Ph.D. Frequently Asked Questions

Aspiring social work scholars who:

• have a master's degree in social work or related social and/or health science fields;
• are eager to develop research and teaching skills and experience; and
• are committed to advancing social and economic justice.
  
   

A competitive application should be complete, submitted on time, reflect your ability to present yourself clearly, have a strong focus on your research interests and lines of scholarly inquiry, and demonstrate your commitment to a long-term and rigorous program of study.  

Experience in social work and related fields is highly valued. Our Ph.D. program prepares graduates for careers contributing to research, practice, and policy within and beyond academia. For applicants aspiring to become university faculty members in schools of social work, the most competitive applicants typically hold an MSW and have two years of post-MSW social work experience before commencing their doctoral studies.
 

Yes, you could apply to our program if you have a strong interest in research but limited prior research experience. However, we want to emphasize that all Ph.D. programs include research training aligned with a student’s areas of interest within the academic discipline. We strongly encourage you to carefully examine what social concerns or populations you wish to explore through research during your time in the program. We also encourage you to take courses that help you gain or improve your research experience.

Most students in the Ph.D. program report that balancing a full-time job and the program is very challenging. If you are considering a Ph.D. program, it is important to factor in the reality that the first two years are particularly demanding. Students are advised to make space in their lives to accommodate the many demands the program requires in order to be successful. The part-time option in the program is more reasonable if one wishes to keep a full-time job. 
 

Like most Ph.D. programs, we aspire to offer financial support to students accepted into the full-time program. We expect to be able to offer three years of support to students in the next cohort. This is in the form of a half-time position as a Graduate Assistant (GA) focused on research and/or teaching, which includes a monthly stipend during the academic year, as well as tuition remission. Students accepted to the part-time program are not eligible for GA positions, although both part-time and full-time students are eligible for scholarships through the program and through PSU.  

Students are first encouraged to connect with faculty prior to applying to the program. Although not all faculty members will be available to meet with a prospective student, it is appropriate for applicants to reach out by email to connect around shared research interests. Next, during the first and second years of the program, students attending the Ph.D. Seminar will have opportunities to learn about faculty research being conducted in the School of Social Work. Additionally, all students have opportunities to interact with instructors from their program and other university departments through coursework, research assistantships, practicum placements, and other experiences.
 

Several program mechanisms facilitate interactions among students from different cohorts. First, the new student welcoming event, attended by both faculty and Ph.D. students, helps initiate connections. The Ph.D. Seminar, attended by all first and second-year students, invites students from earlier cohorts to share their experiences and progress through the program.  Additionally, elective courses bring together students from various cohorts, as well as from across the university. Graduate Assistantships can also offer opportunities for collaboration across different class years, as can serving together as Student Representatives on the Ph.D. Program Committee. 
 

You can attend a program information session, and/or reach out to the Program Admin Specialist or Program Director. We can also connect you to 1-2 current students, and facilitate connections to faculty with shared research interests.