Ph.D. Program

Message from the Interim Chair of the Ph.D. Program

As a result of the retirement of many faculty members, growing number of social work education programs, and increasing awareness of the importance of social work research and program evaluation, academic and research career opportunities are unusually plentiful in social work for those with new Ph.D. degrees.

The Ph.D. Program at The University of Alabama’s School of Social Work is committed to preparing future researchers and academics. Our program includes an emphasis upon the creation, dissemination, and interpretation of social work-related knowledge. Courses focus upon qualitative and quantitative research, statistical methods, and substantive areas of interest to students. Faculty members are heavily invested in mentoring doctoral students through research collaboration, co-authorship on manuscripts and presentations, and supervising classroom experience. Our faculty is varied in scholarly and professional interests, yet all are committed to the education of doctoral students in their pursuit of their degrees.

Doctoral students from the School’s Ph.D. Program have an excellent completion rate in securing their degrees and for securing faculty and research positions in some of the top social work programs in the country. Teaching and Research Assistantships, with tuition waivers, provide support for many students. For more advanced students, there are often opportunities for Adjunct Teaching in the School.

I hope that the information on our web site answers your questions about our program. Please contact me if you have any questions about the Ph.D. Program in Social Work at The University of Alabama.  

James A. Hall, Ph.D.
Chair, Ph.D. Program