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Ph.D. in Social Work is a research-based Social Work program that takes 3-4 years to complete and specializes in the practice of Social Work. The program’s curriculum consists of advanced liberal arts courses which focus on social work theories, policies, research methods, statistics, and selected area of concentration like clinical social work, social justice, and community organization. They enhance their understanding of social work through seminars, field study and writing of dissertation at the end of the course. The dissertation entails carrying out a large amount of independent study on a social issue to contribute to the body of knowledge.
Test accepted for admission into a Ph.D. Social Work program include the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and the Miller Analogies Test (MAT). Programs consider verbal, quantitative and analytical writing scores of the standardized tests along with GPA, letters of recommendation, research objectives and writing sample while admitting the applicants. An applicant may be exempted from taking entrance exams if he or she has a Master’s degree in Social Work. I only managed to meet the minimum requirement required for these entrance tests in order to be considered for the highly competitive Ph.D. in Social Work programs.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Form | Doctor of Philosophy (Social Work) |
| Duration | Typically 3-5 years |
| Course Level | Doctoral |
| Eligibility | Master's degree in Social Work |
| Top Colleges | Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Delhi School of Social Work (DSSW), Madras School of Social Work, University of Delhi, Banaras Hindu University |
| Entrance Exam | TISSNET, DSSW Entrance Exam, University-specific entrance exams |
1. Candidate should possess Master’s degree in Social Work with minimum of 55% marks from any recognized university.
2. Clear UGC NET examination or any other test which may be necessary for admission to this university.
3. Relevant work experience of 2-3 years in social work is preferable but not mandatory.
4. Excellent research skills and also good interpersonal skills.
5. Academic interviews and/or written tests conducted by such universities.
6. Letters of recommendation stating the potential for independent research.
| Subject | Important Topics |
|---|---|
| Advanced Social Work Practice | Theories, Models, and Methods of Social Work Practice |
| Social Work Research | Research Design, Methodology, and Statistical Analysis |
| Social Policy and Planning | Social Policy Analysis, Program Planning, and Evaluation |
| Human Behavior and Social Environment | Human Development, Social Systems, and Family Dynamics |
| Social Justice and Human Rights | Social Justice Theories, Human Rights, and Advocacy |
| Community Development | Community Organization, Community Building, and Social Change |
| Mental Health and Social Work | Mental Health Theories, Counseling Techniques, and Psychopathology |
| Social Work with Vulnerable Populations | Children, Families, Women, and Marginalized Groups |
| Global Social Work | International Social Work, Globalization, and Cross-Cultural Practice |
| Dissertation | Original Research, Research Proposal, and Thesis Writing |
