Semester Degree Requirements

From Student to Scholar:  Coursework, Candidacy Exam, and Dissertation

The doctoral program moves students from classroom learning to independent research and scholarship and consists of three phases:  coursework, the candidacy exam, and the dissertation. Coursework provides the foundation. The candidacy exam demonstrates your mastery of the foundations and preparedness for beginning the dissertation. The dissertation is an independent, yet faculty committee mentored, major research project culminating in a book-length thesis.

Basic Credit Hour Summary

The following summarizes the hours required to complete the doctoral program.

30 hours - Required Social Work hours (see required Social Work courses for course information)
20 hours - Other required hours

5 hours - Electives – may be taken in outside departments
6 hours - Advanced research/statistics – may be taken in outside departments
9 hours - Specialization – must include two courses outside Social Work

50 hours - Subtotal = Actual required hours in the doctoral program

30 hours - The Graduate School will apply 30 hours to acknowledge an earned Master's degree.
                    These hours will be applied at the time of initial enrollment or completion of a Master's degree. 

80 hours - Grand Total required hours (50 doctoral program hours + 30 for acknowleding the Master's degree) 

Curriculum Overview
Doctoral Coures 
Curriculum Timeline 
Graduate School
 

Quarter System Curriculum

Core Courses

• Social Work Theory-Building Courses (10)
  • Introduction to Doctoral Studies (1)
  • Knowledge Building in Social Science and Social Work (3)
  • Micro Theory: Theories of Individual Functioning (3)
  • Macro Theory: Social Theory and Social Welfare (3)
• Social Work Research Courses (12)
  • Quantitative Research Methods in Social Work (3)
  • Qualitative Research Methods in Social Work (3)
  • Computer Literacy in Social Work (3)
  • Research Internship in Social Work (3)
• Statistics Courses (taken outside the College) (6)
  • Statistics choice (3)
  • Statistics choice (3)
• Social Work Practice Theory (select two) (10)
  • Advanced Practice Theory in Clinical Social Work (5)
  • Advanced Practice Theory in Policy and Administration (5)
  • International Issues in Social Work Practice and Social Development (5)
• Professional Development  (11)
  • Current Issues in Social Work Education (5)
  • Scholarship Skills (3)
  • Proposal Development (3)

Specialization Courses  (13-16)

Electives (4-7)

Candidacy Exam  (must register for at least 3 credit hours) -- 

Dissertation Hours (6)

Total = 75 + 45 hours from the Master’s Degree = 120