. . The application materials are intended to give the members of the faculty a comprehensive picture of your qualifications for admission to the Social Welfare PhD Program.

SSW Checklist

The School of Social Work Checklist serves as official notification of application to the Social Welfare doctoral program. It lists all application materials due to the School of Social Work and to the Graduate School. Applicants must complete the form, indicating how each item is to be submitted, sign the bottom, and mail the form to the School of Social Work. Download the form from our admissions documents website. [SUBMIT by MAIL to the Social Welfare PhD Program.]

SSW Application Form

Download the form from our admissions documents website. [SUBMIT ONLINE OR MAIL to the Social Welfare PhD Program.]

Grade Transcripts and GPA Calculations

One copy of official transcripts from each undergraduate and graduate institution attended must be submitted. You should ask the Registrar of each institution to mail the official transcript to you in a sealed envelope. THESE ENVELOPES MUST NOT BE OPENED. If the Registrar's seal is broken or tampered with, the transcripts are no longer considered official. The transcripts should be included with the other application materials that are sent to the School of Social Work. [SUBMIT by MAIL to the Social Welfare PhD Program.]

Applicants fill out the GPA Worksheet (also in the admissions forms section) and submit it with the School of Social Work Application Form. When computing your GPA, use your personal copy of transcripts (never open the official sealed transcripts). Two separate GPAs are calculated: undergraduate and masters. Follow the directions on the GPA Worksheet to calculate of your GPA. [SUBMIT ONLINE OR MAIL to the Social Welfare PhD Program.]

If you are enrolled in a graduate program at the time you submit your application, you must send updated transcripts or grade reports for computation of your grade point average upon completion of the degree. These should be sent directly to the School of Social Work (and to the Graduate School).

Statistics Preparation Prerequisite

Students entering the PhD program must have successfully completed an introductory undergraduate level statistics course within the last five years. It is not necessary to have already met this prerequisite to apply to the program. The prerequisite can be satisfied any time prior to entering the University. [See GPA worksheet for indicating fulfillment.]

The statistics prerequisite course should cover topics such as:

Graduate Record Exam

Test scores of the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) are required by the University of Washington Graduate School as part of the application process. If you have not taken this examination within the past five years or you would like to retake the exam in an effort to increase your scores, you should arrange to take it as soon as possible but no later than mid-November. Request that the GRE results be sent to the University of Washington. Instructions are included in the Graduate School online application process. [MAIL to the Graduate School.]

School Code/Departmental Code: 4854

The GRE's Aptitude Test measures general scholastic ability for the graduate level. The Aptitude test has three sections: Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical (written essay). After finishing the exam, you can request immediate feedback on your test scores. It is quite acceptable to retake the GRE to achieve higher scores.

The GRE website (http://www.gre.org ) contains complete information on testing, a downloadable registration bulletin, and test site schedules. After registering for the GRE, you will receive a free electronic copy of POWERPREP, which is software that provides test preparation for the GRE General Test and Writing Assessment.
Phone: 609.771.7670 or to schedule an exam call 800.473.2255; email: gre-info@ets.org.

A limited number of GRE fee waivers are available for seniors and non-enrolled college graduates who meet eligibility requirements. Fee waivers may be used for one General Test or one Subject Test. To apply for a GRE fee waiver contact the financial aid office of your previous college/university.

You may obtain the GRE Bulletin and registration form from a college or university, or from the Office of Educational Testing Service in your area. Disabled applicants who require special accommodation should apply early and indicate what types of arrangements might be necessary.

For those students who have been out of school for some time, or who are unfamiliar with the GRE, we strongly advise a preparatory course or workshop. For example, the University of Washington Women's Information Center offers a 3-day, 12-hour GRE preparation course entitled "Academic Success." For more information about these classes, please call (206) 685-1090
(http://depts.washington.edu/womenctr).

Résumé

Include a full résumé that provides your relevant educational and employment history including the employer agency and address, your job title, and your dates of employment. If there is substantial discontinuity in your employment experience, please explain on a separate page and attach to the résumé. The résumé should also list all scholastic or related honors (with dates received), significant volunteer activities, membership in professional organizations, and all published work. [SUBMIT ONLINE OR MAIL to the Social Welfare PhD Program.]

References

When you submit your application to the Graduate School, you will at that time identify at least four individuals (and their email addresses) who can provide letters of reference. The Graduate School system will then automatically send each person a notification of request for reference with individualized URLs for response. Those providing references can quickly and easily submit online. If preferred, you may download and send your reference providers a pdf request form for letter of reference (see forms section). If your references choose to use the paper format, please have the letters and release forms sent to you in sealed envelopes with signatures across the seal.

At least two of the persons writing the references, should be academics or persons who can evaluate your capacity to perform independent scholarly study. If you wish to be considered for the Prevention Research Training Program, at least one of the letters of reference must address your commitment to and potential for independent research in the promotion of mental health and the prevention of mental health problems.

The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 permits admitted students to review all pertinent documents in their records, including letters of reference. When you submit your list of names to the Graduate School, you will be required to indicate whether you waive that right. Likewise, if using the pdf reference request form, see the bottom of the form where the legal provision is stated and where you may also indicate your willingness to waive that right if you wish.

Personal Statement

The personal statement provides an opportunity for you to give your assessment of yourself as a suitable candidate for admission to the Social Welfare PhD Program. Since the program emphasizes both research and teaching, we are particularly interested to know your views about research in social welfare and about yourself in the role of researcher and scholar educator. Include information on each of the six areas below, but use no more than five double-spaced typewritten pages.

1. Discuss your qualifications and readiness for pursuing doctoral studies in social welfare.
2. Describe your view of the role of research in social welfare.
3. Describe the area of specialization around which you wish to concentrate your study and research. In specifying your area of research interest, please identify social welfare PhD faculty who might be useful to you in exploring your area. Indicate any special projects of research emphasis at the School of Social Work or within the larger University that you view as helpful resources.
4. Describe the development of your interest in research and the relation of that interest to your professional area of specialization.
5. Illustrate how your personal history, family background, and intellectual development have influenced your decision to pursue social welfare research as a career goal. As appropriate, note cultural and educational opportunities that you have had; any educational, social, physical, or economic disadvantages that you have had to overcome; and your experiences in diverse communities. Articulate the ways in which these combined life experiences inform your research interests.
6. What are your career plans? Specifically, how do you expect to use the research and scholarly skills developed in the doctoral program?

Scholarly Writing Sample

Submit one example of your scholarly writing that provides evidence of your capacity to think analytically and critically, and to express yourself clearly and concisely, and that shows your readiness to undertake doctoral level work. If you submit a co-authored article, please select one for which you had major writing responsibility and indicate in an attached note the parts of the sample that reflect your input and work. The following are examples of appropriate submissions of scholarly writing:
a. published article, chapter, book
b. master's thesis
c. unpublished research report, conference presentation
d. term paper written in a graduate course
e. training manual
f. grant application
g. legislative testimony.

[SUBMIT ONLINE OR MAIL to the Social Welfare PhD Program.]

Predoctoral Prevention Research Training Program

Applicants who are offered admission to the PhD Program will be evaluated for participation in this special training program. In your responses to the personal statement questions 1-6, outline elements pertaining to your prevention research training interests. Specifically address the following.
How does your area of specialization relate to mental health? What are your prevention research training goals? Describe previous prevention-relevant research or practice experience, or training as well as career goals related to preventing mental health problems or causes of problems. At least one of the letters of reference must address your commitment to and potential for independent research in prevention and mental health.

For information about the program, go to PhD Traineeships in Prevention Research. For the instructions for providing relevant admission materials for this special program, go to Applying to the PhD Prevention Research Training Program.

Admission to the Graduate School

The "Application for Admission to the UW Graduate School" is submitted directly to the Graduate School, and many of the School of Social Work forms may be submitted through this online application. As part of this process, you will be required to list the names and email addresses of the individuals you have asked to provide letters of reference.

Application to the Graduate School is completed online at https://www.grad.washington.edu/applForAdmiss/.  (Fee $50.)
If you can not complete the application online you may obtain a downloadable/printable version of the application by contacting our Admissions Office (sswadmis@u.washington.edu).

Graduate School Contact Information:  phone, 206.543.5929; fax, 206.543.8798;
US email, uwgrad@u.washington.edu. Email for international applicants: intlgrad@u.washington.edu.

In general, properly qualified students who are graduates of the University of Washington or of other colleges or universities of recognized rank are eligible to apply to the Graduate School.

Information for International Applicants

The School of Social Work advises international applicants to submit the application to the Graduate School well before the due date because of the time required for processing international applications. Applications must be completed online (https://www.grad.washington.edu/applForAdmiss/).

An international student is anyone who IS NOT a US citizen or does not hold a US Permanent Resident Visa (i.e., "Green Card or Immigrant"). Individuals who hold a US visa, such as F-1 students, exchange visitors, or any other non-immigrant classifications are considered international applicants. International applicants must use the Graduate School website to determine eligibility for applying to the University of Washington and the School of Social Work PhD Program in particular. Before the application can be submitted, the applicant must fill out the online Preliminary Evaluation Process for International Applicants (PEP).

Transcripts

International applicants must send a set of transcripts to the Office of Graduate Admissions (another set is sent with the application to the School of Social Work).

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

A satisfactory command of the English language is required for admission to the University of Washington Graduate School. Applicants who are not citizens of the United States on the date of admission and whose native language is other than English must meet the following terms and conditions. The TOEFL (or MLT) is required unless one of the specific exceptions listed in the Graduate School website is met. Test scores must be less than two years old from the test date, and no waivers of this English competency requirement may be given. A minimum score of 580 (TOEFL)/237 (TOEFLC) is required for admission to the School of Social Work PhD Program in Social Welfare.

Test of Spoken English (TSE)

The Graduate School requires that students achieve a score of at least 55 on the TSE before being allowed to teach. The School of Social Work expects most students to be engaged in a teaching assistantship at some time during doctoral studies; therefore, we require all incoming international students to take this test before or during their first year in the program.

For both the TOEFL and TSE, registration forms or previous score reports less than two years old may be requested from the Educational Testing Service, Princeton, NJ 08541; telephone (609) 771-7100 or email at toefl@ets.org. (See Graduate School Memo 15 for the University's policy.)

Financial Requirements

The US State Department of Justice and US Immigration and Naturalization Service mandate all schools to verify certification of adequate financial support from each international student. For individuals applying for the academic year 2007-08, the total cost of study will be approximately $38,334 for school year ($50,628 if attending summer) in US funds. When the main application form is submitted, all international applicants must fill out and submit the University of Washington Statement of Financial Ability form (see the Graduate School website).

Graduate appointments awarded by degree programs are considered authorized employment. The School of Social Work works with students to ensure financial support in the form of 9-month research or teaching appointments or fellowships from within the University of Washington or from external sources for at least the first three years of the doctoral program. These appointments will satisfy the majority of the annual (12-month) financial requirement; applicants are required to provide proof that they have supplemental support. The Social Welfare program section of the PEP process provides updated funding information related to our program.

1. Graduate School Application form, signed (original signature) and dated.
2. International transcripts with degree statement, including date of graduation and title of academic degree awarded. (See complete instructions on website.)
3. Transcripts from the US: You should ask the Registrar to mail official transcripts in a sealed envelope to the Graduate School.
4. TOEFL score report: Request Educational Testing Service, PO Box 6151, Princeton, NJ 08541-6151, to forward your report using the institution code #4854. Score reports more than two years old (from the test date) are not valid. (See Graduate School website for instructions and exceptions.)
5. GRE score
6. University of Washington Statement of Financial Ability form. The form is available online to individuals who have successfully submitted an application to the Graduate School via the website.

Reasonable Accommodation

The School of Social Work meets the the Americans with Disabilities Act requirements for accessibility. Our application materials can be made available in alternative formats.

The University of Washington is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation contact the Disability Resources for Students (DRS) at least ten days in advance at: 206-543-8924 (V), 206-543-8925 (TTY) or uwdss@u.washington.edu.

Due Date for Social Work Application Materials

DECEMBER 15

Please note: Application packet must be postmarked by DECEMBER 15.
[Only the following will be accepted after the deadline: GRE score, transcripts, letters of reference. All materials must be received by January 30 or the application will not be reviewed.]

Social Welfare PhD Program - Admissions
University of Washington, Box 354900
4101 15th NE
Seattle, WA 98105-6299

Routine inquiries about application procedures should be addressed to the School's Admissions Office (206.543.5676; 800.558.8703); be sure to indicate that your call concerns the doctoral program. Other inquiries about the program should be addressed to Susan P. Kemp, PhD, Director, Social Welfare PhD Program (spk@u.washington.edu), or to Kath Wilham, Assistant Director (206.685.1680; phdmhpr@u.washington.edu). Questions related to research interests or availability of specific faculty should be directed to them.

| Back to top |