PhD Program

Mission and Objectivess

To prepare a select number of students for careers in higher education, research, and advanced practice leadership positions in social work and social welfare is the mission of the doctoral program.  Educational emphasis is placed on theory development and research.  The doctoral program focuses on testing, building, revising, and extending knowledge. 

A primary objective of the program is to enhance students' ability to incorporate and critically evaluate knowledge from related fields through the development of a specialization. 

The doctoral program is organized around three central concepts: knowledge-building, research, and scholarship. 

Knowledge-building refers to the process involved in learning facts, truths, and principles, through study or investigation.  The source of this knowledge begins with a solid foundation in social work and the other social sciences. 

Research refers to diligent and systematic inquiry or investigation in order to discover or revise facts and theories.

Scholarship is best demonstrated by research publications and other professional writing, and is related to contributions in the form of a new discovery or new theory.

Program Aspects

Students may enter the Ph.D. Program on either a full-time or part-time basis.

A combined MSW/Ph.D option is available.

The Doctoral Student Organization provides a forum for students mentoring, resources and issue sharing.  All students are automatically members. 

The curriculum is designed to prepare students for independent scholarship with a strong educational emphasis on research and theory development.

Various awards are available.

Publications and student and program news are recognized.

A National Symposium on Doctoral Research in Social Work is held annually.

Development of the OSU Social Work Doctoral Program

Out of the philanthropic movements of the 1800's came the profession of social work.  Originally considered "untrained volunteers", it was not until the 1920s that social work became a profession.  Specialized educational programs developed shortly thereafter. 

In 1927, Dr. Hagerty became the first Director of the School of Social Administration, which was under the the administration of the Department of Sociology.  The Bachelor of Science and a Master of Arts degrees were offered.  Five specialities were available for undergraduates: General Social Work, Social Case Work, Group Work, Community Health Administration, and Rural Social Work. 

In 1929, Charles Stillman began teaching at OSU.  He established the first curriculum offered in the U.S. of community orgnaization for health and welfare.  In 1932, he became Director of Social Administration and received recognition as a leader in community health and welfare studies.  The concepts of "Justice, Freedom, Democracy, Knowledge, Education, and Happiness" embodythe life of Stillman.  These words are engraved in the stone of Stillman Hall, dedicated in 1937 and the home of the College of Social Work. 

In 1932, the school was separated from the Department of Sociology.  A Social Administration program was started in the early 1930s and offered an MA and PhD.  The first PhD in Social Administration was awarded in 1934.  By 1939, 30 graduate degrees and 60 undergraduate degrees had been awarded. 

During the 1940s, enrollment declined and budgets were trimmed as the nation's focus was on the war.

In 1952, the Council of Social WOrk Education was formed.  Programs of study in community organization, corrections and rehabilitation were popular at OSU. 

A new social work PhD curriculum was implemented in the 1950's.  The objective of the program was stated as follows:   

                                  To stimulate and prepare carefully selected students for creative

                                  and independent scholarship in the field of social welfare -

                                  scholars who will search for new, more effective approaches

                                  toward enhancing human potentials for social development

                                  and for preventing, as well as resolving social problems.

                                  (Handbook of Social Work Doctoral Students, Pilot Edition, 1978-1979)

The program was organized around four core curriculum areas: social work practice, social welfare policy, human behavior, social research, and an integrative seminar. A minimum of 155 credit hours were needed to complete the PhD program in social work (V. Richardson, personal communication, December 14, 1989). 

In the 1960s, enrollment expanded and PhD were saught for faculty positions.  The name changed to the School of Social Work. 

In the 1970's, Stillman Hall and the School of Social Work was very close to the protests that erupted on campus.  National Guard troops used gas to disperse the crowds.  In 1976, the College of Social Work became an independent College within the University.  This enhanced the status of the program, making it one of the nation's leaders in the field. 

In the early 1980s, enrollment decreased as a result of the economic conditions but rebounded in the later part of the decade.  In August, 1988, the Dean of the College of Social Work tasked a team of evaluators to consider changes to the doctoral program. 

Early in the 1990's the Ph.D. curriculum was modified.  The revised program is organized around the three central concepts of knowledge-building, research, and scholarship.  At the time of implementation the curriculum was divided into six major areas: 1) core courses; 2) specialization courses; 3) electives; 4) proposal development courses; 5) individual studies; and 6) dissertation hours (V. Richardson, personal communication, December 1989).  An emphasis is placed on the requirements for students to develop an area of specialization as well as competence in statistics.

Today, the program retains this structure.  A minimum of 135 credit hours are needed to complete the degree.  The three central concepts of knowledge-building, research, and scholarship remains an integral part of the program.  The major areas include 1) core courses; 2) specialization courses; 3) electives and independent studies; 4) scholarship skills and research internship; 5) proposal development; and 6) dissertation hours.

The College of Social Work offers accredited programs leading to bachelors, masters, and Ph.D. degrees.

There are over 30 faculty members and over 600 students.

More information about the Ph.D. program can be found on the curriculum webpage of this website.  

Find out more about the history of OSU.