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PhD Program in Social Welfare

Frequently Asked Questions
about the PhD Program at the
University of Washington School of Social Work
Do you provide financial support? We ensure the same level of support to all incoming students, and our admissions decisions are based in part on the number of students for whom we can ensure support during their first 3 years in the program. We work with students to seek sources of funding both within the University and from outside sources. The support typically involves teaching or research assistantships or fellowships for the 9-month regular school year and includes tuition waiver and health benefits in addition to a salary (one-half time; 20 hours per week). We also help students pursue individual training and dissertation fellowships and grants, and special awards for later years in the program.
Do you have a part-time program? The nature of our program and curriculum structure requires full-time, in-residence status; thus we have no part-time program. The course work in the first year is intensive and prescribed. After the first year, students select a number of interdisciplinary courses from across campus.
Is there a statistics prerequisite? Students entering the PhD program must have successfully completed an undergraduate level statistics course within the last 5 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. 
Is the GRE required, and if so do you have specific score requirements? The University of Washington Graduate School requires all applicants to doctoral programs to submit GRE scores. The SSW requires that the test be taken within 5 years before application. We have no specific cut-off point for GRE scores. However, our applicant pool tends to be competitive in terms of both academic indicators and professional experience. Many applicants find it useful to undertake preparatory efforts to strengthen their GRE scores.
What kinds of learning resources do you have? We offer excellent student resources such as statistical tutoring, access to cutting edge quantitative and qualitative methods training, preparation for teaching and related faculty roles, student travel to professional conferences, a high level of faculty research activity, scholars engaged in cross-cultural research, and excellent computer access and consultation. Students are encouraged to collaborate with faculty in grant development and writing for publication, and individualized consultation is available through the Associate Dean for Research, the PhD Program Assistant Director, and several centers and institutes on campus. For example, we are  a member of an interdisciplinary institute on statistical research that provides training and consulting to faculty and students. Our NIMH-funded prevention research traineeships provide up to 3 years of internships with special in-depth research opportunities.
Is an MSW required? Although the required master's degree does not have to be an MSW, a thorough understanding of the field of social welfare and the needs and priorities of the profession of social work is essential. 
Is practice experience required for admission? Doctoral programs in social work in the USA often prefer that incoming students have practice experience. This is partly related to a Council on Social Work Education requirement that those teaching certain MSW practice courses have an MSW degree and 2 years post-BSW or post-MSW experience. Although we do not make this a requirement for entrance into our program, it is a plus. We want our incoming students to have some degree of field experience, whether as a practicing social worker, related professional, or volunteer, or through training as a student, pre- or postmasters. We look for applicants who have a grasp of the theory and practice aspects of the social work profession and of the main issues and questions that social work researchers need to address.
Do you provide advanced clinical practice training? Our program emphasizes knowledge building through training in research, scholarship, and teaching. Although some research roles provide an opportunity to build practice experience, our program is not designed to teach advanced practice skills and is not appropriate for persons seeking advanced clinical training.
Must I have research experience and publications to be competitive? Although it is not necessary that a successful applicant already have extensive research experience or publications, it is important that the personal statement and letters of reference describe a potential for independent meaningful social welfare research. Certainly prior involvement in research activities and participation in writing about and publishing these activities is a plus.
Do you have concentrations? There are no formal concentrations although our school faculty members tend to be grouped into broad areas of research interests. We do look very carefully at the degree of match between applicants' interests and our faculty members' interests and areas of active work.
What important points should I know about the NIMH-funded prevention research training program? Membership in the Prevention Research Training Program is open to Social Welfare doctoral students in good standing academically, both incoming students and those in advanced years. Trainees must be U.S. citizens or legal residents. Student applications are reviewed by the Training Program Advisory Committee. The NIMH requires that trainees be citizens or resident aliens of the USA. The traineeships are year-round, which means they cover summer quarter. Although the trainee's internship mentor and Supervisory Committee chair are faculty in the training program, it is possible to work with faculty researchers in social work or other disciplines who are not members of the program.
What teaching training opportunities do you provide? We promote a strong focus on teaching preparation and professional development through coursework, practica, and assistantships involving School and University-wide resources for teaching enhancement. The University Center for Instructional Development and Research (CIDR) provides both faculty members and graduate students with an wide array of resources for teaching training and development.
How long does it take to finish? Generally students find that it takes 4 to 5 years of full-time enrollment to complete the program: of those graduating in the last 15 years, 42% graduated within 4 years and 66% within 5 years.
What is the job market like for your graduates? In recent years program graduates have fared well in the employment market with the vast majority going to university posts and many of the remaining entering a wide variety of research or administrative positions in government and private sector social welfare agencies. Our graduates are on the faculties of top schools of social work nationwide.

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PhD Program

Prevention Research Training