PhD Degree Requirements & Curriculum


PhD Classroom

PhD Degree Requirements

The doctoral program requires an enrollment of a minimum of 58 credit hours*, as follows:

  • 37 credit hours of required coursework
  • 9 credit hours of electives
  • An integrative paper (minimum of 6 credit hours)
  • A comprehensive examination process
  • A dissertation (minimum of 6 credit hours)

*Effective fall 2024.

The curriculum is designed to provide standard core content for all students and also to give flexibility for students to develop particular expertise in chosen areas of inquiry and research methods.

Required social work doctoral courses provide a common base of knowledge and skills. Electives, the Integrative Paper, and the dissertation allow greater focus and specialization. The cumulative effect of coursework and the Integrative Paper should be to create a clear area of specialization or emphasis. The dissertation involves detailed scholarly investigation within this area. Students are not required to use the same or similar topic and methodology developed in the Integrative Paper for the dissertation. However, doing so is the most efficient way to proceed through the program. The total number of credit hours students complete for the degree is variable based on students' individual experiences.

Curriculum

Recommended completion schedule for all students with GRA or GTA appointments of 50% or more, which is full-time for KU purposes.

Fall

  • SW 911 PhD Seminar I
  • SW 978 Research Design and Methods
  • SW 980 History and Philosophy of Social Work
  • SW 981 Advanced Quantitative Research Methods I

Spring

  • SW 911 PhD Seminar I
  • SW 985 Theory for Social Work Research
  • SW 979 Methods of Qualitative Inquiry I
  • SW 983 Advanced Quantitative Research Methods II

Fall

  • SW 912 PhD Seminar II
  • SW 975 Racial Equity & Social Justice in Research and Practice
  • SW 982 Social Welfare Policy
  • SW 989 Methods of Qualitative Inquiry II

Spring

  • SW 912 PhD Seminar II
  • SW 976 The Practice & Politics of Writing
  • SW 987 Teaching Social Work: Philosophy and Methods
  • Elective (3 hours)

Fall

  • One Elective (in or out of SSW) (3 hours)*
  • One Elective (3 hours)*
  • SW 990 Graduate Research (integrative paper)

Spring

  • SW 990 Graduate Research
  • Oral Comprehensive Exam (dissertation proposal)

*Electives can also be taken during summer semesters.

Fall

  • SW 999 Dissertation

Spring

  • SW 999 Dissertation

Students typically enroll in 6-9 hours of SW 999 each semester through completion of Dissertation. 

Fall

  • SW 911 PhD Seminar I
  • SW 978 Research Design and Methods
  • SW 980 History and Philosophy of Social Work
  • SW 981 Advanced Quantitative Research Methods I

Spring

  • SW 911 PhD Seminar I
  • SW 985 Theory for Social Work Research
  • SW 979 Methods of Qualitative Inquiry I
  • SW 983 Advanced Quantitative Research Methods II

Fall

  • SW 912 PhD Seminar II
  • SW 975 Racial Equity & Social Justice in Research and Practice
  • SW 982 Social Welfare Policy
  • SW 989 Methods of Qualitative Inquiry II

Spring

  • SW 912 PhD Seminar II
  • SW 976 The Practice & Politics of Writing
  • SW 987 Teaching Social Work: Philosophy and Methods
  • Elective (3 hours)

Fall

  • One Elective (in or out of SSW) (3 hours)*
  • One Elective (3 hours)*
  • SW 990 Graduate Research (integrative paper)

Spring

  • SW 990 Graduate Research
  • Oral Comprehensive Exam (dissertation proposal)

*Electives can also be taken during summer semesters.

Fall

  • SW 999 Dissertation

Spring

  • SW 999 Dissertation

Students typically enroll in 6-9 hours of SW 999 each semester through completion of Dissertation. 




PhD Program Director

Next application deadline is Jan. 5, 2024

We admit a new PhD cohort every other year. The next cohort applications will open Oct. 1, 2023 to Jan. 5, 2024 for a fall 2024 start date.

Request Information

Ready to pursue your doctoral degree in social work at KU? Request a PhD program guide or sign up for a PhD Virtual Information Session.