PhD ProgramCurriculum
The curriculum is everything students do to learn and achieve the educational objectives of the program. Its entire focus is creating positive change through translational social work science. Research is done in applied settings such as schools, mental health centers, hospitals, prisons, community centers and social service agencies.
Our curriculum includes
- Courses in social work and from across the university to develop specialized expertise
- Research mentoring
- Candidacy examination that can take the form of a grant proposal or answering faculty committee questions on theory, practice, research and the student’s individualized specialization
- Dissertation reflecting original research
Following the translational science model, the PhD curriculum is designed to move primary research results into application and dissemination to the practice community, social work courses develop the knowledge and skills to:
- Conduct basic research on etiology, prevalence, and demographics of problems in communities and populations;
- Design interventions based on theories of change;
- Conduct research in efficacy and effectiveness of interventions;
- Conduct research in the implementation, dissemination and utilization of evidence-informed interventions
The courses include quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods approaches.
Developing your own area of expertise is a critical part of your doctoral education. We call this a specialization – a unique and purposeful combination of courses from across campus – to inform your research and scholarship.
Guiding you through your journey to becoming an independent researcher and scholar are social work faculty who conduct research in a variety of areas including, but not limited to: aging, child welfare, health, mental health, substance abuse, corrections, juvenile justice, positive youth development, school social work, immigrants and refugees, environmental justice, community food security, international issues and human trafficking.
| Course Number | Course | Credit | Term Offered | Year Taken Year Offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8101 | Research and Professional Development Seminars: A) Writing for Publication B) Research and Professional Development |
1×2 | A) AU B) AU |
A) 1st B) 2nd |
| 8201 | Knowledge Building | 3 | AU | 1st |
| 8202 | Theories of Change for Social Problem Interventions | 3 | AU | 1st |
| 8401 | Methods for Social Work Research | 3 | SP | 1st |
| 8402 | Qualitative Methods in Social Work Research | 3 | SP | 1st |
| 8403 | Intervention Development and Research in Social Work (choice 8403 or 8407; prerequisite: 8401) |
3 | SP25 Alternate Years | 1st or 2nd |
| 8404 | Implementation Science in Health and Human Service Organizations and Systems (prerequisite or concurrent: 8401) |
3 | SP | 2nd |
| 8407 | Methods for Social Welfare Policy Research (choice: 8403 or 8407; prerequisite or concurrent 8401) | 3 | SP26 Alternate Years | 1st or 2nd |
| 8408 | Statistics I for Social Work Research | 3 | AU | 1st |
| 8409 | Statistics II for Social Work Research | 3 | SP | 1st |
| 8502 | Social Work Education: Pedagogy, Skills, Opportunities, and Challenges | 3 | AU | 2nd |
| 8999 | Research for Dissertation (prerequisite: Candidacy status) | 3 | All | Post Cand |
Social Work PhD Curriculum and Requirements: Required core courses
| Course Number | Course | Credit | Term Offered | Year Taken |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8405 | Structural Equation Modeling for Social and Behavioral Sciences (Can be used for: Personalized Plan—Advanced Research Methods and Skills) |
3 | AU | 2nd+ |
| 8406 | Mixed Methods in Social and Health Sciences (Prerequisites: 8401, 8402; Can be used for: Personalized Plan—Advanced Research Methods and Skills) |
3 | AU | 2nd+ |
| 8501 | International Social Work and Social Development (Can be used for: Personalized Plan—Specialization) |
3 | SP | Any |
| 8503 | Job Search Seminar | 3 | SP | 3rd+ |
| 8193 | Individual Studies | All | Any | |
| 8998 | Research (Candidacy Preparation) | All | Any |
Social Work PhD Curriculum and Requirements: Optional Advanced Research and Statistics Courses and Elective Courses
| Summary of Course Requirements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | 29 | Professional Development (2) Foundation (6) Research Methods (6) Statistics (6) Applied Research Methods (6) Pedagogy (3) |
| Advanced Research Methods and Skills | 6 | Approved Personalized Plan |
| Specialization | 6 | Approved Personalized Plan |
| Electives | 6 | |
| Dissertation | 3 | |
Summary of Course Requirements
| Totals | ||
|---|---|---|
| PhD Total | 50 | |
| Credit for Master’s Degree | 30 | |
| Total | 80 | |
Totals
| Other Requirements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | A master’s degree in Social Work or a related field is required. The Graduate School will award 30 credit hours (K credit) for the Master’s degree. | |
| Candidacy Exam | The candidacy exam tests a student on their foundational knowledge and readiness to move on to the dissertation.
The candidacy exam has a written and oral portion and is conducted by a committee of four faculty members, three Social Work faculty and one faculty from another Ohio State department. The student and committee select either the Grant Proposal Option or the Four Question Option which has four take-home questions– Theory, Practice, Research Methods and Specialization. Students must be enrolled in at least three credit hours when taking any portion of the candidacy exam. For more details, see the PhD and Graduate School Handbooks |
|
| Dissertation | After completion of the candidacy exam, the student enters Candidacy and is ready to begin the dissertation. Students must select a committee of three faculty to supervise the dissertation. The Advisor/Chair must be from Social Work.
The student and the committee select either the Manuscript Option, three or more publishable article manuscripts, or Traditional Option, book style dissertation. Students must enroll in a minimum of 3 hours of dissertation credits and must follow the Graduate School Continuous Enrollment Policy of being enrolled in at least three credit hours every Autumn and Spring from Candidacy through Graduation. Students must be enrolled in at least three hours the semester of the defense. For more details, see the PhD and Graduate School Handbooks. |
|
Totals
| Course Number | Course |
|---|---|
| 8101 | Research and Professional Development Seminar (1st yr): Writing for Publication |
| 8101 | Research and Professional Development Seminar (2nd yr): Professional Development |
| 8193 | Individual Studies |
| 8201 | Knowledge Building (1st yr) |
| 8202 | Theories of Change for Social Problem Intervention (1st yr) |
| 8405 | Structural Equation Modeling for Social and Behavioral Sciences (elective; Advanced Research Methods and Skills; 2nd yr+) |
| 8406 | Mixed Methods Research in Social and Health Sciences (elective; Advanced Research Methods and Skills 2nd yr+) |
| 8408 | Statistics I for Social Work Research (1st yr) |
| 8502 | Social Work Education: Pedagogy, Skills, Opportunities and Challenges (2nd yr) |
| 8998 | Research (for candidacy preparation) |
| 8999 | Research for Dissertation |
Autumn 2024
| Course Number | Course |
|---|---|
| 8193 | Individual Studies |
| 8401 | Methods for Social Work Research (1st yr) |
| 8402 | Qualitative Methods in Social Work Research (1st yr) |
| 8403 | Intervention Development and Research in Social Work (prereq. or concurrent 8401; 2nd yr) |
| 8404 | Implementation Science in Health and Human Human Service Organizations and Systems (prereq. or concurrent 8401; 2nd yr) |
| 8409 | Statistics II for Social Work Research (1st yr) |
| 8501 | International Social Work and Social Development |
| 8503 | Job Search Seminar |
| 8998 | Research (for candidacy preparation) |
| 8999: | Research for Dissertation |
Spring 2025
| Course Number | Course |
|---|---|
| 8193 | Individual Studies |
| 8998 | Research (for candidacy preparation) |
| 8999 | Research for Dissertation |
Summer 2025