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Social Work, DSW

The mission of the Doctor of Social Work (DSW) Program at Delaware State University is to prepare experienced, advanced practice social workers for career advancement in areas of leadership, teaching, and research.  We prepare graduates that use their knowledge as agents of change to seek justice in an imperfect world.

The DSW program was developed to support five program-based student learning outcomes.

  1. Engage in systematic inquiry that adheres to scholarly conventions.
  2. Use and evaluate research-informed practice critically and at an advanced level.
  3. Develop and disseminate practice-relevant knowledge through a variety of channels, such as teaching, scholarship, professional presentations, mentoring, and administration.
  4. Demonstrate leadership in social work practice and education.
  5. Develop and maintain substantive expertise in one or more areas of social work practice.

CSWE’s Board of Accreditation (CSWE-BOA) is currently piloting the accreditation of professional practice doctoral programs. Although there are currently no CSWE-BOA accredited professional practice doctoral programs, in June 2020, CSWE-BOA approved and adopted the Accreditation Standards for Professional Practice Doctoral Programs in Social Work. The DSW Program at Delaware State University has adopted the Accreditation Standards for Professional Practice Doctoral Programs in Social Work and is prepared to undergo accreditation once it becomes available. For information about professional practice doctoral program accreditation and the current pilot, please visit the Council on Social Work Education website.

What makes us the right choice?

  • 8-week accelerated classes, 1 class per 8 week session
  • In-person or (online) synchronous hybrid program
  • Cohort model
  • 3 Year Program

Affordability

Curriculum

  • Leadership
  • Social Work Education
  • Research
  • Practice

Application Requirements

  • An earned Masters in Social Work (MSW) degree from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited program with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00.
  • DSU Graduate Studies admission application.
  • Official transcript(s) of all academic work completed.
  • Sample of Scholarly Work. Either submission of a previously submitted first authored published manuscript, unsubmitted/unpublished manuscript, OR an APA formatted 5-page topic paper relevant to social work with cited scholarly sources to support key points.
  • Career Essay. The candidate must specifically explain how a DSW degree will support their future career goals. Specifications: 2 pages, APA style, grammatical error free.
  • Resume/CV. A current professional resume or CV demonstrating 3 years of post-MSW experience and listing any published or submitted manuscripts and any professional presentations.
  • Three (3) letters of recommendation (professional with one academic if available) via the online application process.

Required Courses

Plan of Study

DSW Student Handbook