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Doctorate (DSW) in Social Work
The Doctorate of Social Work (DSW) prepares social work practitioners to advance their career and emerge as leaders in the field. This online program provides the experiences and foundation needed to work with specialized populations and navigate the realities of contemporary social work practice.
Our online program offers 100% asynchronous learning to allow maximum flexibility in your schedule.
The DSW creates more economic opportunities for social workers as it typically increases earnings by more than $20,000 (National Association of Social Workers, 2019) and increases job readiness for advanced practice positions.
At a Glance
Summer Priority Deadline
Summer 2025
Credits and Tuition Cost (2024-2025)
Format
Request Information
Doctorate in Social Work overview
What You'll Learn
The DSW will provide an educational foundation to prepare practitioners who seek social work positions that require an advanced practice doctorate. Social workers with DSW degrees are often leaders in the profession in areas of practice, policy, and scholarship and are well-qualified to serve in higher-level administrative positions. Many also assume academic positions and make substantive contributions to the knowledge base of the profession.
Our DSW program utilizes an innovative Core Plus model that offers students a flexible, affordable, and efficient way to earn their degree. Courses are taught online through asynchronous models with the exception of residency week during the summer which is taught synchronously. Rez Week does provide an asynchronous option. The Core Plus approach offers flexibility, allowing learners to progress through the program at their own pace, while the cohort model and residency week foster support via concentrated time with classmates and faculty. Beyond the core curriculum, students will select one of four concentrations:
(1) Administrative Leadership, (2) Clinical Social Work, (3) Military Behavioral Health or (4) Social Work Education.
Course Examples
- SW 852 Intro to Doctoral Studies
- SW 855 Supervision, Ethics & Professional Practice
- SW 856 The Science of Social Work
- SW 859 Statistics for Social Workers
- SW 853 Contemporary Social Work Concepts
- SW 860 Program Evaluation Methods
- SW 864 Advanced Policy for Social Work Practice
- SW 865 Foundational Theory
- SW 893 Justice Informed Social Work Practice
- SW 892 Colloquium I
- Concentration Course 1, 2 & 3
- SW 894 Colloquium II
![student image](/sites/default/files/2024-02/portrait-of-a-confident-young-businesswoman-in-off-2022-12-16-22-47-42-utc_copy.png)
How to Apply
Application Requirements
- Unofficial transcripts from masters degree-granting institution
- Employment history (resume or vita)
- Two reference letters with cover letter attached for each reference. Please exclude personal, pastoral and relative references. If you graduated within the past 5 years, you must provide at least one academic reference.
- Personal Statement - (no more than 5 pages, double-spaced, 12-point font) Your personal statement serves as a writing sample and should demonstrate critical thinking, graduate level writing, and be formatted in APA style (7th edition), including a title page and reference section (not included in the 5-page limit). All prompts listed in the three paragraphs below are to be addressed in your statement.
- Why are you interested in pursuing a DSW at this stage in your career? Two pieces to address are: how your practice experience informs the concentration area you are interested in (i.e., administration and leadership, clinical social work, military behavioral health, or social work education) and what impact do you expect a DSW education to have on your career?
- Contemporary social work calls for practice informed research and research informed practice. Identify a social work practice domain of your interest and practice that has been overlooked or lacks adequate research and attention in academia. How does the contemporary literature influence your understanding of your identified issue and how does it impact your identified population? Articulate how you might tackle this concern.
- Your discussion should demonstrate critical thinking about social work practice, application of current literature, a basic understanding of the practice problem or challenge identified and reflect an interest in improving practice.
Admissions Criteria
- Applicants should hold a Master of Social Work degree, or equivalent, from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) with a minimum cumulative graduate GPA of 3.0 (above a 3.5 is preferred).
- Students should have sufficient information technology skills to be successful in an online doctoral program.
- A minimum of two years post-MSW experience is required at the time of application.
Deadlines
Summer Priority Deadline
Summer 2025
Distance Learning
Licensure & Authorization
Where you live matters when completing distance education activities. If you will live outside of Kentucky while completing your program, please check the Distance Learning Authorization & Licensure page to confirm that the program can be offered in your state or country, and if relevant, that it meets professional licensure requirements in your state. Please note: Admission and enrollment in a fully-online program can NOT lead to the issuance of a J-1 or F-1 student visa.
AUTHORIZATION & LICENSURE INFO![NC-SARA logo](/sites/default/themes/uk_online/images/SARA_Seal_2024_200.jpg)
Student Support
Once you become a student, you will have access to a wide variety of academic support services to maximize your success. These services are available completely online to meet the needs of our online students.
Why UK Online
Testimonial
![graduate, La'Shardae Scott](/sites/default/files/styles/sqaure_900_/public/2023-08/scott.png?h=f0d95172&itok=M7amSTRp)