DSW FAQs

A Doctor of Social Work (DSW) degree is a practice doctorate degree in social work. It provides coursework on theory and skills in social work practice that are more advanced than what one would typically experience in an MSW program for social work.

A PhD in social work program generally prepares social workers for careers that will focus on research and scholarship. CSWE surveys demonstrate that the majority of social work PhD graduates are employed at universities full-time, many in tenure-track positions that require the person to engage in some level of research activities. Other PhD graduates may work in non-academic research settings (e.g. think tanks). Fewer work in the field as full-time practitioners. DSW programs have coursework on theory and skill development in the advance practice of social work. Some programs also prepare social workers for careers as clinical social work faculty in academic settings, in non-tenure track positions with little to no expectation that the person will engage in research. Most DSW graduates work in the field full-time in higher-level and independent positions within public and nonprofit health and human service settings.

The University of Alabama’s DSW Program prepares social work practitioners who have an MSW to become leaders within organizational settings, work with the highest degree of independence, and/or pursue a social work faculty appointment in higher education. Some examples of careers for social workers with a DSW degree may include, but are not limited to:

• Upper-level or executive-level administrative positions in health and human service agencies.
• Leaders in social welfare and health policy at the local, state, or federal levels.
• Independent, private practice clinicians, especially for clients with complex therapeutic needs that extend beyond the MSW-level curriculum.
• Full-time social work educators and/or administrators in higher education involved with social work instruction or translational social work research.

The answer to this question depends on your career goals. If you are interested in a type of career (e.g. social work faculty, executive director of a large non-profit) that would require greater knowledge and skillsets than what was provided to you in your MSW program, then doctoral education may be right for you. Talking to other doctoral-level social workers may help you in making this decision.

Achieving a PhD or DSW does not guarantee that you will receive promotions or earn a higher salary. Students should examine the curriculum of a doctoral program and evaluate the extent to which it matches their career goals. Also, you may want to consider if the costs, time, and effort required for a PhD or DSW program is worthwhile, given your career goals.

The DSW Program is not an easier version of the PhD Program. They just have different goals, learning objectives, and content. Individuals should pursue a PhD program if they are mainly interested in learning social work research methodologies and advancing generalizable knowledge. Individuals who are interested in advancing their knowledge and skills in social work practice and/or practice-based teaching would benefit more from a DSW Program.

No. The UA DSW Program has an advanced clinical practice track and an organizational leadership track. The advanced clinical track offers coursework in advanced clinical practice theory and techniques, clinical supervision, research methods in clinical practice, and teaching in social work. The organizational leadership track offers course work in advanced management and leadership theory and skills, research methods in organizational and community settings, and teaching in social work.

Some students may want some content from both tracks. Students can select one track and take electives in the other track, if desired.

The DSW program is a 45 credit program that includes 2 years of coursework, after which students complete a Capstone Project. Successfully completing the Capstone Project typically takes a year, though it may take less or more time than that depending on the student’s project.  Students attend courses part-time (generally, two courses per semester) during the fall, spring, and summer semesters.

For distance graduate programs at the University of Alabama, the tuition for both in-state and out-of-state students is $440 per credit hour. Therefore, the current tuition costs for the 45 credit DSW Program will be about $19,800 to complete the degree. This amount does not include additional fees or costs associated with enrollment, course requirements, or residencies.

During the first year of the program, students take their core courses, including courses on theory and practice related to social work and research in social work practice courses. The second year of the program, students take their specialization courses, which related to either their advanced clinical or organizational leadership track. Before starting their third year, students will have to pass a comprehensive exam paper. After their second year, students will work under the guidance of a faculty advisor to complete a Capstone Project.

Courses in the DSW Program are typically a blend of synchronous and asynchronous content, with multiple doctoral seminars via Zoom that take place during a semester. Seminars are typically scheduled in the evenings on weekdays and are often recorded for students who cannot attend the live session.

Before beginning their capstone project during the third year, students will have to complete a comprehensive paper that reflects the knowledge they gained during the first and second year of the program. This paper may be: (1) a review of the evidence (e.g., systematic review) of a social work practice topic; (2) a 3-paper submission that serves as a Capstone Project Proposal; or (3) a submitted grant application.

To demonstrate mastery over course material and ability to practice social work at an advanced level, students are expected to complete a capstone project. For this project, students may choose one approach: (1) an intervention development, implementation, and evaluation; (2) a practice-focused thesis (e.g., developing a measurement for practice; practice-based research project); or (3) a first-authored manuscript in a peer-reviewed journal on a social work practice topic.

To support, educate, and engage DSW students, each summer there will be a “residency program” that will take place on the University of Alabama campus. These residencies will take place for 4-days during the first year and 5 days during the second year and will be structured with educational workshops to support student learning and to prepare students to complete the Comprehensive Paper and Capstone Project during the second and third year. Time will also be allotted for students to meet with faculty on-campus in a face-to-face format. Students will also be required to visit campus to present their capstone project before graduation. Students arrange their own travel to campus for the residencies. The cost of travel is not included in program tuition. Residencies will take place during the first two weeks of June. Attendance of these on-campus components of the program are mandatory for graduation.

Yes. The School of Social Work at the University of Alabama offers an opportunity for students to attend an intensive, two-day training in policy education experience in Washington DC. The DC-Fly in is a hands-on experience in policy advocacy and is taught by faculty who have extensive experience in policy advocacy and other types of policy practice. For more information about this program, please visit: https://socialwork.ua.edu/academics/field-education/washington-d-c-internship-program-international-field-placement/

Yes. DSW students are able to participate in study abroad programs that are offered by the School of Social Work and can use the graduate courses associated with study abroad towards their electives.

Based on University of Alabama Graduate School requirements, applicants must have a grade-point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (overall) for their last completed graduate degree program (their MSW program).

A student whose first language is not English must submit an official score report for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). The minimum TOEFL score for admission is 550 or higher; the minimum IELTS score is 6.5 or higher.

Applicants must have an MSW from a CSWE-accredited program.

Applicants must have at least 3 years of post-MSW program experience.

Student in the DSW Program must be working at a social work placement for the duration of the program. This can be paid employment or volunteer service.

Applicants may be required to be interviewed by a School of Social Work faculty member.

Students must complete a statement of purpose as part of their application.

Students must submit a resume and three letters of reference. At least two of the references must be professional reference.

You can view a checklist of requirements here.

No. Since the DSW Program requires students to have an MSW degree there is no GRE requirement.

At this time, there are no exceptions to the 3 years of post-MSW experience. There are no exceptions even if you have many years of social work experience before achieving your MSW degree.

The DSW program at the University of Alabama requires that your master degree be in social work from a CSWE-accredited program. There are no exceptions to this requirement.

The courses for the DSW Program teach students practical skills to use in the field. Also, the Capstone Project will require students to implement their own practice-focused project in the field. Therefore, students must maintain their own social work placement to use as a “living laboratory” for their assignments. This placement can be paid employment or volunteer. Social workers who work full-time in a higher education social work program (e.g., MSW-level instructors, field instructors) are eligible to apply.

This depends. You are required to maintain a social work placement while enrolled in the program as a student. However, state requirements for licensure vary by type of social work position. For instance, some states only require licensure for clinical social workers, where social workers in other types of positions (e.g. state-level administrators, policy practitioners) may not need a license even though they perform certain social work roles. Students are required to have the license required to maintain the social work placement they have during their time in the program. If their placement does not require a license, they do not have to have one.

Applicants for the Advanced Clinical Practice Track should have a current social work license.

Information about applying can be found on the University of Alabama Graduate School Website.

Students who have completed doctoral coursework at other universities may request that a portion of their previously-earned credits be transferred towards their completion of the DSW degree at UA. Evaluation of credit for transfer will not officially be determined until the student is enrolled in the UA Graduate School and the UA School of Social Work. Acceptance of credits requires the approval of the School of Social Work and the UA Graduate School. The Graduate School has policies for transfer credits.

Requests for transfer credits will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and must conform to the guidelines established by the DSW Program Committee in addition to Graduate School requirements, which can be found in the Graduate Catalog.

Yes. Students must attend the on-campus orientation to maintain their enrollment for their first Fall semester.

On-campus orientations take place in mid-August each year.

More information about the University of Alabama DSW program can be found through: the School of Social Work DSW Website, the UA Graduate School Catalog, and the UA Online.

If you have additional questions, you can contact the Interim DSW Program Director, Dr. Curtis Davis via email at chdavis3@ua.edu.

About Dr. Davis: Along with experience and specialization in the forensic social work field, Dr. Curtis Davis utilizes mixed method approaches to understand, develop, and influence approaches that foster an effective and equitable incarceration and reintegration experience for adjudicated youth and adults. His work also examines how racism-based trauma is conceptualized, assessed, and treated through interventions. Davis is also passionate about the holistic and meaningful training of burgeoning and seasoned social work practitioners.