Social Work (DSW) at University of Southern California

The Doctor of Social Work is a professional practice doctorate in social change and innovation for master's-level social work practitioners who graduated from CSWE-accredited programs. It prepares practitioner-scholars to create applied solutions to large-scale social challenges, and culminates in an independent capstone project.

Faculty: Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work  |  Duration: Typically nine semesters; minimum 42 units beyond the master's degree  |  Study mode: full-time  |  Location: Los Angeles, CA, United States

What you will study

The curriculum rests on three pillars: advanced practice and professional leadership (18 units, e.g. SOWK 704 Complex Social Problems, SOWK 714 Executive Leadership), systematic inquiry (18 units, e.g. SOWK 731 Advanced Evaluation Methods) and a 6-unit capstone sequence (SOWK 725a-c). There are no accelerated options.

Career pathways

Graduates are prepared for professional leadership roles, including leadership in higher education, and for advancing social work practice.

Official programme page