PhD Program In Social Welfare

Standard Track, for those with an MSW

Students entering the PhD program with an MSW will follow the Standard plan of study.  Below is a suggested course plan, which can vary from year to year. Also, be aware the maximum credit load for graduate students is 15 credits during the fall and spring semesters, and 12 credits during the summer.

Visit The Guide to see the current plan of study for Standard track students (scroll to the bottom of the page).

Year 1

Year 2

*Students may opt to take SW 952 twice and count it once as a Statistics or Methods elective.  Students may choose to take SW 945 as a methods elective requirement.

Years 3 & 4

Preparation for Preliminary Exam (register for SW 999: Independent Reading, 2-8 credits depending on appointment level) and Dissertation Research (i.e., if dissertator status, register for SW 990: Thesis Research, 3 credits).

Course Descriptions

View descriptions of the required PhD courses offered by the Sandra Rosenbaum School of Social Work. Syllabi are also available for the current and past terms.

Application Process

Like all PhD Program applicants, Standard track applicants are required to have completed a statistics course and 30-semester credits of social science courses prior to acceptance into the PhD program. Prospective students interested in the Standard track must apply to and be accepted by the PhD Program using the PhD application. 

See the PhD Application Page for admissions information and requirements.   

FAQ

Learn more about the Social Welfare PhD Program by visiting our FAQ page:  https://socwork.wisc.edu/faq-phd/

Joint MSW/PhD Track, for those wishing to obtain an MSW

Applications for the Joint MSW/PhD Track are currently paused.  For the Fall 2024 admissions cycle, open September 6th-December 1, 2023, we will NOT accept PhD applications for the Joint MSW/PhD Track.  We welcome applicants without an MSW to learn more about the PhD-Only Track

We do not require a BSW or an MSW for entry into the doctoral program.  The Joint MSW/PhD is available to applicants wishing to obtain an MSW while completing the PhD in Social Welfare. Applicants selecting Joint MSW/PhD are reviewed as part of the PhD applicant pool, but not the MSW applicant pool, unless a separate MSW application is completed.

Joint 1: For Students Without a BSW

The MSW/PhD Joint 1 track is for students without an undergraduate degree in social work. MSW coursework and field placements are taken concurrently with PhD Program courses. Typically, students in the Joint 1 track complete their PhD and MSW coursework in three academic years.  

Visit The Guide to see the current plan of study for Joint 1 track students (scroll to the bottom of the page).

Joint 2: For Students With a BSW

The MSW/PhD Joint 2 track is for students with a BSW. While concurrently completing their doctoral coursework, Joint 2 students complete the equivalent of the advanced standing year of the MSW program. Typically, Joint 2 students complete their PhD and MSW coursework in two and a half academic years.  

Visit The Guide to see the current plan of study for Joint 2 track students (scroll to the bottom of the page).

Note: The PhD Program is a research-focused program, and in their generalist year of field, they will be in a Community Agencies field unit, and in their advanced generalist year of field, they will participate in the Policy field unit, and their field placement will be in a research position with a social work faculty member.  It is important to note that Joint students will not be able to meet the requirements for the MSW with a mental health focus.  If you wish to obtain an MSW with a mental health focus, we suggest applying for and completing the MSW program before applying for and attending the PhD program.  

Note: Although an MSW is not universally required for faculty hires across schools of social work, the MSW is required to teach social work practice courses. In addition, the Council on Social Work Education requires educators to have at least two years of post-BSW or post-MSW social work degree practice experience to teach practice courses. Students are advised that the post-BSW/MSW practice experience requirement is NOT built into our joint option curriculum

Course Descriptions

View descriptions of the required PhD courses offered by the Sandra Rosenbaum School of Social Work. Syllabi are also available for the current and past terms.

Application Process

Like all PhD Program applicants, Joint track applicants are required to have completed a statistics course and 30-semester credits of social science courses prior to acceptance into the PhD program. Prospective students interested in the Joint option must apply to and be accepted by the PhD Program using the PhD application. 

To be considered for the PhD Program under the Joint track, select Social Welfare PhD under the Program Select tab of the Graduate School Admission Application.   

Applicants interested in being considered for the MSW Program if they are NOT admitted to the PhD Program should apply to both the PhD Program under the MSW Joint track, and the MSW Full-time program, by selecting Social Welfare PhD AND Social Work MSW-Full Time MSW under the Program Select tab of the Graduate School Admission Application (disregarding the Continue to PhD Checkbox). 

Applicants that do not select MSW in the Admissions Application will only be considered for the PhD Program under the MSW Joint track.   

See the PhD Application Page for admissions information, requirements, and instructions for applying.   

FAQ

Learn more about the Social Welfare PhD Program by visiting our FAQ page:  https://socwork.wisc.edu/faq-phd/

PhD-Only Track, for those that do not wish to obtain an MSW

We do not require a BSW or an MSW for entry into the doctoral program.  The PhD-Only option is for students applying to the PhD program without a BSW or MSW, that wish to obtain only the PhD degree. The first two years of study are comprised of 42 credits in required coursework following the Standard track sequence in addition to 6 credits of MSW coursework: two courses from the Professional Foundation sequence of the MSW program, and a social work internship.  These requirements provide doctoral students without a social work degree an understanding of the basic knowledge, values, and skill base of the social work profession.

See The Guide for this track’s suggested plan of study (scroll to the bottom of the page).

Note: Although an MSW is not universally required for faculty hires across schools of social work, the MSW is required to teach social work practice courses. In addition, the Council on Social Work Education requires educators to have at least two years of post-BSW or post-MSW social work degree practice experience to teach practice courses.

Course Descriptions

View descriptions of the required PhD courses offered by the Sandra Rosenbaum School of Social Work. Syllabi are also available for the current and past terms.

Application Process

Like all PhD Program applicants, PhD-Only track applicants are required to have completed a statistics course and 30-semester credits of social science courses prior to acceptance into the PhD program. Prospective students interested in the PhD-Only option must apply to and be accepted by the PhD Program using the PhD application. 

For Fall 2024, applicants interested in being considered for the MSW Program if they are not admitted to the PhD Program should apply to both the PhD Program under the PhD-Only track, and the MSW Full-time program, by selecting Social Welfare PhD AND Social Work MSW-Full Time MSW under the Program Select tab of the Graduate School Admission Application.

Applicants that do not select MSW in the Admissions Application will ONLY be considered for the PhD Program under then PhD-Only Track.

See the PhD Application Page for admissions information and requirements.   

FAQ

Learn more about the Social Welfare PhD Program by visiting our FAQ page:  https://socwork.wisc.edu/faq-phd/

The Sandra Rosenbaum School of Social Work provides highly competitive financial support to new and continuing PhD students.

Graduate Assistantship and Fellowship positions include paid tuition, health insurance coverage, and a monthly stipend.

Graduate Assistantships Funding Information

Teaching Assistantship (TA)

These positions are typically given to doctoral students at a minimum of 33.4% appointment per semester. These positions are appointed by the PhD program chairperson and are supervised by the course instructor.

Project Assistantship (PA)

These positions vary in the appointment percentage, ranging from 33.4% to 75%, typically for a 12-month period. These positions are appointed by individual faculty and enable students to work closely on the faculty’s research project.

Research Assistantship (RA)

These positions also vary in the appointment percentage, ranging from 33.4% to 50%, typically for a 12-month period. An appointment as a research assistant is made when the activity performed by the research assistant is primarily for the benefit of the individual’s course of study and research and directly applicable to the individual’s thesis or dissertation.

Lecturer Student Assistant (LSA)

These positions are occasionally given to qualified doctoral students at a minimum of 33.4% appointment per semester. These positions are appointed by the Associate Director of the School to provide important professional development for the graduate student and to deliver an effective instructional program.

Awards and Fellowships

Thanks to the generosity of alumni and friends, current PhD students are eligible for a small number of awards during the spring semester. For information about these awards, please visit Awards List and use the Doctoral Support category filter.

Incoming PhD students are eligible for a small number of awards through the admissions process. For information about these awards, please visit Awards List and use the Admissions category filter.

Advanced Opportunity Fellowship (AOF)

Individuals holding this fellowship are qualifying students who receive support through funding from the State of Wisconsin Advanced Opportunity Program and the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation. AOF nominations are submitted through the department to the College of Letters & Science during the admissions process. Current students are not eligible, except for rare circumstances. For more information, visit Community of Graduate Research Scholars (CGRS).

Travel Funding

Current PhD students seeking travel funding to attend conferences should contact the PhD Program Office. Typically, the PhD Program will provide travel support to a student at least once a year while in the program. Students will receive the funding as a reimbursement up to a certain amount which means they must follow UW-Madison’s e-reimbursement guidelines. For example, students are not allowed to use third party booking sites for anything (Expedia, Hotels.com, etc.) and cannot use AirBnB. If so, those expenses will not be reimbursed. For questions, contact the School’s Event Coordinator, Gerald Eggleston.

FAQ

Learn more about the Social Welfare PhD Program by visiting our FAQ page:  https://socwork.wisc.edu/faq-phd/

The PhD Program in Social Welfare at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is proud to announce our current job market candidates. Please do not hesitate to contact us if we can be of further assistance in your faculty recruitment.

Please visit the PhD Students and Alumni on the Job Market page.

PhD Program Warrant Request Form

Use this form to request your MSW (Joint MSW/PhD), Prelim, or PhD Warrant

PhD Milestone Survey

Use this form to identify milestones for the next semester, as well as to report course exceptions. 

GSTS Advisement Report

PhD Program Handbook (Guidelines)

The PhD Program in Social Welfare Guidelines have been developed by the Sandra Rosenbaum School of Social Work, and cover the policies and expectations of our PhD Program, in accordance with the UW-Madison Graduate School Academic Policies and Procedures.

These guidelines are updated annually. Each doctoral student is expected to adhere to the policies and expectations in the Guidelines applicable to their year of entry into the program.

Guidelines are available for the past several years:

PhD Program Guidelines 2022-23                                                                                                                                                                                                  PhD Program Guidelines 2021-22
PhD Program Guidelines 2020-21
PhD Program Guidelines 2019-20
PhD Program Guidelines 2018-19
PhD Program Guidelines 2017-18
PhD Program Guidelines 2016-17
PhD Program Guidelines 2015-16
PhD Program Guidelines 2014-15