PhD Social Work at University of South Carolina

Programme overview

This doctoral program is designed for scholars whose independent research will drive social change to create a more equitable, just and inclusive society. You'll be a vital part of the only social work doctoral program in South Carolina. Ready to advance the social work profession and promote social change through outstanding teaching and scholarship?

Faculty: College of Social Work | Duration: 15 credit hours | Study mode: full-time | Location: Columbia, SC, United States

What you will study

Prepare for your career in research and higher education through coursework in research, theory, and quantitative and qualitative methodology designed to be completed in two to three years. You'll be ready to teach the next generation of social work practitioners and to generate new research that drives social change.

Career pathways

Potential careers include Faculty Member, Researcher.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Admissions (University of South Carolina Academic Bulletin): Admissions requirements are consistent with those of The Graduate School and include: a completed application; transcripts from all post-secondary schools previously attended, including non-degree courses taken; a master’s degree in social work from a CSWE accredited graduate program (a master’s degree in a related field may be considered on a case-by-case basis); a grade point average of 3.5 or above for graduate-level work; evidence of scholarly potential as indicated by three letters of reference; a detailed personal statement; a sample of the applicant’s scholarly writing; satisfactory score on TOEFL or IELTS for international applicants for whom English is not their primary language.

Tuition is charged per credit, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

Graduate applications are accepted for Fall, Spring and Summer terms; Fall applications open the prior September, Spring applications open in January and Summer applications open in May.

The graduate application fee is $50 per primary application, reinstated effective August 1, 2026. Deadlines are programme-specific and listed per programme on the Degree Programs and Application Requirements pages.

Apply through the official page: https://www.sc.edu/admissions-at-sc/applications/index.php

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