Ph.D. Course Maps and Timeline
A Ph.D. in Social Work Can Generally Be Completed in Four to Five Years
Ph.D. Course Maps and Timeline
Full-Time Course Map (90 credit Hours)
Social Work Core Courses (31 credits)
YEAR ONE (16 Required Credits; Supplement with Required Electives)
|
Fall (4 Credits) |
Winter (4 Credits) |
Spring (8 Credits) |
|---|---|---|
|
SW 660 PhD Seminar (1 credit) |
SW 660 PhD Seminar (1 credit) |
SW 660 PhD Seminar (1 credit) |
|
SW 630 Philosophy of Science for Social Science (3 credits) |
SW 650 History of Social Work Profession/al (3 credits) |
SW 637/PSY 637 Qualitative Research Methods (4 credits) |
|
SW 626/PHE 626 Teaching Pedagogy (3 credits) |
YEAR TWO (15 Required Credits; Supplement with Required Electives)
|
Fall (1-7 Credits) |
Winter (4-10 Credits) |
Spring (4 Credits) |
|---|---|---|
|
SW 661 PhD Seminar (1 credit) |
SW 661 PhD Seminar (1 credit) |
SW 661 PhD Seminar (1 credit) |
|
SW 620 Substantive Area Conceptualization (3 credits) |
SW 622 Substantive Area Investigation (3 credits) |
|
|
SW 640 Research Practicum and Seminar (3 credits): Can take either in Fall and/or Winter |
SW 640 Research Practicum and Seminar (3 credits): Can take either in Fall and/or Winter |
|
|
SW 690 Teaching Practicum and Seminar (3 credits): Can take in Fall and/or Winter |
SW 690 Teaching Practicum and Seminar (3 credits): Can take in Fall and/or Winter |
Required Elective Courses (32 Credits)
32 credits of electives are required and can be selected based on students’ individual study plan. 16 credits must come from selected research electives, while the other 16 will be chosen from substantive area electives. Electives can be taken Years 1-3 but taking in Year 2 is recommended.
Selected Research Electives (16 Credits)
- one 4-credit research design course
- one 4-credit quantitative methods I (multivariate level) course
- one 4-credit quantitative methods II (advanced level) course
- one 4-credit qualitative methods II course
Substantive Area Electives (16 Credits)
- (choose based on your area of focus)
Dissertation (27 Credits)
All students must complete the dissertation.
Part-Time Course Map (90 credit Hours)
Social Work Core Courses (31 credits)
View Ph.D. Program sample course map (Part-Time) (PDF) »
YEAR ONE (13 Required Credits; Supplement with Required Electives)
|
Fall (4 Credits) |
Winter (4 Credits) |
Spring (5 Credits) |
|---|---|---|
|
SW 660 PhD Seminar (1 credit) |
SW 660 PhD Seminar (1 credit) |
SW 660 PhD Seminar (1 credit) |
|
SW 630 Philosophy of Science for Social Science (3 credits) |
SW 650 History of Social Work Profession/al (3 credits) |
SW 637/PSY 637 Qualitative Research Methods (4 credits) |
YEAR TWO (6 Required Credits; Supplement with Required Electives)
|
Fall (13 Credits) |
Winter (13 Credits) |
Spring (13 Credits) |
|---|---|---|
|
SW 661 PhD Seminar (1credit) |
SW 661 PhD Seminar (1credit) | SW 661 PhD Seminar (1credit) |
|
SW626/PHE626 Teaching Pedagogy (3 credits) |
YEAR THREE (12 Credits)
|
Fall (0-6 Credits) |
Winter (3-9 Credits) |
Spring (7 Credits) |
|---|---|---|
|
SW640 Research Practicum and Seminar (3 credits): Can take either in Fall and/or Winter |
SW620 Substantive Area Conceptualization (3 credits) |
SW 622 Substantive Area Investigation (3 credits) |
|
SW690 Teaching Practicum and Seminar (3 credits): Can take either Fall and/or Winter |
SW640 Research Practicum and Seminar (3 credits): Can take either in Fall and/or Winter |
SW 637/PSY 637 Qualitative Research Methods (4 credits) |
|
SW690 Teaching Practicum and Seminar (3 credits): Can take either Fall and/or Winter |
Required Elective courses (32 Credits)
32 credits of electives are required and can be selected based on students’ individual study plan. 16 credits must come from selected research electives, while the other 16 will be chosen from substantive area electives. Electives can be taken Years 1-3 but taking in Year 2 is recommended.
Selected Research Electives (16 Credits; Year 1 through Fall of Year 2)
- one 4-credit research design course
- one 4-credit quantitative methods I (multivariate level) course
- one 4-credit quantitative methods II (advanced level) course
- one 4-credit qualitative methods II course
Substantive Area Electives (16 Credits)
- (choose based on your area of focus)
Dissertation (27 Credits)
All students must complete the dissertation.
View Social Work course descriptions »
Graduate Certificate in Gerontology
The Institute on Aging (IOA) offers the Graduate Certificate in Gerontology program.
Ph.D. Program Timeline
Although the time needed to complete all requirements varies, in general students take four to five years to complete their Ph.D. degree.
In addition to completing course requirements and comprehensive exam, students are encouraged to start a research agenda as soon as possible. This includes exploring research areas, identifying research topics, getting to know the research community, attending professional conferences in a research area, and doing research and disseminating findings. An important first step towards achieving this goal is to start meeting with one’s academic adviser.
The following is a brief overview of milestones in the Ph.D. program sequence and the persons or groups who provide guidance along the way.
|
Requirement |
Year 1 |
Year 2 |
Year 3 |
Year 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Course Work |
Courses to meet degree requirement |
Courses to meet degree requirement |
||
|
Committee formation |
Working with academic advisor |
Working with academic advisor |
Dissertation Committee |
|
|
Comprehensive Examination |
Complete Comprehensive Examination |
|||
|
Dissertation |
Pre-dissertation research |
Pre-dissertation research |
Defend dissertation proposal |
Complete dissertation research and defense |