Ph.D. Degree Requirements
The program of study for the Ph.D. in Social Welfare is comprised of two basic blocks: one block of 36 credit hours made up of 12 courses taken over three consecutive semesters, and one block of a minimum of 24 credit hours of Dissertation credit (60 credits altogether).
The first block is taken before advancement to candidacy. The second block can only be started until after advancement to candidacy.
The following table illustrates the typical schedule for the first four semesters of study (asterisk (*) indicates required course).
| Fall Semester |
| *Theory Development & Research Methods in Social Welfare |
3 Credits |
| *History & Systems of Social Work Research |
3 Credits |
| *Quantitative Analysis in Health & Urban Affairs I |
3 Credits |
| *Qualitative Research Methods in Health & Urban Affairs |
3 Credits |
Total semester credits: |
12 Credits |
| Spring Semester |
| *Micro-Practice Theory & Research |
3 Credits |
| *Quantitative Analysis in Health & Urban Affairs II |
3 Credits |
| Graduate Elective or Supervised Research |
3 Credits |
| * Macro-Practice Theory & Research |
3 Credits |
Total semester credits: |
12 Credits |
| Summer Semester |
| *Social Welfare Policy |
3 Credits |
| Supervised Research |
3 Credits |
| Graduate Elective |
3 Credits |
| *Dissertation Seminar |
3 Credits |
Total semester credits: |
12 Credits |
Total PhD Program course credits: |
36 Credits |
| Semesters 4 and continuing |
| *Dissertation Credits (or Supervised Research or Independent Study if Doctoral Candidacy not yet attained) |
3 to 12 Credits
per semester |
Total minimum PhD dissertation credits: |
24 Credits |
Total Credits: |
60 Credits |
Summary of Requirements
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Completion of a minimum of 60 credits: at least 36 credit hours of required coursework, obtaining at least a “B” grade for each course; and at least 24 dissertation credit hours following advancement to candidacy; continuous registration for at least 3 credit hours of doctoral-level credits during each semester following advancement to candidacy; maintenance of an overall cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0
-
Filing, before the end of the fourth semester of study, three major papers, each having obtained a grade of at least B+ from a three-member faculty committee (Doctoral Candidacy Examination)
-
Successful approval of a Dissertation Proposal from a duly constituted Dissertation Committee
-
Completion of a dissertation under the guidance of the Dissertation Committee
-
Defense of the dissertation before the Dissertation Committee and the university community
-
The Ph.D. degree must be obtained within seven years of admission into the Ph.D. program
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