Gunnar R. Almgren, PhD, Director

PHD PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The PhD Program in Social Welfare, which began in autumn 1975, awards the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. The program prepares students to become leaders in the advancement of knowledge in the profession and relevant interdisciplinary domains. Students acquire both the substantive and methodological competence to contribute theoretical formulations and empirical research that inform effective social work practice and advance scholarship in social welfare for the promotion of social justice.

In our PhD program, we emphasize preparation for research and teaching roles, including hands-on experience in supervised practica in addition to special training involving expert invited speakers, workshops, and seminars. Our doctoral faculty are ranked among the most productive in the nation and have a high level of grant funding. (A listing of current grant funding is provided in the School section on faculty research activities). The University of Washington has achieved national recognition for its educational innovations and initiatives for preparing students for teaching roles. Our School participates in many innovative programs to develop teaching skills.

Cohort sizes are kept small, which allows intense faculty-student interactions and mentoring throughout the various phases of the program and fosters supportive, collaborative relationships among students. As a result, students in our School's doctoral program enjoy an unusually high rate of completion. From its inception in 1975 through fall 2008, the program had enrolled 241 students. Only 31 (12.8%) of these students have withdrawn from the program without completing their degree.

One feature of the PhD program is its interdisciplinary character. The program's nationally prominent, multicultural faculty includes scholars with a range of research foci and collaborative ties with other disciplines. In addition to being among the top contributors to research and scholarship, the School's faculty members have developed special depth in prevention research (see section on the Prevention Research Training Program). Faculty research emphasizes prevention and intervention services and encompasses topics related to health and mental health promotion and disparities, aging, child and adolescent services, family-based practice, interpersonal violence, substance abuse, income distribution, and issues related to gender, communities of color, and gays and lesbians. The program also benefits from being a part of one of the top public research universities in the nation with strong community ties in a diverse metropolitan area.

Students develop an interdisciplinary plan of study to meet their scholarly and professional goals and complete a portion of their course work outside the School of Social Work. They are expected to develop a strong theoretical framework for their knowledge-building activities, and they frequently work with faculty in other schools and departments in the University. Students are encouraged to include scholars from other disciplines on their supervisory committees.

The PhD program is constructed so that each student develops a plan of study that focuses on a well defined substantive area of interest in the field of social welfare. During the first two years, the student completes required classes before moving on to a specialized area and set of research objectives anticipated as being the focus of subsequent research priorities. The program of study encompasses substantive work in a field or issue of social welfare, relevant intervention development needs or responses, and appropriate research methodologies. It involves close working relationships with faculty whose expertise complements the student's learning objectives. Analytical reasoning, sensitivity to diversity factors, and the ability to develop and integrate a theoretical and empirical framework for one's current and future work are emphasized.

An expectation common to all students is that they exit the PhD program with substantial research competence. Effectively, this means that in addition to a basic grounding in research and statistical methods, students are expected to acquire specialized competencies in the methodological and advanced data analysis skills necessary for productive scholarship in the substantive area they have chosen.

By its very nature, the PhD program requires that students work independently. Although assistance and support from faculty advisors and instructors, staff, and fellow students are readily available, the responsibility to search out opportunities and information and to initiate collaborative relationships with faculty rests primarily with each student. This necessarily requires that the students be proactive in defining their own goals and in achieving appropriate learning experiences that build upon available resources.

The pace of program completion is a balance of efficiency with academic rigor and excellence. Time to degree varies quite a bit depending upon the type of training sought and the type of dissertation research undertaken. Over the history of the program, the majority of students have completed their PhD within four and a half years and nearly all within six years.

The preparation of future social work faculty and scholars includes paid assistantships in a variety of teaching and research roles. Our School ensures financial support during the first three years of study by assisting the student in obtaining tuition waivers and assistantships or fellowships. In each of the first three years, the PhD Program Director and Associate Deans work with students to obtain funding from the School, other University of Washington sources, or external federal and private granting agencies. Multiple means of funding beyond the first three years are common. Students frequently build upon teaching assistantships to take on more autonomous teaching roles, and they are strongly urged to begin efforts to secure dissertation research support early in the program. The School provides staff support to assist students with grant proposals and human subjects applications. Our graduates are in demand, especially for their skills in advanced research, and are employed in well-regarded schools of social work and research institutions around the country.

Admission is highly selective, and students are admitted only for autumn quarter. The deadline for application is DECEMBER 15. Factors considered in admission include 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, professional experience, commitment to diversity, scholastic achievement, and institutional resources available to support the applicant's research. An applicant must have a master's degree in social work, social welfare, or a closely related field.

Although we do not require an MSW degree (many of our students' master's degrees are in other related areas), the Council on Social Work Education requires that faculty who teach required practice courses in accredited programs have an MSW degree and two years of post-BASW or post-MSW practice experience (e.g., if you have both degrees your practice experience could take place between them). Thus, obtaining an MSW and this experience can be valuable for those who ultimately seek academic positions following graduation.

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PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

The principal goal of the program is to prepare students to promote social justice by contributing to the advancement of knowledge and practice in the field of social welfare and the profession of social work. Our graduates assume leadership positions in such areas as teaching, research, administration, and policy analysis, and in these varying roles, use their scholarly abilities to improve the quality of policies, programs, and services in the field.

More specifically, the objectives of the program are for students to acquire:

• a broad understanding of the major policy and practice trends and issues in the field of social welfare and the profession of social work;
• substantive knowledge of a field of social welfare (e.g., aging, child welfare, health and mental health disparities, native health and wellness, policy studies, poverty, prevention science, and youth development) with particular emphasis on the issues and questions in that field that require scholarly attention;
• competence to conduct rigorous research that informs and advances policy and practice in an area of social welfare; and
• a balanced preparation for the professorate including preparation for teaching and related scholarship and faculty roles.

Four principal means are used to assess student progress toward the attainment of these objectives: (1) examinations and papers required in individual classes, (2) the General Examination with written and oral components, (3) hands-on experience in teaching and research practice, and (4) the Dissertation.

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DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

General Description

The University requires full-time residency—defined as 10 or more credits per quarter, for the autumn, winter, and spring quarters of two years. A student may register for summer quarters while in the program, but these may not be substituted for quarters during a regular academic year. In addition, students are required by the University to complete a third year; either on a full-time basis or a part-time equivalent of full time. Students are strongly advised to continue residence while working on the dissertation.

The first year of the program is the most heavily prescribed with required courses that must be taken in sequence and in combination. At year-end, students must pass a set of comprehensive examinations covering the content of first-year courses in methods, theory, and policy. During the second year, students have considerably more freedom in selecting courses specifically related to their substantive and research interests. At this time students research and write an integrative paper in their specific program of study area. The paper serves as the written portion of the General Examination, and presentation of the paper serves as the Oral Examination.

Standardized procedures guide the selection and operation of the Supervisory Committee for the General Examination and the Dissertation. These allow considerable input from and participation by the student. Students confer closely with the first-year advisor and later the Supervisory Committee to choose courses that will best prepare them to address important issues in their areas of specialization.

After passing the General Examination, students advance to candidacy and begin "formally" working on the dissertation. Much of the background work, such as preliminary conceptualization of the dissertation research and pursuit of financial support, will have been started prior to this point. Completion and successful defense of the dissertation are required before the PhD is conferred.

Specific Requirements

Required Courses Consistent with the requirements for all courses offered at the School of Social Work (undergraduate, masters, and doctoral), all required PhD courses in the School of Social Work must include content on diverse populations, including the disadvantaged and oppressed. This includes, for example, content on people of color, women, gay men and lesbians, and persons with disabilities. The specific type or nature of the content (e.g., readings, exemplars, exercises) and how it is introduced and integrated will likely differ across courses. In all cases, content on diversity must be in accord with course objectives and be visibly present in the course syllabus. All required coursework (with the exception of the 800 tutorials) must be completed before or during the quarter in which the Oral section of the General Examination takes place. The following courses are required of all students in the program and must be taken on a graded basis unless only offered as Credit/No Credit. Introduction to Advanced Research Methods and Design. Two quarters during first year. Fundamentals of Statistics. Two quarters during the first year through other departments (primarily Sociology or Biostatistics). Research Issues and Priorities in Social Welfare. Two quarters during the first year. Social Welfare Policy. Two quarters during the first year. Research Practicum. Two quarters; to be completed by the end of the second year (credit/no credit only). Teaching Practicum. One quarter; to be taken after successful completion of first year (credit/no credit only). Doctoral Seminars. One-credit seminars in the first year (credit/no credit). These focus on professional development issues and skills with emphasis on academic and research careers. Teaching Preparation. One quarter in the second year. A minimum of two 3+ credit courses in advanced graduate research methods (typically 500 level courses offered in other departments). These courses should be relevant to the student's anticipated research in a substantive or interventive area. Course work beyond the minimum is encouraged so that students obtain depth and strength of the research repertoire. A minimum of two 3+ credit graduate social science theory courses (500 level or above). These courses are expected to provide strong theoretical foundations, and students often use them to develop a "minor" in one of the social sciences. These are courses in the College of Arts and Sciences or in one of the professional schools and are related to the substantive or interventive content of the student's program of study. Course work beyond the minimum is encouraged for greater depth of interdisciplinary theoretical training. Dissertation Tutorials (Soc WL 800). Taken after the student has successfully completed the Oral General Examination and has been advanced to candidacy for the PhD. Students must complete a total of 27 credit hours over at least three quarters to satisfy the Graduate School requirement. Elective Courses in the SSW Qualitative Methods in Social Work Research. One or two quarters offered every other year. Advanced Topics in Data Analysis. One Quarter offered annually, covering advanced quantitative methods.   Social Movements and Participatory Action Research Methods. Three-credit course. Interdisciplinary Prevention Science: Children and Adolescents. Overview of developmental perspective examining factors that promote or inhibit health development at different stages and during transitions (focus on birth through age 21). Three-credit course (credit/no credit). Promoting Well-Being among At-Risk Groups: guidance for Health promotion/prevention Research. Statistics Track The statistics track is largely built around a curriculum developed by the Center for Statistics and the Social Sciences (CS&SS). Students who complete the Statistics Track in Social Work have advanced training in statistics for social science research relevant to their own area of specialization. The CS&SS provides a document certifying that the student completed the Statistics Track. Taking a coherent set of advanced statistical methods courses prepares students to work at the cutting edge of statistics and the social sciences. Students complete four courses in social statistics with the grade of 3.3 or above in each course and attend two quarters of the CS&SS seminar, CS&SS 590. For more information see the CS&SS description of the track. Additional Course Expectations In addition to required courses, students may also take tutorials (Soc WL 600) with faculty members during the advanced course work and the writing of the integrative paper (prior to the Oral General Examination). These tutorials should be well planned and include one or more written products. Students are also encouraged to take additional courses (beyond those required) that bear on their substantive areas of interest. Courses may be taken in any department or school of the University but should ordinarily be at the 500 level or above. Students are encouraged to consult with their advisors or committee chairpersons, or the director of the program for advice and assistance in arranging courses of study in other schools or departments. Prevention Research Training Program Courses (Trainee requirements in addition to all PhD Program Courses) Seminar in Prevention Science. Once-credit seminars taken autumn, winter, and spring quarters each year of the traineeship (credit/no credit only). Promoting Well-Being among At-Risk Groups: Interdisciplinary Guidance for Health Promotion/Prevention Research. One-quarter, three-credit, introduction to prevention research. Two additional graduate level (500+) courses, one social science theory and one research methods (quantitative), related to the prevention research area of study.

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ADVISING

Each student is assigned a faculty advisor upon entry to the program. The assignments take into account mutual areas of scholarly interest and serve as a "starting point" for faculty resources—for procedural matters and questions, facilitating contact with other faculty and thus helping the student form the Supervisory Committee. The advisor helps the student develop an awareness of the culture of the PhD Program and the academic community. In addition, the advisor assists the student in developing the program of study through which students clarify and further define their substantive interests, identify useful courses and instructors, and gain information about and linkages with community and university resources. Once a Supervisory Committee is established, the chair becomes the student's advisor.

FINANCIAL AID

Our School ensures that all students have some means of financial support during the 9-month school year for the first three years in the program and is frequently able to continue support beyond this point. In each of the first three years, the PhD Program Director assists students in obtaining funding from the School, other University of Washington sources, or external federal and private granting agencies. Each year, awards of stipends, fellowships, and research and teaching assistantships are made on the basis of resources available and match with areas of student interest. An award of a particular stipend or assistantship in one academic year does not carry a commitment for that same award in another year because both the grant situation and the applicant pool will change. Advanced teaching and research positions are available on a competitive basis. Students are encouraged to begin their efforts to secure dissertation research support early and to stay in communication with the PhD Program Director and the Associate Deans, who oversee assistantship assignments in consultation with the School Administration.

For trainees in the Prevention Research Training Program, up to three years of 12-month funded training is available. Trainees undergo annual evaluations for renewal of membership in the program.

Students with Graduate Student Service Appointments (TA, RA, Staff Assistant, Trainee, and Fellow), which provide salary, tuition waivers, and health benefits, must be registered for at least 10 credits each quarter during the academic year; these assistantships carry a work requirement of 20 hours a week. Appointments are contingent upon satisfactory academic progress and satisfactory performance of duties contracted for each appointment. The Graduate School prohibits students on probation from holding GSSA appointments. Most GSSA appointments are represented by UAW Local 4121 (http://www.uaw4121.org/; email: uaw4121@uaw4121.org).

ANNUAL AWARDS AND FELLOWSHIPS

The School of Social Work has several special funds from which awards are granted.

Boeing Endowed Fellowship

To provide financial assistance to graduate students who are economically disadvantaged, with a preference given to minority students.  The purpose is to support students with a commitment to research focused on providing effective services to diverse populations. This is typically a 3-quarter fellowship with tuition waiver.
 

J. Scott Briar Endowed Fund

In 1974, Dr. J. Scott Briar established the School of Social Work’s doctoral program. His emphasis on quality research education in the School’s doctoral and masters programs, and his leadership on the integration of practice research in the preparation of social work practitioners brought a distinctive identity and national stature to the School. The J. Scott Briar Endowed Fund acknowledges Dr. Briar’s long-standing commitment to and support for graduate students’ learning and professional development. The fund provides support to doctoral students for tuition, research, or living expenses.
 

Naomi Gottlieb Endowed Fellowship Fund

This endowment provides fellowships to doctoral students. It was established in memory of Naomi Gottlieb, a faculty member who influenced hundreds of students through active mentoring, gentle advocacy, and constant support of their learning and professional development. This fund is in recognition of her profound commitment to students, particularly those of disadvantaged background.
 

Doctoral Excellence Fund

This discretionary fund supports the general activities of the PhD Program, which includes support for conference and training travel, special events, and dissertation research related expenses.
 

Nancy R. Hooyman Intergenerational Fellowship for Intergenerational Studies

This endowment provides financial assistance to graduate students in the School of Social Work pursuing the knowledge, understanding, and skills necessary to incorporate intergenerational components into their work.
 

Magnuson Award

Each year the six University of Washington Health Sciences Schools nominate a student for selection as a Magnuson Scholar for the coming academic year.  Selection criteria are academic  performance and the student's potential for contribution to research in the health sciences.  This is a full year fellowship of approximately $30,000.
 

NIMH Prevention Research Training Program

Six doctoral students are funded each year as trainees in this program (see Predoctoral Prevention Research Training Program). Applicants to the PhD Program indicate their interest in the Training program during the initial application to the PhD program in social welfare. Traineeships are generally made available each year for students entering year 2 and beyond, with application procedures conducted at the end of spring for the following autumn term. Students are typically funded for up to their first 3 years of study.
 

The University Graduate School also offers many fellowships
that Social Welfare students have a history of success in obtaining.

For most of these awards, the department is responsible for the actual application process.

Graduate Opportunity Research Assistantships

Nine-month research assistantships for entering students who show high academic promise and who are pursuing graduate degrees in areas where they are severely underrepresented. Awards are for one academic year (9 months).
 

Bank of America and Presidential Endowed Minority Fellowships

These competitive fellowships, for which all departments of the University are eligible, are intended to increase the number of doctorates granted to students of diverse backgrounds who will contribute to the level of diversity within their discipline or the graduate community at large. The fellowship provides 2 years of 9-month per year support at a financial level equivalent to a student assistantship with tuition waiver. It covers the first and last years in a program, and the School of Social Work commits to providing assistantships for two intervening years.
 

Ronald E. McNair Fellowship

Two-year, merit-based fellowships carrying an annual stipend of approximately $16,500 plus tuition and fees for students pursuing doctoral degrees. Covers the first and last (dissertation) year, to be matched with three years of support at the same or a higher level by the student's department. Limited to students who have successfully completed a Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Program. Students enrolled in terminal master's programs are ineligible for this fellowship.
 

Stroum Minority Fellowship

As with the Bank of America Fellowship, this award supports students who will increase the diversity of students in a program.  It is a one-year fellowship (9 months of support) that can be either a first year recruitment award or a final-year dissertation award.
 

Huckabay Teaching Fellowships

This Graduate School fellowship program provides support for 1 quarter at the TA level. The fellowship provides graduate students an opportunity to develop and work on a specific project focused on teaching and learning at the university level.  Projects are proposed by students with teaching mentors either from the UW or nearby community colleges or other colleges.
 

Gatzert Child Welfare Fellowship

Fellowships to support doctoral dissertation research in the field of child development with special reference to the physically or mentally disabled.
 

Graduate School Dissertation Fellowships

The Graduate School has several dissertation fellowships that are awarded competitively on an annual basis and typically cover 1 quarter of effort.

Applicants may obtain answers to additional questions by mail: School of Social Work PhD Office 4101 - 15th Avenue NE Seattle, WA 98105-6299 Phone: (206) 685-1680 FAX: (206) 543-1228 Email: phdmhpr@u.washington.edu.

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2009-2010 Steering Committee:
Social Welfare PhD Program

Gunnar Almgren Director, Doctoral Program Associate Professor Kimberly Balsam Research Assistant Professor Appointment 2009-2011 Elena Erosheva Assistant Professor  Appointment 2009-2011 Karl Hill Research Associate Professor Appointment 2009-2011

Susan Kemp Associate Professor Appointment 2008-2010  Maureen Marcenko Associate Professor  Appointment 2009-2011 Diane Morrison Professor Appointment 2009-2011

Paula Nurius Professor, Director, Prevention Research Training Program Dana Prince Student Representative Appointment 2009-2011 David Takeuchi Professor, Associate Dean for Research Eric Waithaka Student Representative Appointment 2008-2010

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