social welfare phd programs

PhD in Social Welfare

Berkeley Social Welfare’s doctoral program is designed to inspire independence and originality of thought in pursuit of knowledge. We develop scholars who make significant contributions to social work and social welfare teaching, research, policy development and analysis, and administration.

Our doctoral students are trained and equipped with the knowledge of professional practices, policies and programs required to address a wide range of contemporary societal problems. In addition to providing the educational climate conducive to creating innovative research scholars, we also train future educators who can inspire the next generation of social work practitioners and researchers.

Nationally and internationally recognized as leaders in their fields, our pre-eminent faculty conducts cutting-edge research on major issues facing California, the U.S. and the world. Berkeley Social Welfare has more faculty fellows of the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare than any other school.

Doctoral Studies in Social Welfare

Social Welfare doctoral students design and pursue an individualized program of work tailored to their intellectual interests, and aligned with specialized research areas of faculty mentors and supervisors from Berkeley Social Welfare, and additional distinguished departments across the Berkeley campus.

Doctoral coursework includes seminars in research methods, statistics, theory and other related areas. Required courses for doctoral students focus primarily on research methodology. In addition, students enroll in elective courses, seminars, and independent tutorials useful for mastering selected fields of study, preparing for the qualifying examination, and developing competence in research methods. For specific degree requirements and descriptions of courses offered, please see the Berkeley Academic Guide to Social Welfare .

Students are also encouraged to select courses from the rich and varied offerings in other University departments. Doctoral students at Berkeley are required to include faculty from outside their major discipline on qualifying and dissertation committees; and Social Welfare PhD students have access to world-class Berkeley faculty in top-ranked programs.

A minimum of three years is necessary to complete the program (two years of full-time course work and one year for the dissertation), although most students require a longer period. In Social Welfare, it is expected that all doctoral students will complete the PhD degree within ten semesters, having taken the Qualifying Exam by the end of the third year and filed the dissertation by the end of the fifth year.

Combined MSW/PhD Degree Program

A Combined MSW/PhD Program option is also available specifically for individuals who possess a strong interest in and exceptional capacity for research and scholarly work; and who wish to pursue a continuous program of graduate study leading to the MSW and the PhD degrees.

Admission to the PhD Program

Berkeley Social Welfare prefers applicants to doctoral study who hold a master's degree in social work or social welfare, or have comparable preparation in a closely related field, and who show evidence of intellectual and other qualifications essential to successful doctoral study. In reviewing applications we seek to determine whether the applicant's particular objectives can be met in our doctoral program at Berkeley.

For complete admission requirements and application instructions, please visit PhD Admissions .

Tuition, Fees and Financial Aid

Berkeley PhD students pay UC Berkeley Graduate Academic Fees. For current rates please visit the Office of the Registrar's Fee Schedule .

Berkeley Social Welfare offers a competitive funding package for newly admitted doctoral students that will typically include three years of departmental support, plus an additional year of support from the Graduate Division Doctoral Completion Fellowship available upon becoming eligible. Doctoral support packages normally include payment of tuition and fees (including student health insurance), plus an annual allowance for living expense support (currently estimated at $28,000 per academic year), funded through a combination of academic student employment as a Graduate Student Instructor (GSI) and/or Graduate Student Researcher (GSR), and university or departmental fellowship award(s).

For more information about fees, fellowships and financial support for doctoral students, please see our guide to Financing Your Graduate Degree .

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Class schedules, course descriptions, and degree requirements

Resources for Current Students

PHD IN SOCIAL WELFARE

Bring your intellect, curiosity, and creativity to tackling complex social challenges.

The Doctor of Philosophy in Social Welfare (PhD) Program will transform you into a scholar well-equipped to identify and solve social problems – both close to home and around the world. Grounded in innovation and academic rigor, the SP2 PhD allows you to explore diverse perspectives and approaches to social work, social welfare research, social policy, social theory, and social justice.

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An Invitation from the Co-Directors

“Social welfare” is a complex term. Its basic definition is deceptively simple—the collective welfare or wellbeing of a given society. But what constitutes that wellbeing and how it can and should be achieved, who belongs in that society and can and should form and formulate the “social,” are abiding questions that have been posed, debated, and contested for as long as collective human settlements have been in existence. World-shaping works of art, science, and philosophy have been crafted to answer these questions. Disagreements on those answers are at the heart of the social, cultural, and political tumult in which the U.S. is embroiled. Social welfare is, in other words, a weighty, vital, and pressing field of study.

The social welfare field draws from all social science disciplines and the discourses of multiple professions including social work. Whatever the domain of interest—health, poverty, education, incarceration, climate change, racism, migration, philanthropy, homelessness, history, and whether it is framed as a theoretical, methodological, issue-focused, or population-based inquiry—what we seek is students interested in not only finding the answers but in critically interrogating the questions themselves. Given the school’s commitment to advancing social justice in all of its programs, the courses of study students engage in should, no matter the specific domain, actively attend to issues of power, inequality, and disparity.

We believe that the vitality of the social welfare field is maintained by the passion for social justice brought by those who enter it. SP2’s rigorous yet flexible curriculum aims to provide the training necessary to forge the students’ passion into disciplined scholarship. To encourage each student to develop unique work and an individual scholarly voice, the program is intentionally interdisciplinary, designed to expose students to an array of approaches to social welfare offered by the world-class faculty of the school and the university.

The PhD in Social Welfare prepares students for careers as outstanding researchers and scholars committed to critically and rigorously analyzing social problems to propose effective, research-based solutions, to offer new theories and methods for approaching research and scholarship, and to formulate new paradigms for social welfare. We welcome your questions about the program and the school. We invite you to join us in this endeavor.

Yoosun Park, MSW, PhD Co-Director, PhD in Social Welfare Program

Tamara J. Cadet, PhD, LICSW, MPH Co-Director, PhD in Social Welfare Program

“ Whatever the domain of interest—health, poverty, education, incarceration, climate change, racism, migration, philanthropy, homelessness, history, and whether it is framed as a theoretical, methodological, issue-focused, or population-based inquiry—what we seek is students interested in not only finding the answers but in critically interrogating the questions themselves.”

The SP2 Difference

A highly selective program for students with a proven record of academic excellence and strong potential to contribute to their field

Instruction and mentoring from world-class faculty researchers and practitioners in multiple disciplines

Four years of support in the form of tuition, fees, individual health insurance, and stipend

INVISIBLE – leave blank

Access to Penn’s vast institutional resources

A diverse global alumni network in academia  and industry, government, nonprofits, think tanks, and research institutes

World-Class Faculty

The PhD program faculty are here to help you shape your specific area of expertise, drawing on their own decades of scholarship, teaching, and experience in areas including mental health , queer studies , sex work, homelessness , incarceration, gerontology , foster youth , and more .

Coursework provides students with core knowledge and skills as well as the opportunity to develop a specific expertise area. Papers and projects in core courses, combined with strategically selected electives, ensure a broad understanding of the field as well as deep study in the theoretical and empirical aspects of a specific area.

Students work with their academic advisors to develop an individualized plan for five electives. Graduate-level electives can be taken in any Penn department. At least one of these electives must be an advanced methods course, such as advanced statistical methods or qualitative research methodology.

Courses may be offered in varying order and year of program. Students are notified of such arrangements well in advance.

*Subject to change.

Fall Semester

• SOCW 8110: Social Theory
• SOCW 8520: Social Welfare Research Methods
• SOCW 9010: Proseminar
• SOCW 6300: Quantitative Reasoning/Social Statistics

Spring Semester

• SOCW 8030: Advanced History and Philosophy of Social Welfare
• SOCW 8550: Advanced Social Welfare Research Methods
• SOCW 8970: Applied Linear Modeling

Second Year

• SOCW 6680: Economics for Social Policy
• SOCW 8610: Advanced Policy Analysis Research Methods or elective
• Theory Course or Elective
• Advanced Methods Course or Elective
• Theory course or elective
• Advanced methods course or elective

Third & Fourth Years

Fall & Spring Semesters

• Dissertation research & writing

Your Experience

You’ll devote 15 hours per week to a research assistantship during your first year and 20 hours per week during your second through fourth years. You typically begin by working with your first-year advisor to identify research experiences that align with your skills and interests. To develop a broad range of methodological skills, we encourage students to work on multiple faculty projects as well as their own research.

Each student is assigned a doctoral advisor upon entering the program. At the end of their first year, students are encouraged to assess the arrangement and decide whether to continue with that faculty member or to choose another advisor from among the Graduate Group faculty. The advisor helps the student prepare an individual educational plan, choose courses, form a dissertation committee, and become familiar with SP2 and Penn’s wide array of educational resources. Students are responsible for initiating meetings with their advisors at regular intervals.

Please see University guidelines for best practices around academic advising and building strong mentor relationships.

After completing all required coursework, typically at the end of the second year, students must take the Preliminary Exam.

After completing the required coursework and passing the Preliminary Exam, students defend their dissertation proposal. Upon a successful defense, students become PhD candidates.

A dissertation defense serves as the program’s final examination. Passing this defense completes all degree requirements.

Recent Awards & Honors

Federal research awards.

Shana Merrill

• American Board of Genetic Counseling, up to $50,000

Alexandra Schepens

• Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (F31), National Institutes of Health, 9/1/2014 – 8/31/2017, $105,409
• Yoga Intervention for Substance Use and ART Adherence in Community Reentry.

National Research Honors

Michael L. Shier, PhD’15

• Received the Northeastern Association of Graduate Schools (NAGS) for the Doctoral Dissertation Award for 2015-2016. Each year NAGS recognizes an outstanding dissertation that has been produced by a PhD candidate at one of its member institutions. The $1,000 award is presented at the annual meeting.

Staci Perlman, MSW’01, PhD’10

• Selected by the American Psychological Association Section on Child Maltreatment to receive the Early Career Award in the Field of Child Maltreatment. This award recognizes individuals who have made substantial contributions to the field within eight years of receiving a terminal degree and who have demonstrated the potential to continue such contributions. One award is made each year to a practitioner or researcher whose work has demonstrated an influence on the field of child maltreatment.

Sara Wiesel-Cullen, PhD ‘11

• Awarded honorable mention for the best dissertation from the Society for Social Work Research. Her dissertation chair was Professor Phyllis Solomon. Washington, DC: January 2012.

Joanna Bisgaier, PhD ’11

• Received the 2012 Student Research Award for Social Work Research from GADE (Group for the Advancement of Doctoral Education). Shown are Jill Duerr Berrick, awards committee chair; Joanna Bisgaier; Karin Rhodes, Joanna’s dissertation chair; and Kia Bentley, Chair Elect of GADE. Washington, DC: January 2012.

The Hal Levin Award

Presented to a meritorious doctoral student who is continuing the process of completing coursework. All students enrolled in classes at the time of award nominations and who have passed their preliminary exams are eligible to be nominated. The recipient is chosen by nomination and voting of the SP2 faculty. Dr. Herman (Hal) Levin was a professor in the School of Social Work.

Recent Recipients

• 2022-2023: Samaita Jana and Codi Smith
• 2021-2022: John Gyourko
• 2020-2021: Jessica Cho Kim
• 2019-2020: Michelle Mullen
• 2018-2019: Viviana Chiu-Sik Wu
• 2017-2018: Allison Russell

Penn Healthcare Innovation Challenge

• Meagan Cusack, 2020

Frank R. Bruel Memorial Prize

Social Service Review recently announced that the 2022 Frank R. Bruel Memorial Prize has been awarded to Aaron Gottlieb and SP2 graduate Kalen Flynn MSW ’09, PhD ’18. The prize honors their article, “The Legacy of Slavery and Mass Incarceration: Evidence from Felony Case Outcomes.”

Presidential PhD Fellows

• Sandhya Jha
• Sharon Zanti
• Jessica Kim
• Rebecca Pepe
• Mira Phillips
• Christopher Wodicka

Career Success

Our PhD graduates go on to hold prestigious positions in academia, government, nonprofit organizations, think tanks, research firms, and more. Here are just some of the places where our recent graduates have found full-time employment:

• American Federation of Teachers
• Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
• U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of the Inspector General
• U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorney
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, National Center to End Homelessness
• Columbia University, School of Nursing
• Hebrew University of Jerusalem, School of Social Work
• Hong Kong University, Department of Social Work
• McGill University, School of Social Work
• National Institute on Poverty
• New York University, School of Social Work
• Rutgers University, School of Social Work
• Temple University, Graduate School of Social Work
• University of Massachusetts, School of Public Policy
• University of Pennsylvania, School of Medicine
• University of Pennsylvania, School of Social Policy & Practice
• University of Toronto, School of Social Work
• Yonsei University

FEATURED ALUMNI

Micheal shier, phd’14.

“SP2 provided a great opportunity to learn and collaborate with faculty during my PhD studies. I appreciated the research-intensive focus of the PhD program, and the skills that I learned have been influential in the work I currently undertake. The expert knowledge and skills I gained while training at SP2 have really shaped the type of researcher and social work educator I have become.”

Ready to join the PhD community?

Related news.

Faculty & Research

SP2 ranked #8 among Schools for Social Work by U.S News & World Report

SP2 has been named #8 among Schools for Social Work in the 2024 U.S. News & World Report Best Graduate Schools rankings. This marks SP2’s highest ranking ever, and the second time that the School has appeared in the list’s top 10.

Student Life

SP2 and National Education Equity Lab launch high school course in social work and social policy

This spring, underserved high school students engaged in the National Education Equity Lab will have the opportunity to learn about career paths in social work and social policy from experts at SP2.

SP2’s Dr. Tamara J. Cadet named to 2024 class of Fellows of the Society for Social Work and Research

SP2 is pleased to announce that Associate Professor Tamara J. Cadet, PhD, LICSW, MPH, has been welcomed to the 2024 class of Fellows of the Society for Social Work and Research.

Coordinator, PhD in Social Welfare Program

215 573 7268

eerich@upenn.edu

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• PhD in Social Welfare

PhD Outcomes

Most of our PhD graduates obtain academic positions in Schools of Social Work, including institutions such as:

• Arizona State University
• Florida International University
• Indiana University
• Louisiana State University
• State University of New York at Binghamton
• University of Maryland
• University of Nevada Las Vegas
• University of North Carolina - Charlotte

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By Sue Coyle, MSW Social Work Today

PhD in Social Welfare Program

PhD students at orientation, summer 2019

Research is a means of social change. Our interdisciplinary PhD program will prepare you for conducting meaningful and impactful research in a supportive collaborative environment.

Program Overview [5:23]

Program Learning Outcomes:

The PhD Program in Social Welfare is guided by our objective of graduating social work scholars and educators who:

• Deepen our understanding of social problems and their solutions
• Create and implement innovative methods for studying complex issues
• Conduct rigorous and original analyses
• Engage in conversation and collaboration across disciplines, professions and communities
• Uphold social work ethics and a commitment to social justice
• Engage in creative and effective strategies to disseminate and impart knowledge in social work and related disciplines

Program Objectives

In the program, you will:

• Create an individual, fully interdisciplinary program of coursework and scholarship.
• Benefit from a small-by-design program that facilitates meaningful connections with peers and mentors.
• Participate in the intellectual exchanges and scholarly collaborations fostered by UB’s many  research centers and institutes  and community partnerships.
• Engage with our diverse, dedicated and growing  faculty , with particular expertise in trauma, veterans’ issues, aging, social policy, technology in social work, and refugee and immigrant communities.
• Access diverse research opportunities, facilities and support through the  Buffalo Center for Social Research .
• Receive stable, generous funding through assistantships and scholarship programs.  

Curriculum Overview

Our PhD program is for those with a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from a CSWE-accredited program or international equivalent. If you do not have an MSW, we offer a  dual-degree program  leading to the MSW and the PhD in social welfare.

• Minimum of 47 credits
• Full-time (4+ years) and on-campus only
• Program start: Fall semester only

Fall semester

SW 663 Social Work Scholarship (1 cr) Proseminar Research Methods Advanced Analysis

Spring semester

SW 663 Social Work Scholarship (1 cr) Proseminar Advanced Analysis Elective

Second Year

SW 663 Social Work Scholarship (1 cr) SW 690 Research Internship Proseminar Advanced Analysis Elective

Spring Semester

SW 690 Research Internship Elective Elective Elective

Fall and Spring Semesters

Comprehensive Exams Dissertation

Fourth Year (and beyond)

Fall and spring semesters.

Dissertation  

Funding Package and Fellowships

Funding overview.

All accepted PhD students are offered a competitive standard funding package. Additional funding may be available through fellowships.

All PhD students are guaranteed a graduate assistantship for four years. Assistantships are 10-month appointments, 20 hours per week with a base stipend of $23,000 per year .

Students also receive full tuition coverage for up to 47 credits . This typically covers the required courses for four years.

If students continue past four years (or 47 credits), students must secure their own funding (e.g., working on a faculty research grant, teaching, serving as a field liaison). 

Fellowship Opportunities

Presidential and Schomburg Fellowships are available for academically outstanding new PhD in Social Welfare students. These awards come with a substantial stipend. PhD students will be considered for these at the time of admission.

Meet our current PhD students

Request PhD Information Session Recording

Dieuveut Gaity, PhD ’18

Laura Greyber, PhD '14, MSW '07

Brad Linn, PhD '18, MSW '12

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Phd program, phd program in social welfare.

The UW School of Social Work doctoral program stands out among advanced social welfare programs by offering an array of academic resources available at one of the nation’s premier research universities. Transdisciplinary opportunities and faculty mentorship enrich the learning experience and help to shape a viable career path in social justice teaching, research or public service. It’s one of the key reasons our graduates find work in highly regarded social work programs throughout the country.

Is a doctoral education in your future? Find answers to some of your questions at  FAQ About the PhD Program .

For more information about the application process, refer to Apply to PhD .

About the PhD Program

Read program director Roberto Orellana's vision for delivering a world-class advanced degree in social welfare.

PhD Degree Requirements

Find out what you need to know about required and elective courses as well as additional course expectations.

Doctor of Philosophy

NYU Silver School of Social Work’s PhD program prepares students to become leading researchers and educators in the promotion of social justice and the health and well-being of marginalized communities nationally and globally.

Our intensive doctoral training competitively positions graduates for top-tier academic and research opportunities—such as faculty positions at leading research universities—cultivating the next wave of independent investigators, scholars, and social work leaders. Building on Silver’s nationally recognized strength in intervention and implementation research and our focus on addressing inequities, the PhD program prepares students to make their own unique contributions to the field of social welfare. 

Our rigorous coursework educates students in classic and contemporary theory, cutting-edge quantitative, qualitative and mixed methodologies, and specialized learning in their substantive areas. The opportunity to take electives within the larger university allows students to explore further their areas and methodologies in an interdisciplinary classroom. NYU Silver also prepares students to be educators through training, including in anti-racist pedagogies, and hands-on experience teaching BSW and MSW level courses.

At the heart of our program is the mentored research practicum offering students the opportunity to put their learning into practice. NYU Silver PhD students are paired from day one with a research mentor as part of our  personalized mentoring program , helping them develop competencies in core research, scholarship, and teaching areas.  NYU Silver  Faculty  are renowned for their expertise in several key research areas, including racial and social justice, behavioral health services, child welfare, and aging. Being part of a large Global Network University and located in the diverse and dynamic city of New York, NYU Silver offers an unparalleled environment for the study of areas critical to local, national and global well-being. 

In fact, PhD Program Director Dr.  Rohini Pahwa was recently awarded a  five-year, $3.1 million grant from the National Institute of Mental Health  to gain insight into the factors that influence the social networks and and mental health services use of Black and Latinx people with serious mental illnesses. 

Associate Professor of Social Work and PhD Program Director

“I chose NYU Silver for my PhD . . .

because of the program’s emphasis on preparing students to become leading researchers and educators in the health and well-being of marginalized communities and in the promotion of social justice.”

Sabrina Cluesman, PhD candidate and recipient of a NIDA Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (F31)

In an Emerati Women’s Day video from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Embassy in Washington, DC, PhD student  Layla Al Neyadi  discusses her inspiration to seek her degree at NYU Silver and her aspiration to improve mental health policy and services for her fellow Emiratis:

Please email the doctoral program office or call (212) 998-5941 for additional information.

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Berkeley Berkeley Academic Guide: Academic Guide 2023-24

Social welfare.

About the Program

Berkeley Social Welfare educates students for leadership in the field of social welfare and the profession of social work.  Since 1944 we have prepared over 11,000 social work professionals and social work scholars for leadership in a range of research, teaching, advanced practice, and management roles. We offer two graduate degrees: the professional Master of Social Welfare (MSW); and the academic Doctor of Philosophy in Social Welfare (PhD).

Master of Social Welfare (MSW)

Berkeley Social Welfare offers the professional Master of Social Welfare (MSW) degree, which is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education ( CSWE ). S tudents are prepared to practice with specialized skills at specific intervention levels and are thoroughly grounded in social science knowledge, social welfare policies, and social service organizations. 

• W e train social workers for a range of leadership and advanced practice roles in the profession.
• We create a spirit of critical inquiry and emphasize the use of tested knowledge and theory in developing and applying intervention methods.
• We prepare students for professional responsibility in the field of social welfare and the institutional systems that comprise it.
• We educate students to advance social justice.

All MSW students complete a foundation curriculum in generalist social work practice; an advanced curriculum that prepares them for practice in a chosen area of specialization; and a field education curriculum including agency-based field placements and integrative field seminars.

Full-time MSW Program

The Berkeley MSW Program is a two-year, full-time degree program. All students follow a prescribed, full-time (minimum 12 units per semester) program of work, preparing them for both generalist and specialized practice.

FlexMSW Advanced Standing Program

The FlexMSW Advanced Standing degree program is available to qualified working professionals in the field of social work who have a professional baccalaureate degree in social work from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). FlexMSW Advanced Standing students complete a 27-unit program of study over a one year period.

FlexMSW Extended Program

The FlexMSW Extended Program is a three-year MSW degree track option for qualified working professionals in the field of social work and otherwise qualified students who are not able to participate in a traditional full-time MSW professional degree program. FlexMSW Extended Program students enroll on a part-time basis and complete the same 54-unit program of study as traditional full-time MSW students, only over a period of three part-time years (inclusive of two summer sessions), instead of two full-time years.

NOTE: Berkeley Social Welfare will not be accepting applications for Fall 2024 admission to either FlexMSW Program track. 

Certificate Programs

Additional special program options include the School Social Work Credential Program ; a Social Work with Latinos Certificate ; and the  Graduate Certificate in Aging .

Concurrent Master's Degrees

Berkeley Social Welfare offers a Concurrent MSW/MPH Degree with the School of Public Health; and a  Concurrent MSW/MPP Degree with the Goldman School of Public Policy. Applicants must be accepted to both programs to pursue a concurrent degree.

The PhD in Social Welfare

Berkeley Social Welfare's doctoral program develops scholars who challenge conventional wisdom and make significant contributions to the field of social welfare and the profession of social work through excellent research, teaching, policy development, and administration. Berkeley doctoral students become proficient in research methodology and experts in their area of interest, ultimately demonstrating scholarly competence by publishing a dissertation. 

Visit School Website

All applicants to graduate study at Berkeley (regardless of degree program) apply for graduate admission through UC Berkeley's online Graduate and Professional Application for Admission. The online application becomes available in early September each year. A separate application to the School of Social Welfare is not required. Berkeley Social Welfare does not participate in the Social Work Centralized Application Service (SocialWorkCAS).  Applicants may apply to only one single degree program or one established concurrent degree program per admission term. Berkeley Social Welfare only admits for the fall semester each academic year; no spring or summer admissions are offered.

The Berkeley Social Welfare Admissions Office offers admissions advising, group presentations and recruitment events, and online  resources to  guide potential graduate applicants through the application process. For more information about our programs, application requirements, admission process, or informational sessions and recruitment events, please visit  Berkeley Social Welfare Admissions.

Master's Degree Program Admissions Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for admission to any Berkeley Social Welfare master's degree program, applicants must meet all of the following requirements:

• Possession of a bachelor’s degree or recognized equivalent from an accredited institution.
• A satisfactory scholastic average, generally a minimum grade-point average of B or better (3.0 on a 4-point scale).
• Sufficient undergraduate preparation and training for graduate study in social welfare. Applicants for admission to the MSW program must have strong academic preparation in the liberal arts and sciences, including coursework in the social and behavioral sciences.
• A college-level, introductory course in statistics. This requirement must be satisfied prior to matriculation if you are offered admission.
• The equivalent of one full year of paid or voluntary experience related to social welfare or human services. For applicants to the "Strengthening Organizations and Communities" specialization, the recommended minimum experience requirement is two years. To satisfy the experience requirement for admission eligibility, all experience hours must be acquired by the application deadline.
• For international applicants from a country or political entity where English is not the official language, a satisfactory score on the TOEFL exam or other acceptable equivalent evidence of English language proficiency to do graduate work is required.
• Applicants to concurrent master’s degree programs (e.g., MSW/MPH; MSW/MPP) and the Combined MSW/PhD Program must meet eligibility requirements for and admissions standards of both programs, including any examination requirements (GRE, etc.) of other programs. The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is not required for admission to the MSW-only and MSW/PhD programs. 

For complete details please visit Berkeley Social Welfare's  MSW Admission Eligibility Requirements .

Doctoral (PhD) Program Admissions Eligibility Requirements

Berkeley Social Welfare prefers applicants who hold a master's degree in social work or social welfare, or have comparable preparation in a closely related field; and who show evidence of intellectual and other qualifications essential to successful doctoral study. Applicants must possess the intellectual qualifications essential to successful performance in the program, and in reviewing applications we seek to determine whether the applicant’s particular objectives can be met in our doctoral program at Berkeley.

To be considered for admission to the Social Welfare PhD Program , all applicants must:

• Satisfy the  minimum requirements for admission to graduate study at Berkeley .
• Have a master's degree in social work or social welfare, or comparable preparation in a closely related field.
• Demonstrate evidence of intellectual and other qualifications essential to successful performance in the doctoral program.
• For international applicants from a country or political entity where English is not the official language, a satisfactory score on the TOEFL exam or other acceptable equivalent  evidence of English language proficiency  to do graduate work is required.

Doctoral Degree Requirements

To be granted the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Social Welfare, students must satisfy all of the following requirements:

• Complete a course of study in the school and related departments of the University specified by the school, designed to achieve proficiency in the areas of social work theory, social welfare policy and/or administration, history and philosophies of social welfare, and social research methods.
• Pass qualifying examinations indicating proficiency in the areas mentioned above.
• Pass an oral examination before a committee appointed in accordance with rules of the Graduate Council.
• Be admitted to candidacy for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy according to procedures established by the Academic Senate.
• Complete a dissertation dealing with some problem of significance to the field of social welfare and of such character as to show power to prosecute independent investigation.
• Spend a minimum of at least two years of graduate study in residence at the University of California, Berkeley.

There is no total unit requirement for the PhD degree in Social Welfare, but doctoral students must enroll full-time (12 units/semester, no more than 4 of which may be earned as credit for working as a Graduate Student Researcher or Graduate Student Instructor) until taking and passing the qualifying exam.

Course of Study

Doctoral coursework includes seminars in research methods, statistics, theory, and other related courses; along with individual tutorials with members of the faculty.  

Required Courses in Social Welfare

The following courses must be completed prior to the Qualifying Exam:

Coursework in Statistics and Methods

Social Welfare doctoral students are required to complete at least six courses in statistics and/or methods. At least four courses must be approved statistics courses. The remaining two courses may be either statistics or methods. These courses are intended to deepen a skill set needed for an ongoing program of research. Students work with their PhD faculty advisor to choose these courses from among those approved by the Doctoral Curriculum Committee. Courses must be graduate-level courses (200 and above) and may be offered by any department on campus.

Elective in Social Science Theory

Social Welfare doctoral students are required to complete at least one letter-graded course focused on basic-discipline social science theory, before or during the semester of the Qualifying Exam.

First Year Comprehensive Exam

At the end of their first year in the program, students are required to demonstrate mastery of a broad base of knowledge in social welfare by completing a competency exam based upon knowledge gained in SOC WEL 279 and SOC WEL 289A . 

Qualifying Paper

A Qualifying Paper (QP), which serves as a preliminary examination, is due at the end of the second year of the PhD program. Students work with their primary faculty advisor to submit a 1-2 page statement of their proposed Qualifying Paper topic to the PhD Faculty Chair for approval by October of the second year. The QP is expected to synthesize and critically evaluate an important, broad body of literature about an intellectual question related to a social problem. After the QP is satisfactorily completed, students must (a) declare two fields of expertise on which he or she will be examined by a Qualifying Examination committee, and (b) complete a Dissertation Prospectus. The fields of expertise may relate to the QP, must represent two broad and important bodies of literature related to a social problem(s), and must be approved by the PhD Chair in consultation with the student’s PhD Faculty Advisor. The fields of expertise must be broad (e.g., poverty/inequality and mental health; child development and domestic violence; substance abuse and prevention science).

Dissertation Prospectus

A Dissertation Prospectus must be completed well in advance of taking the Qualifying Examination. The prospectus must summarize the relevant literature, describe the issue or problem to be addressed (with clear study aims), and focus on the plan of research—including the proposed methodology, data sources, and/or analyses to be used, and a tentative timeline for project completion.

Qualifying Examination

The qualifying examination is a three-hour oral exam assessing mastery of the student's chosen fields of study and written materials submitted for the examination. It is conducted by a committee of five faculty members proposed by the student and approved by the Graduate Division. When passed, this examination marks the completion of required course work, mastery of the fields of study, and advancement to candidacy.

Dissertation

Once advanced to candidacy, doctoral students pursue a research agenda that will offer an original contribution to knowledge in the field. The dissertation is the final demonstration of scholarly, research, and professional abilities. Upon final signature of approval by the dissertation committee and submission to the Graduate Division, students are awarded the doctoral degree.

Master's Degree Requirements (MSW)

The Berkeley MSW requires two years of full-time  study (at least 12 units/semester) that total a minimum of 54 units. To be eligible for degree conferral, all MSW students must complete:

• 9 units of Generalist Practice coursework required of all students.
• At least 2 units of coursework in Diversity-sensitive and Competent Practice.
• 6 to 8 units of Specialized Practice coursework in an area of specialization, chosen at the time of application for admission to the program.
• 4 units of social research methods, inclusive of the Berkeley master's capstone requirement.
• 25 units of field education, which includes two years of field practicum internship and concurrent field integration seminars.
• 6 to 8 units of professionally relevant elective coursework or courses needed for additional special program options.

Generalist Practice

All MSW students must successfully complete a foundational generalist practice curriculum, consisting of four required courses taken in the first semester:

All Generalist Practice requirements must be successfully completed in order to progress to the Specialized Practice curriculum. Students may not enroll into Social Research Methods courses (SOCWEL 282A&B) or begin their Advanced/Specialization Field Placement (SOCWEL 292A&B, 412A&B) until they have successfully completed all Generalist Practice courses.

Diversity-Competent Social Work Practice

All MSW students must complete an approved course in diversity-competent practice, valued at 2 units or higher. See  Diversity Courses  for more information on courses that satisfy this requirement.

Specialized Practice

All MSW students complete a series of required advanced practice and policy courses, selected according to the chosen specialized practice area(s) and any additional special program options. 

Specialization in Advancing Health and Well-being across the Adult Lifespan

Specialization in strengthening children, youth and families, specialization in strengthening organizations and communities, social research methods and master's capstone requirement.

All MSW students must complete two courses in methods of social research:

The Berkeley master’s capstone requirement is satisfied by the successful completion of SOC WEL 282B .

Field Education

All MSW students must earn a total of  25 units in field education , inclusive of agency-based field placement practicum experience and required integrative field seminars. Full-time MSW students are generally in field placement sites two days a week in the first year, and three days a week in the second year.

MSW students must complete a sufficient number of units in approved, professionally relevant elective course work required to reach the minimum total unit requirement of 54 units. Since the number of required courses varies according to the area of specialized practice, the total number of elective units required in each area will also vary. See  Elective Courses  for more information on courses that satisfy this requirement. 

Concurrent Degree in Social Welfare and Public Health

Berkeley Social Welfare and the  School of Public Health  offer a Concurrent Degree program option for interdisciplinary preparation in the fields of social welfare and public health, leading to the Master of Social Welfare (MSW) and Master of Public Health (MPH) degrees. A major characteristic of public health social work is the combination of an epidemiological approach from Public Health and a bio-psychosocial approach from Social Work. The combined interventions focus on population groups within the context of the community.

To complete the  MSW/MPH Concurrent Degree  program and earn both the MSW and MPH, a student must be admitted to the program and complete 90 units of coursework in Social Welfare and Public Health, which includes 23 units related to off-campus field education, over 3 years. One year each is dedicated to the foundation curriculum in social welfare and public health. The third year is a combination of advanced social welfare and public health curriculum that results in a joint Master's capstone that addresses the knowledge of both fields.

Prospective applicants may reach out to either school for more information about this program.

Concurrent Degree in Social Welfare and Public Policy

Berkeley Social Welfare and the  Goldman School of Public Policy  offer a Concurrent Degree program option that blends the substantive focus and professional social work training of the Masters in Social Welfare (MSW) with the rigorous methodological tools and policy breadth of the Masters in Public Policy (MPP). Students seeking a career in social service research, policy, or administration must be knowledgeable about the complexities of service delivery, a perspective supplied by the MSW Field Education and service-oriented course work; skilled in the “big picture” policy analysis based in the rigorous methodological training in economics, statistics, and policy research of the MPP; and able to effectively advocate for their programs and their constituents in the legislature and executive branches.

To complete the  MSW/MPP Concurrent Degree  program and earn both the MSW and MPP, a student must be admitted to the program and complete 88 units of coursework in Social Welfare and Public Policy, which includes 20 units related to off-campus field education, over 3 years. One year each is dedicated to the foundation curriculum in social welfare and public policy. The third year is a combination of advanced social welfare and public policy curriculum that results in a joint Master's capstone that addresses the knowledge of both fields.

Berkeley Graduate Certificate in Aging

To be eligible for the Berkeley Graduate Certificate in Aging , candidates:

• Must be registered and enrolled in a graduate degree program at UC Berkeley.
• Must be in good academic standing (e.g., GPA of 3.0 or better).
• Must submit a brief statement describing their interest and experience in social work practice with and on behalf of aging and elderly clients.

The Graduate Certificate in Aging requires a total of 7 to 9 units, including:

• one required anchor course:   SOC WEL 210C Aging Processes .
•   SOC WEL 244 Direct Practice in Community Behavioral Health and Recovery Services across the Adult Life Span
• SOC WEL 245 Direct Practice in Health Settings across the Adult Life Span
• or  SOC WEL 246 Direct Practice in Aging Settings .
• at least one additional, professionally relevant elective course chosen from an approved list
• at least 120 hours of direct practice field experience with or on behalf of elderly clients.

For more information about approved elective courses, the field experience requirement, and how to apply, please visit the UC Berkeley Graduate Certificate in Aging .

School Social Work Credentials

Berkeley Social Welfare offers a curriculum in school social work practice, leading to eligibility for a recommendation for the  Pupil Personnel Services Credentials (PPSC) , which are issued by the State of California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) .

In addition to successfully completing all requirements for the MSW degree, students seeking the PPSC in School Social Work must take the following specific credential program courses as part of their program of study:

PPSC candidates must also complete at least 1000 hours of field practicum with school-age children, as well as meet other credential prerequisite and administrative requirements mandated by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing. For information please visit Berkeley Social Welfare School Social Work Credentials .

Social Work with Latinos Certificate

To be eligible for the Social Work with Latinos Certificate , candidates:

• Must demonstrate Spanish language proficiency at an intermediate level.
• Must submit a brief statement describing their interest and experience in Latino social work, and their goals for gaining the certificate.

The Social Work with Latinos Certificate requires a total of at least six (6) units, including:

• one required anchor course:  SOC WEL 250J Social Work with Latino Populations .
• at least two additional elective courses chosen from an approved list.
• a minimum of 120 hours of direct practice in an agency serving predominantly Spanish-speaking Latinx clients.

For more information about approved elective courses, the field experience requirement, and how to apply, please visit the Berkeley Social Welfare Social Work with Latinos Certificate .

Master's Degree Requirements (FlexMSW)

NOTE: Berkeley Social Welfare will not be accepting applications for Fall 2024 admission to either FlexMSW Program track.

FlexMSW Advanced Standing

The FlexMSW Advanced Standing Program is a one-year MSW degree track option for eligible working professionals who already hold a baccalaureate professional degree in social work obtained from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education  (CSWE) . Pursuing the MSW degree with Advanced Standing status allows eligible students with accredited professional baccalaureate degrees to bypass the foundational components of the MSW curriculum, given their prior exposure to social work foundational content in their undergraduate degree programs, and enter the specialized portion of the program directly.

Prospective students must apply and be admitted directly into the FlexMSW Advanced Standing degree track.

To be eligible for admission to the FlexMSW degree program, prospective applicants:

• must hold an accredited professional bachelor's degree in social work (BASW or BSW), which must have been conferred within the past five years.
• must meet all other  admissions eligibility requirements  for admission to a Berkeley Social Welfare master's degree program.

The FlexMSW Advanced Standing degree requires a minimum of 27 units for degree conferral, including 14 units earned in Field Education. The program is designed to be completed in one calendar year (August to August) over three consecutive semesters (fall, spring and summer). Upon successful completion of all requirements, students are awarded the Master of Social Welfare (MSW) degree, conferred in August.

All FlexMSW Advanced Standing students follow a prescribed plan of study, as shown below, in the MSW specialization area of Strengthening Children, Youth and Families ( SCYF ):

FlexMSW Extended

Admission eligibility requirements  for the FlexMSW Extended degree program are the same as for the full-time Berkeley MSW program.

Prospective students must apply and be admitted directly into the FlexMSW Extended Program degree track. Once admitted to any MSW degree track at Berkeley, students are not permitted to switch from full-time to the FlexMSW Extended option, or from the FlexMSW Extended option to the full-time MSW Program.

The FlexMSW Extended Program requires the  same program of study and minimum total of 54 units  as the full-time Berkeley MSW Program plan, including 25 units earned in field education. The FlexMSW Extended degree track is designed to be completed in eight semesters over three calendar years (August to August), inclusive of two summer terms. Upon successful completion of all requirements, students are awarded the Master of Social Welfare (MSW) degree, typically conferred in August.

FlexMSW Extended Program students may complete their degree in any of the three MSW specialization areas. For more information on plans of study, class scheduling and field placement, please see the Berkeley Social Welfare  FlexMSW Extended Program.

Professional Development Activities

Child welfare scholars program.

The Child Welfare Scholars Program is Berkeley's implementation of the Title IV-E Stipend Program, administered by the California Social Work Education Center ( CalS WEC ). Students selected to participate as Child Welfare Scholars receive a training stipend of $18,500 annually for up to two academic years, in exchange for a post-graduation work commitment of at least two years in a California county public child welfare service agency.

Child Welfare Scholars complete a specialized curriculum that includes two years of field placement in either a county child welfare unit, or a closely related agency serving child welfare clients. Academic classes and internships emphasize working with children and families who have incidents of abuse and neglect. Special field seminar sections and coursework address the unique challenges that families in this system endure and present to their workers. World-renowned policy and practice instructors and researchers expose students to the most current research in public child welfare. Clinical instructors with significant employment experience in public child welfare provide practice courses and coordinate internships.

Course descriptions for all Social Welfare courses appear below the following tables.

Diversity Courses for the MSW Degree

MSW students must complete a course in diversity-competent practice, valued at 2 units or higher. The following courses may be used to satisfy this requirement:

Elective Courses

Students must complete a sufficient number of units in professionally relevant elective course work required to reach the minimum total unit requirement. Since the number of required courses varies according to chosen area(s) of specialized practice and any additional special program options, the total number of elective units required in each area will also vary. 

Social Welfare Elective Courses

Any Social Welfare graduate course (numbered 200 and higher) not used to satisfy another degree requirement may be used as an elective course for the MSW degree. 

Electives in Other Departments

The following courses offered in other departments are also approved as electives for the MSW degree:

Social Welfare Course Descriptions

Soc wel 200 theories for multilevel practice 2 units.

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022 This course examines the foundations of social work practice theories and strategies for connecting theory and practice. It provides an overview of the impact of the social environment, the impact of the “ecology” of human behavior and the way social institutions and practices provide structure over the life course. Practice implications are explored in terms of assessing client social and psychological needs. The course covers biophysical perspectives , crisis and intervention, cognitive-behavioral theories, systems/ecological frameworks, social psychological theories, social constructionism, humanism and existentialism, critical race and conflict theories, multilevel practice theories, and examination of individual and group differences. Theories for Multilevel Practice: Read More [+]

Hours & Format

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 2 hours of lecture per week

Additional Format: Two hours of lecture per week.

Additional Details

Subject/Course Level: Social Welfare/Graduate

Grading: Letter grade.

Theories for Multilevel Practice: Read Less [-]

SOC WEL 205 Psychosocial Problems and Psychopathology 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Spring 2024, Spring 2023 Developmental abnormalities and deviations which result in dysfunctional behavior in the individual. Examines problems and disorders of children and adults from psychological and social perspectives. Psychosocial Problems and Psychopathology: Read More [+]

Summer: 6 weeks - 5 hours of lecture per week

Additional Format: Two hours of lecture per week. Five hours of lecture per week for 6 weeks.

Psychosocial Problems and Psychopathology: Read Less [-]

SOC WEL 210A Stress and Coping in Adulthood 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2016, Fall 2015, Fall 2014 Descriptions, measurements, and major theories concerning the etiology of stress and coping in the adult (25-60) years. Stress and Coping in Adulthood: Read More [+]

Rules & Requirements

Prerequisites: 200

Additional Format: Two hours of Lecture per week for 15 weeks.

Instructor: Organista

Stress and Coping in Adulthood: Read Less [-]

SOC WEL 210B Infant Development 2 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2023, Spring 2022, Spring 2021 Topics and issues in infant development, including infant mental health, parent-child relationships, behavior assessment, predictors of disturbance, and intervention with high risk infants. Infant Development: Read More [+]

Instructor: Ivins

Infant Development: Read Less [-]

SOC WEL 210C Aging Processes 2 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Fall 2021 Sociological, psychological, physiological, and cultural factors relevant to understanding the complexity of the aging process. Normative and maladaptive aspects of the aging process are examined in terms of their implications for personal and societal adaptation. Aging Processes: Read More [+]

Instructor: Scharlach

Aging Processes: Read Less [-]

SOC WEL 210I Group, Organizational, and Community Dynamics 2 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Fall 2021 Course examines theories of group, organization, and community dynamics. Topics include group leadership and decision-making, organizational goals, structure, and change, and community power and demographics. Group, Organizational, and Community Dynamics: Read More [+]

Additional Format: Two hours of lecture/discussion per week.

Instructor: Austin

Group, Organizational, and Community Dynamics: Read Less [-]

SOC WEL 212 Child Development from Infancy to Adolescence in Its Social Context 2 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2024, Summer 2023 First 6 Week Session, Spring 2023 This course examines the bio-psycho-social development of children and adolescents as a basis for understanding 1) cognitive and affective developments allowing the child to construct individual and social life at increasingly complex levels of differentiation and affiliation; 2) use of developmental levels as paradigms for healthy functioning; 3) a range of childhood experiences impacting well-being and development; and 4) the utility of normal child development as a heuristic for understanding developmental theories of bio-psycho-social difficulties. Particular focus on issues of self- regulation, internal representation, affect, cognition, relatedness, and separation. All of these themes are illustrated through practice application. Child Development from Infancy to Adolescence in Its Social Context: Read More [+]

Child Development from Infancy to Adolescence in Its Social Context: Read Less [-]

SOC WEL 220 Foundations of Social Welfare Policy 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022 This course introduces key issues in social welfare policy and recent trends shaping the development of the American welfare state. This is a foundation policy course for first-year MSW students. Foundations of Social Welfare Policy: Read More [+]

Foundations of Social Welfare Policy: Read Less [-]

SOC WEL 230 Social Policy: Children and Families 2 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2022 Introduction to current problems, programs, and policies in child, youth, and family welfare. Social Policy: Children and Families: Read More [+]

Instructor: Berrick

Social Policy: Children and Families: Read Less [-]

SOC WEL 232 Social Work and Education Policy 2 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2022 This course examines the intersection between social work practice and the educational system. It focuses on the school as a social system and the current policy context of education. It presents current topics in educational policy and critically analyzes them from a social work perspective. A focus is placed on the potential roles played not only by school social workers, but the social work profession in general, in actively collaborating with educational systems to support optimal developmental pathways for children and adolescents. Social Work and Education Policy: Read More [+]

Additional Format: Five hours of lecture/discussion per week for six weeks. Two hours of lecture/discussion per week.

Instructor: Stone

Social Work and Education Policy: Read Less [-]

SOC WEL W232 Social Work and Education Policy 2 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2023 First 6 Week Session, Summer 2022 First 6 Week Session, Summer 2021 First 6 Week Session This course examines the intersection between social work practice and the educational system. It focuses on the school as a social system and the current policy context of education. It presents current topics in educational policy and critically analyzes them from a social work perspective. A focus is placed on the potential roles played not only by school social workers, but the social work profession in general, in actively collaborating with educational systems to support optimal developmental pathways for children and adolescents. The web-based version ( SOC WEL W232 ) is conducted entirely online. Social Work and Education Policy: Read More [+]

Summer: 6 weeks - 5 hours of web-based lecture per week

Additional Format: Five hours of web-based lecture per week for 6 weeks.

Online: This is an online course.

SOC WEL 238C Health Policy--A Social Welfare Perspective 2 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2022 Reviews major issues and programs in the health care field. Course considers the social context of health care; the roles of the public, voluntary, and private sectors; and the implications of policies and programs for society and the individual client. Health Policy--A Social Welfare Perspective: Read More [+]

Instructor: Hastings

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SOC WEL 240 Anti-Oppressive Frameworks for Social Work Ethics and Justice 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022 Introduction to masters-level education in social work and to the intellectual, historical, sociopolitical, and ethical foundations of the U.S. social work profession. Through examination of the profession’s framing values, history, contextual influences, and current directions in a global society, students will begin to develop an orientation to practice, research, and policy-making informed by professional ethics and obligations and anchored in a commitment to plurality and social justice. Students will be oriented to social work professional ethics and ethical decision-making, and to social justice as the framing value for social work practice. Anti-Oppressive Frameworks for Social Work Ethics and Justice: Read More [+]

Anti-Oppressive Frameworks for Social Work Ethics and Justice: Read Less [-]

SOC WEL 241 Foundations of Multilevel Practice 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022 SW 241, Foundations of Multi-Level Practice, is designed to introduce knowledge and skills needed for engagement, assessment, and intervention planning for social work practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities, guided by the principles of strength-based, evidence-informed, ecologically-grounded, and justice promoting practice. Foundations of Multilevel Practice: Read More [+]

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3-4 hours of lecture per week

Additional Format: Three to four hours of lecture per week.

Foundations of Multilevel Practice: Read Less [-]

SOC WEL 241A Foundations of Multilevel Practice: Assessment & Intervention Planning with Individuals and Families 3 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2001 The course aims to equip students with knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed for serving those who access psychosocial services via culturally responsive, anti‐oppressive, and evidence‐informed social work practice. Students will learn relational concepts and theory that underpin effective engagement, assessment and intervention planning. We will also be learning about how to work with existing knowledge, even with its limitations, and discussing how we can extract value from knowledge that wasn’t created with and for marginalized communities. Time will be balanced between knowledge domains, practice skill domains, and self-reflection. Foundations of Multilevel Practice: Assessment & Intervention Planning with Individuals and Families: Read More [+]

Objectives & Outcomes

Course Objectives: Develop a foundational understanding of a range of interventions for children and youth that match client need, the organizational context, and are based upon sound evidence and critical thinking [EPAS Competency 8]. Effectively begin, manage, and end a clinical interview so as to balance building rapport and collecting relevant clinical information in order to guide effective biopsychosocial services [EPAS Competency 6, 7]. Identify relevant human diversity, structural, and environmental factors, discern the impact of these factors upon the presenting issue, and take into account these factors to ensure that selected interventions are adaptive, responsive, affirming, and anti-oppressive [EPAS Competency 2, 7]. Identify the essential components of an intervention plan that incorporates a biopsychosocial assessment and clinical formulation and that is co-created with the client and caregivers [EPAS Competency 8]. Identify the essential elements of a biopsychosocial-spiritual assessment with an individual and/or family, and determine key biological, psychological, social/cultural, spiritual, and/or structural/environmental factors and their interactions [EPAS Competency 7].

Prerequisites: Social Welfare 241 Foundations of Multilevel Practice is a prerequisite for Social Welfare 241A. Course substitutions are not allowed unless instructor permission is obtained

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 2 hours of lecture per week 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week

Additional Format: Two hours of lecture per week. Three hours of lecture per week.

Formerly known as: 241

Foundations of Multilevel Practice: Assessment & Intervention Planning with Individuals and Families: Read Less [-]

SOC WEL 241B Foundations of Multilevel Practice: Assessment & Intrvn Planning w Groups Organizations Communities 3 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2002 In this course, students will develop skills in assessing groups, organizations, and communities and in engaging stakeholders within the community to enact needed change. This course provides an overview of the roles of groups, organizations, and communities in shaping the social environment and of factors that influence group, organizational, and community behavior. Students will also learn how organizations function in human services. Foundations of Multilevel Practice: Assessment & Intrvn Planning w Groups Organizations Communities: Read More [+]

Course Objectives: Assess the role of groups, organizations, and communities in shaping the social environment Become familiar with tools for assessing performance Convey program needs or issues to relevant stakeholders in a concise, impactful, and clear manner Describe and analyze skills required for effectively and equitably working with groups, organizations, and communities Evaluate facilitators and barriers of organizational change and understand the need for different types of community change tactics Understand how organizations are structured and governed Understand the purpose and use of community needs and capacity assessment in program planning, design, and development

Prerequisites: Social Welfare 241 Foundations of Multilevel Practice is a prerequisite for Social Welfare 241B. Course substitutions are not allowed unless instructor permission is obtained

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 2-3 hours of lecture per week

Additional Format: Two to three hours of lecture per week.

Formerly known as: 242

Foundations of Multilevel Practice: Assessment & Intrvn Planning w Groups Organizations Communities: Read Less [-]

SOC WEL 243 Direct Practice in Child and Family Settings 2 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2022 Direct intervention models for addressing the behavioral, emotional, and situational problems of children and families in child welfare, mental health, medical, school, and community settings. Direct Practice in Child and Family Settings: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: 241

Direct Practice in Child and Family Settings: Read Less [-]

SOC WEL 244 Direct Practice in Community Behavioral Health and Recovery Services across the Adult Life Span 2 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2020 Knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed for serving those who use mental health services via culturally responsive, recovery sensitive, and evidence-based practice. Students will learn theoretical concepts underpinning a range of interventions; and the appropriate selection and application of given interventions. Emphasis on acquisition of skills and knowledge relevant to treating individuals encountered in diverse behavioral health systems , and their application to social work practice. Exploration of relational, cognitive behavioral, and trauma-informed theories. Direct Practice in Community Behavioral Health and Recovery Services across the Adult Life Span: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Social Welfare 241

Direct Practice in Community Behavioral Health and Recovery Services across the Adult Life Span: Read Less [-]

SOC WEL 245 Direct Practice in Health Settings across the Adult Life Span 2 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2023, Spring 2022, Spring 2021 Practice methods course emphasizing in-depth understanding and application of clinical methods frequently utilized in health care-related settings and across the age span. Curriculum modules include bio-psychosocial assessment; intervention; and transition from care. Ethics in health care settings, complementary therapeutic services, and patient advocacy are also covered. Aging-specific issues, ethical dilemmas, interdisciplinary conflicts , human diversity issues, system of care conflicts and limitations, and a wide range of illnesses and disabilities and health settings will be threaded throughout the course. Direct Practice in Health Settings across the Adult Life Span: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Successful completion of Social Welfare 241: Foundations of Social Work Practice is a prerequisite for this course. Concurrent enrollment in a Field Practicum (Social Welfare 410A or Social Welfare 410B) and Field Seminar (Social Welfare 290B) is recommended

Direct Practice in Health Settings across the Adult Life Span: Read Less [-]

SOC WEL 246 Direct Practice in Aging Settings 2 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2019, Spring 2018, Spring 2017 Clinical case management with older adults. Comprehensive multidimensional assessment, advocacy and empowerment, and the range of direct intervention models for addressing the physical, cognitive, and psychosocial concerns of older adults and their families. Direct Practice in Aging Settings: Read More [+]

Direct Practice in Aging Settings: Read Less [-]

SOC WEL 250A Social Work with Groups 2 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2024, Spring 2017, Fall 2015 Theory and practice regarding the formation, sustenance, and termination of groups. Emphasis on the role of the social worker in facilitating inter-personal processes in groups. Social Work with Groups: Read More [+]

Social Work with Groups: Read Less [-]

SOC WEL 250B Family Therapy 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2023, Fall 2022, Spring 2022 Theoretical frameworks and intervention skills for family work. Family Therapy: Read More [+]

Family Therapy: Read Less [-]

SOC WEL 250C Solution-Focused Brief Therapy 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2022, Fall 2021, Summer 2021 Second 6 Week Session Background and origins of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT). Covers major tenets of SFBT including: maintaining a positive, “not-knowing”, respectful collaborative stance, focusing on strengths and previous solutions, looking for exceptions and using questions (versus directives or interpretations). Students will learn how to implement SFBT in clinical practice. Students will become proficient in using specific solution-focused interventions applicable across various populations, in differing contexts (including case management), and across social work settings, including larger systems such as agencies and communities. Solution-Focused Brief Therapy: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Successful completion of Social Welfare 243, Social Welfare 244, or Social Welfare 245; or consent of instructor

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 2 hours of seminar per week

Summer: 6 weeks - 5 hours of seminar per week

Additional Format: Two hours of seminar per week. Five hours of seminar per week for 6 weeks.

Solution-Focused Brief Therapy: Read Less [-]

SOC WEL 250I Essential Spanish for Social Workers 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2019, Fall 2014, Spring 2014 This course will provide students with the knowledge and skills needed to communicate effectively with monolingual Spanish speaking clients and perform effective and responsible social work practice assessments and interventions. The seminar will be conducted in Spanish and will expose students to the language utilized by social workers and other human service providers in a variety of settings. Essential Spanish for Social Workers: Read More [+]

Additional Format: Two hours of seminar per week.

Essential Spanish for Social Workers: Read Less [-]

SOC WEL 250J Social Work with Latino Populations 2 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2022 This graduate-level course prepares social workers in training and students in allied fields to provide culturally sensitive and competent services to members of major U.S. Latino populations. The course is designed to enhance cultural sensitivity by using multiple relevant social science theories and frameworks to teach about social and cultural experiences of U.S. Latinos; to enhance culturally competent practice skills by teaching a comprehensive Latino practice model; and to provide a selective review of best/promising practices for various psychosocial and health problems within Latino populations. Latino diversity is addressed from a social justice perspective, emphasizing undocumented Latinos and immigration policy issues. Social Work with Latino Populations: Read More [+]

Social Work with Latino Populations: Read Less [-]

SOC WEL 250K Social Work and Disability 2 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2014, Spring 2012, Spring 2011 Using a theoretical framework grounded in the values of self-determination, dignity, and respect, this course will address issues in the disabilities field including demographics, etiology, policy and programs, and the disability resources network. Practice skills in communications, assessment, and micro- and macro-level intervention will be reviewed. Social Work and Disability: Read More [+]

Social Work and Disability: Read Less [-]

SOC WEL 250L Human Sexuality 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Spring 2020 This course will provide a forum for the exploration of multiple issues related to human sexuality and the diversity of sexual experience, including the human sexual response cycle; childhood and adolescent sexuality development; sexual problems, causes and treatment approaches (including systems approaches to working with couples); sexual orientation and gender identity development; sexuality and living with a disability; sexual violence and consent; sexuality and HIV/AIDS; and the law and ethics related to professional sexual misconduct and boundary violations. Teaching methods will include interactive lecture, small group discussions, video presentations, and guest speakers from throughout the Bay Area who specialize in a range of sexuality issues. Human Sexuality: Read More [+]

Additional Format: One hour of lecture/discussion per week per unit.

Human Sexuality: Read Less [-]

SOC WEL 250M Death and Dying 2 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2022 This course explores death and dying from a variety of perspectives: psychological, philosophical, cultural, spiritual, and phenomenological. Emphasis is placed on understanding the experiences of dying persons and their loved ones, as well as the interplay between the process of dying and the process of living. Implications for social work interventions are discussed. This course is both academic and experiential, relying on a wide variety of materials: autobiography, fiction, scholarly and theoretical writings, case examples, films, poetry, and guest lectures. Death and Dying: Read More [+]

Additional Format: Two hours of lecture/seminar per week.

Death and Dying: Read Less [-]

SOC WEL 250N Public Child Welfare Services 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022 This course is designed for students preparing for careers in public child welfare. Addresses the range of documentation required for legal purposes, practice issues for social workers within the court setting, and skills required in presenting testimony. Public Child Welfare Services: Read More [+]

Additional Format: Two hours of lecture/seminar every week.

Instructor: Ralph

Formerly known as: 250NA and 250NB

Public Child Welfare Services: Read Less [-]

SOC WEL 250T Social Work Practice in School Settings 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Summer 2023 First 6 Week Session This course (1) provides students with an understanding of how current educational policies and practices impact the day-to-day lives of academically and socially vulnerable students; (2) builds student skills in identifying and selecting the multiple points of intervention relevant to social work practice in schools, including individual intervention with children, family intervention, building links between families and school staff, advocacy, classroom-based intervention, and collaboration with teachers; and (3) presents assessment and intervention strategies guided by an ecosystemic and resilience perspective which focus on student and family strengths and suggests multiple intervention options. Social Work Practice in School Settings: Read More [+]

Instructor: Ayasse

Social Work Practice in School Settings: Read Less [-]

SOC WEL 250U Substance Abuse Treatment 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022 Course provides an introductory overview of various theories and methodologies currently used in the diagnosis and treatment of substance abuse disorders. Though the bulk of the course will be devoted to the disease model and corresponding interventions, some attention will be given to prevention and epidemiology. Emphasis will be placed on the unique practice role of social work in the prevention/intervention of substance abuse problems. Substance Abuse Treatment: Read More [+]

Additional Format: Five hours of lecture/discussion per week for six weeks.

Substance Abuse Treatment: Read Less [-]

SOC WEL 250X Domestic Violence: Assessment and Intervention 2 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2024, Fall 2015, Fall 2014 This practice-oriented course will teach graduate level social work students how to engage, assess, and intervene effectively with individuals, families, and children impacted by intimate partner violence. We will review the scope, impact, and causes of the problem; relevant screening and assessment skills; effective clinical intervention paradigms and techniques for victims, perpetrators, and children; and future directions. Significant time will be devoted to examining this problem in disadvantaged and diverse populations and, identifying emotional coping strategies for the developing clinician. Domestic Violence: Assessment and Intervention: Read More [+]

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SOC WEL 250Y International Social Development 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2015, Fall 2013, Fall 2012 This seminar focuses on the theory and practice of social development and, in particular, engages members of the seminar in an analysis of the social development practice strategies that are now widely used in community settings not only in the developing but in the western countries as well. The course is primarily designed for MSW students who have an interest in issues of development and international social welfare, but doctoral and undergraduate students may enroll. International Social Development: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Graduate standing or consent of instructor

Instructor: Midgley

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SOC WEL 250Z Cognitive Behavioral Methods 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Spring 2024, Fall 2023 The purpose of this course is to increase students' understanding of and competencies in cognitive-behavior methods. Throughout the course practice decisions and related research will be closely integrated. Although further guided experience will be needed to develop high levels of related skills, especially concerning assessment and relationship factors as these are needed to maximize success, students will have the opportunity to develop a beginning understanding of basic behavior principles. Cognitive Behavioral Methods: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Graduate standing

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SOC WEL 251 Program Development 2 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2022 This is a required practice course for students in the Management and Planning concentration. Using a community-based service delivery framework, the purpose of the course is to provide the competency and skill set necessary for effective program design including task group management, community engagement, and collaborative resource development. The course will focus on designing community-wide interventions in a diverse society through analyzing social problems, identifying community capacities and needs, developing effectiveness-based programs, and conducting evaluation. Program Development: Read More [+]

Additional Format: Two hours of Seminar per week for 15 weeks.

Instructor: Chow

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SOC WEL 252 Program Implementation 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022 This required Management and Planning practice course builds upon the conceptual and critical thinking skills found in the foundation MAP courses in order to focus on strategic management and leading skills in this course. It is designed to introduce students to the distinctive role of the manager in public and nonprofit human service organizations. Drawing on the management sciences and social work practice in administration, this seminar-style course focuses on a range of managerial processes with special attention to the analytical and interpersonal aspects of program implementation. The course is built upon the three domains identified in research on program management: leadership roles; analytic roles; and interactional roles. Program Implementation: Read More [+]

Program Implementation: Read Less [-]

SOC WEL 254 Policy Practice in Social Work 2 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2022, Spring 2021, Spring 2017 This course focuses on sharpening students’ skills in policy practice, so that they can serve as more effective change agents in their organizational, systems, and policy environments. In social work, policy practice typically entails proposing or enacting policy change in legislative, regulatory, agency, and/or community settings to enhance social and economic justice. Policy Practice in Social Work: Read More [+]

Course Objectives: To develop evidence-based strategies to improve decision-making in social work advocacy and policymaking. To develop students’ advanced skills to influence change in the public domain, including via policy advocacy in different settings, developing a coalition or campaign, engaging people with lived experiences, and using the media. To enhance students’ critical analysis skills in examining proposed policies for their potential impact on vulnerable populations and for the opportunity to promote social justice. To introduce students to the roles social workers can play as leaders in influencing the shape and content of policy to benefit vulnerable populations.

Policy Practice in Social Work: Read Less [-]

SOC WEL 255 Community Organizing 2 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2022 Introduction to the theory and practice of community organization. Community Organizing: Read More [+]

Instructor: Albano

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SOC WEL 257 Financial Management 1 Unit

Terms offered: Fall 2019, Fall 2018, Fall 2017 This course provides both theoretical knowledge and practical skills for managing scarce resources in social service organizations. Students will learn tools and techniques for effective planning and budgeting as well as how to design information systems to control, evaluate, and revise plans. Accounting principles and systems will be examined from a management perspective with an emphasis on designing systems to meet the unique management information needs of different organizations. The use and development of internal and external financial statements will be covered. Students will learn the tools and techniques of financial statement analysis, interpretation, and presentation. The course is designed to develop the core financial management skills needed by senior and middle managers in large and small social service organizations. Financial Management: Read More [+]

Formerly known as: 298

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SOC WEL 260 Forensic Social Work 2 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2022, Spring 2021, Spring 2020 Focuses on issues arising within the practice of forensic social work in correctional settings (jails, prisons, and probation and parole departments), especially practice with people whose social positions and/or mental health struggles render them disproportionately affected by incarceration. Uses a person-in-environment perspective to explore the phenomenology of corrections, paying particular attention to the intersection of social identities and psychological capacities among individuals who are incarcerated, the complexities of the systems within which social workers attempt to create change, and the historical and contemporary role of incarceration in the United States. Forensic Social Work: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Social Welfare 240 and Social Welfare 241

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SOC WEL 260A Critical Disability 2 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2024 This online, asynchronous course introduces the interdisciplinary field of critical disability studies, which considers the political, ethical, and cultural factors that shape and define impairment and disability. Critical realism and the social model of disability frame this course and make important distinguishes between the concepts of impairment and disability. An examination of individual and group differences will be highlighted throughout, as well as perspectives on how power, privilege, oppression, and societal structures impact health and well-being of disabled peoples. Critical Disability: Read More [+]

Instructor: STERZING

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SOC WEL 265H Social Work Practice in Integrated Behavioral Health Care 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2019, Fall 2018, Fall 2017 Students in this practice course will be introduced to the foundation of integrated behavioral health practice, including population-based screening instruments and functional assessment for use in primary care. Students will become familiar with primary care medical culture and psychopharmacological interventions for depression and anxiety. A main emphasis of this class is skill acquisition in evidence-based behavioral interventions for a variety of conditions commonly seen in IBH settings. These include: behavioral activation, mindfulness relaxation strategies, sleep-hygiene techniques, and problem solving treatment Social Work Practice in Integrated Behavioral Health Care: Read More [+]

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SOC WEL 265L Social and Emotional Learning Foundations 3 Units

Terms offered: Prior to 2007 This 12 week course focuses on equipping students with knowledge about systemic social and emotional learning (SEL) and practical strategies to promote adult well-being and equitable, evidence-based SEL among school-aged children and youth. The Course is designed for classroom teachers who work directly with Pre K-12th grade students. The course will survey a spectrum of assets-based, accessible methods to develop local strategies that promote positive relationships and improve conditions for learning to make schools centers of social and emotional well-being. Major topics of exploration include: the field’s history, purpose, research-base, and role in promoting educational equity; personal and community well-being among educators. Social and Emotional Learning Foundations: Read More [+]

Course Objectives: Synthesize knowledge gained in the course to create an improvement project within a local learning environment

Student Learning Outcomes: Apply basic neuroscience principles behind emotions, motivation, and learning, and the impact of stress and trauma on the brain, to classroom settings. Demonstrate enhanced capacity to build authentic partnerships with families to support student SEL. Demonstrate enhanced capacity to engage in personal development and reflection practices that strengthen adult SEL competencies and well-being. Demonstrate enhanced capacity to foster developmentally appropriate student SEL competencies through direct instruction, academic integration, and classroom pedagogy that centers student voice and experience. Demonstrate enhanced capacity to foster developmentally appropriate student SEL competencies through direct instruction, academic integration, and classroom pedagogy that centers student voice and experience. Demonstrate enhanced knowledge of classroom and school-wide SEL planning, implementation, and continuous improvement processes, including selecting evidence-based SEL curricula. Synthesize knowledge gained in the course to create an improvement project within a local learning environment Understand SEL’s role in promoting educational equity and global citizenship by using transformative, culturally responsive, and healing-centered practices. Understand both the research-base that underlies SEL practice and the strategies for using research evidence to continuously improve educational practice. Understand how SEL is connected to related education frameworks and goals, including academic attainment and school climate and culture imperatives. Understand the core goals and components of systemic social and emotional learning, including why and how SEL is central to promoting positive relationships, well-being, and success in school, work, and life.

Prerequisites: The course requires bachelors-level preparation

Fall and/or spring: 12 weeks - 1 hour of lecture and 0.5 hours of discussion per week

Additional Format: One hour of lecture and one-half hour of discussion per week for 12 weeks.

Instructor: Shapiro

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SOC WEL 265M Motivational Interviewing 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022 Motivational interviewing (MI) is a modern clinical paradigm that dialectically integrates humanistic, client-centered principles with goal-focused strategies. Students in this course will be introduced to all key aspects of MI including its major tenets, its theoretical base, the available empirical evidence on its efficacy, and its overall compatibility with social work. Moreover, students will learn all of the associated clinical skills for the four processes of motivational interviewing: 1) engaging; 2) focusing; 3) evoking; and 4) deciding and planning. Motivational Interviewing: Read More [+]

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SOC WEL 265N Narrative Practices with Vulnerable Populations 2 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2023, Summer 2022 Second 6 Week Session, Spring 2022 Narrative therapy is a natural choice in the practice of social work, as it rejects pathology as the main focus of treatment. This class provides an introductory exploration of the narrative approach to therapy as developed by Michael White and David Epston. Students will consider how to apply narrative practices as a potential intervention for individuals, families and communities; and explore possibilities for appropriately adapting narrative interventions in social work service settings. Students will be encouraged to explore if and how Narrative Therapy has the potential to reinforce already existing therapeutic culturally-rooted practices like dance, storytelling, myths, poetry, spirituality and music. Narrative Practices with Vulnerable Populations: Read More [+]

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SOC WEL 265T Trauma-Informed Multilevel Approaches 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022 The overarching aim of this course is to explore multilevel approaches for recognizing, understanding, and responding to the effects of complex trauma. We will apply the best available knowledge and evidence to inform engagement, assessment, and intervention approaches within and across persons and populations at various levels of the social ecology: (a) individuals across the life span, (b) their families and communities, and (c) the organizations that serve them. Trauma-Informed Multilevel Approaches: Read More [+]

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SOC WEL 272 Health and Human Services in Mexico 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2023 First 6 Week Session, Summer 2022 First 6 Week Session, Summer 2021 8 Week Session This service learning course is a comprehensive, integrated learning program conducted in Mexico. Through continuous cross-cultural immersion, Latino and non-Latino social work students build language skills; study culturally informed and derived engagement and intervention practices; and acquire competencies relevant to preparation for providing social welfare services to Latino clients. Ultimately, social work students will gain a transnational perspective that will shape their approach to providing services to Latino communities in the U.S. Includes lectures given by local academics, mental health professionals, community members and indigenous healers; language instruction; field placement/service learning; and an integration seminar. Health and Human Services in Mexico: Read More [+]

Summer: 6 weeks - 16 hours of seminar per week

Additional Format: Participants will also be involved in two Service Learning experiences: <br/>Students will conduct assessments in pairs with families that participate in programs at Centro de Esperanza Infantil; these assessments will take place on two Fridays for approximately 3-4 hours at a time; Students will meet with their tutee/mentee Monday through Thursday in the afternoons.

Grading: Offered for satisfactory/unsatisfactory grade only.

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SOC WEL 274 Immigrants and Refugees in the U.S 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2023, Fall 2022, Fall 2020 Overview of immigration policy in the U.S. from an international and historical perspective. Theories of migration, transnationalism, and adaptation will be addressed, along with skills required for working with refugees and immigrants facing difficulties. Addresses the impact of policy on who comes to the U.S. and the circumstances newcomers and their families face once here. Immigrants and Refugees in the U.S: Read More [+]

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SOC WEL 275 Anti-Oppressive Social Work 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2023, Spring 2023, Fall 2022 This course prepares students to understand and practice diversity-sensitive, anti-oppressive social work. The course (1) builds awareness of power, privilege and marginalization embedded in each of our multiple and intersecting status dimensions (race, ethnicity, sex, gender, sexual orientation, social class, gender identity and expression, dis/ability, religion, (im)migration, etc.), in the context of social work, (2) involves students in the process of awareness and practice through experiential, self-reflective and interactive activities, and (3) promotes anti-oppressive social work practice skills at multiple levels including individual, group, organizational and community levels. Anti-Oppressive Social Work: Read More [+]

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SOC WEL 279 Seminar in the History and Philosophy of Social Welfare 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022 Primarily for doctoral students. A review of efforts to conceptualize the field of social welfare and to analyze its tendencies. Seminar in the History and Philosophy of Social Welfare: Read More [+]

Instructor: Gilbert

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SOC WEL 280 Introduction to Social Welfare Research 2 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2020, Spring 2019, Spring 2018 Introduction to the theory and practice of research in social welfare. Introduction to Social Welfare Research: Read More [+]

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SOC WEL W280 Introduction to Social Welfare Research 2 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2017 8 Week Session, Summer 2016 10 Week Session, Summer 2016 8 Week Session The goal of this course is to develop a working knowledge of research designs and methods for the purpose of evaluating social work practice and programs. Introduction to Social Welfare Research: Read More [+]

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 2 hours of web-based lecture per week

Summer: 8 weeks - 6 hours of web-based lecture per week

Additional Format: Two hours of web-based lecture per week. Six hours of web-based lecture per week for 8 weeks.

SOC WEL 282A Seminar in Social Welfare Research I 2 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2024, Fall 2023, Spring 2023 This course is designed to provide (1) an overview of epistemological paradigms (or how we organize and legitimize our ways of knowing) and (2) various research methods that are derived from those paradigms and are used to inform social welfare research and practice. Seminar in Social Welfare Research I: Read More [+]

Course Objectives: To cultivate a healthy spirit of skepticism and become sharper consumers of the biological, psychological, and social scientific information that informs evidence-based practice and praxis. To equip students with the research skills that will help them engage thematic material in previous and subsequent social welfare courses. To provide the necessary background for students to begin conducting research that is steered by and advances social work values.

Prerequisites: Social Welfare 280

Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5 hours of seminar per week 8 weeks - 5.5 hours of seminar per week

Additional Format: Two hours of Seminar per week for 15 weeks. Five and one-half hours of Seminar per week for 8 weeks. Seven and one-half hours of Seminar per week for 6 weeks.

Seminar in Social Welfare Research I: Read Less [-]

SOC WEL 282B Seminar in Social Welfare Research II 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2022 This course provides an overview on techniques for and challenges in program evaluation. Students will develop the critical skills necessary to assess the quality of evaluation research projects, to apply technical evaluation skills in professional practice, and to develop evaluation plans for a variety of programs. Students will apply the knowledge of research methods acquired through the MSW program to develop a program evaluation plan. Special attention will be paid to participatory, collaborative and equitable evaluation approaches, as well as qualitative methods. Through this course, each student will develop a program evaluation plan for a program of their choice. Seminar in Social Welfare Research II: Read More [+]

Course Objectives: Distinguish between different types of evaluation, including needs assessment, process evaluation, and outcome evaluation. Identify and describe the key steps in planning an evaluation for different types of social welfare programs, including the use of both qualitative and quantitative methods, by in-class lecture and workshops, and the application of these skills in the program evaluation plan. Master the basic concepts of program evaluation, and understand how it differs from other types of research activities. Understand how to evaluate the quality of surveys and other instruments for assessing processes and outcomes of social welfare programs. Write a finalized plan to conduct a process or outcome evaluation with feedback from instructors and peers.

Prerequisites: Social Welfare 280 and Social Welfare 282A

Additional Format: Two hours of seminar per week. Five and one-half hours of seminar per week for 8 weeks. Seven and one-half hours of seminar per week for 6 weeks.

Seminar in Social Welfare Research II: Read Less [-]

SOC WEL 287 Research Resources and Processes 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022 Students will be introduced to the tasks and tools of library research in social welfare, including reference works, bibliographic aids, and computer databases. Individual faculty members will present their research, emphasizing methodology, outcomes, and contributions to social welfare. Research Resources and Processes: Read More [+]

Research Resources and Processes: Read Less [-]

SOC WEL 289A Research Methods and Techniques in Social Welfare 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2022 This course provides doctoral students a firm foundation in research processes and methods. Topics include problem formulation, use of theory, conceptualization, measurement, causal inference, sampling, and design methods. A core goal is to provide insight into the opportunities and challenges social work researchers face as they apply social science and related theory and methods to real world problems and settings. Course activities will guide students to future coursework in research methodologies and analysis, as well as position paper and dissertation proposal development. Sessions combine a focus on the conceptual and technical aspects of the research process and consider issues across quantitative and qualitative approaches. Research Methods and Techniques in Social Welfare: Read More [+]

Research Methods and Techniques in Social Welfare: Read Less [-]

SOC WEL 290A FOUNDATION FIELD INTEGRATION SEMINAR 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2023, Fall 2022, Fall 2021 Integrative seminar designed to augment and strengthen student experiential learning capacities in the context of agency-based field practicum training. Students participate in a wide array of activities and discussions to cultivate self-reflection and develop an enduring sense of authentic professional identity. Students will learn how to engage in peer-based validation, support, and corrective feedback, and examine how to strategically approach learning in agency contexts in order to become professionally competent and creative social workers. To become more knowledgeable advocates for a range of communities and social concerns, students will examine a wide range of practice dilemmas and challenges in which divergent experiences matter. FOUNDATION FIELD INTEGRATION SEMINAR: Read More [+]

Credit Restrictions: Requires oncurrent enrollment in SOC WEL 410A , Foundation Field Practicum

Formerly known as: Social Welfare 400

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SOC WEL 290B Foundation Field Integration Seminar II 1 Unit

Terms offered: Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2022 Continuation of integrative seminar exploring field placement issues and common agency and practice-based concerns. Run as a consultation group, this seminar encourages students to draw from a wide range of academic, field, and life experiences, to pose questions to and learn from one another, and to continue to examine how to strategically approach competency-based professional learning in agency contexts. Students are guided to deepen learning from assigned field placement tasks and academic coursework by participating effectively in peer consultation. The spring semester seminar also supports students as they engage in the second year placement process. Foundation Field Integration Seminar II: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Social Welfare 290A-Field Integration Seminar

Credit Restrictions: Concurrent enrollment in Social Welfare 410B, Foundation Field Practicum, is required.

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 1 hour of seminar per week

Additional Format: One hour of seminar per week.

Formerly known as: Social Welfare 400B

Foundation Field Integration Seminar II: Read Less [-]

SOC WEL 291 Preparing for an Academic Career in Social Work 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2013 This 2 unit seminar is intended for doctoral colleagues who are preparing to embark on a career as social work scholars and educators. The seminar is designed to facilitate an understanding of the nature of research universities and the role of social work education in these universities. It focuses on preparing doctoral colleagues for academic positions within research universities, and to understand their roles and expectations with regard to scholarship, teaching and service. It seeks to acquaint them with the evolution of professional social work education, with particular reference to research universities and to discuss current topics, issues and concerns in the field. Preparing for an Academic Career in Social Work: Read More [+]

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SOC WEL 292A Advanced Field Integration Seminar 1 Unit

Terms offered: Fall 2023, Fall 2022, Fall 2021 Advanced Field Integration Seminar provides a cohort-based learning community for 2nd-year MSW students as they develop leadership skills in the advanced field practicum. This advanced seminar deepens students’ abilities to critically appraise and function effectively in organizational contexts. Students use self-reflection, foundation and specialty knowledge domains, and analytical thinking to identify complex, problem-solving approaches with the overall goal of providing evidence-informed, quality services to clients and communities. Students take increasing responsibility for planning, facilitating, and evaluating the seminar, allowing for deep discussion of relevant, advanced topics and advancing student group facilitation skills. Advanced Field Integration Seminar: Read More [+]

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SOC WEL 292B Advanced Field Integration Seminar II 1 Unit

Terms offered: Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2022 Continuation of 2nd-year integrative seminar, providing opportunities to gain a sense of consolidation and closure, and to transition into the role of entry-level professional. Students will continue to take responsibility for planning, facilitating, and evaluating the seminar, including facilitating and evaluating advanced topical conversations identified by the cohort with guidance from the seminar instructor. This will allow for deep discussion of relevant, advanced topics and advance student skills in group facilitation. Students will identify strategies for lifelong learning and developing a strong professional support base. Advanced Field Integration Seminar II: Read More [+]

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SOC WEL 293 Social Welfare Theory: Policy Implications 2 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2015, Fall 2014, Fall 2012 The course deals primarily with macro-theories of a sociological and political-economy nature that offer 1) conceptual representations of welfare systems, 2) explanations of the dynamics and functions of welfare systems, and 3) analyses and assessments of the different normative perspectives that inform policy making in social welfare. The latter aspect is given particular emphasis and the major normative theoretical perspectives in the field will be reviewed with reference to their policy implications for social welfare in the United States. The major theoretical perspectives to be discussed include institutionalism, welfare pluralism, neo-liberalism, Marxism, traditionalism, regulationism, critical theory, multiculturalism, feminism, ecologism, and developmentalism. This course is designed for doctoral students but is open to other qualified graduate students with instructor permission. Social Welfare Theory: Policy Implications: Read More [+]

Additional Format: Two hours lecture/discussion per week.

Social Welfare Theory: Policy Implications: Read Less [-]

SOC WEL 295 Writing and Publication Seminar 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022 The goal of this seminar is to help doctoral students improve project conceptualization skills, academic writing abilities, and professional productivity. Resources on thinking clearly, writing well, and writing often will be provided. Students will submit papers for group review, and provide constructive feedback on other student papers. Students will discuss specific topics selected by the class, and review two draft student papers. Papers can include (a) statement of specific aims, outlines, and other beginning tools, (b) major sections of proposals (for grants, fellowships, dissertations), and (c) major sections of a new research product (publishable article or dissertation). A “major section” may be an introduction or a method section. Writing and Publication Seminar: Read More [+]

Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.

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SOC WEL 296 Individual Study for Graduate Students 1 - 12 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2021, Spring 2020, Spring 2019 Designed to permit qualified graduate students to pursue special study in a subject area of their choosing under the direction of a faculty member. Individual Study for Graduate Students: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Consent of instructor

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 0 hours of independent study per week

Summer: 6 weeks - 1-12 hours of independent study per week 8 weeks - 1-12 hours of independent study per week 10 weeks - 1.5-18 hours of independent study per week

Additional Format: One unit will be awarded for each four hours per week of student work.

Individual Study for Graduate Students: Read Less [-]

SOC WEL 298 Group Study for Graduate Students 1 - 12 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2023, Spring 2022, Spring 2021 Intensive examination of selected social welfare topics. Group Study for Graduate Students: Read More [+]

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 1-12 hours of seminar per week

Additional Format: One to twelve hours of seminar per week.

Group Study for Graduate Students: Read Less [-]

SOC WEL 299 Individual Research for Graduate Students 1 - 12 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2021, Fall 2020, Spring 2020 Designed to permit qualified graduate students to pursue research in a subject area of their choosing under the direction of a faculty member. Individual Research for Graduate Students: Read More [+]

Summer: 6 weeks - 2.5-30 hours of independent study per week 8 weeks - 2-22 hours of independent study per week 10 weeks - 1.5-18 hours of independent study per week

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SOC WEL 299C Social Welfare Graduate Research Colloquium 1 Unit

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Spring 2024, Fall 2023 Actively exposing oneself to various forms of scholarship, participating in research forums, identifying areas for professional development, and developing effective strategies for presenting scholarly work are crucial skills for social work academics. Thus, students are required to participate in research colloquia for the Social Welfare PhD degree. The colloquium is designed to expose students to a variety of scholarly approaches, models of scholarly professional development, and public presentation of scholarly work. Students will be exposed to research colloquia offered by other students, faculty, and invited scholars. Students will gain practice presenting their work, critiquing work of others, and receiving and responding to critique. Social Welfare Graduate Research Colloquium: Read More [+]

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 1.5 hours of colloquium per week

Additional Format: One and one-half hours of colloquium per week.

Social Welfare Graduate Research Colloquium: Read Less [-]

SOC WEL 301 Training in Teaching 1 - 6 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2021, Spring 2016, Fall 2015 Supervised teaching assistance. Training in Teaching: Read More [+]

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 1-6 hours of independent study per week

Summer: 10 weeks - 2-15 hours of independent study per week

Subject/Course Level: Social Welfare/Professional course for teachers or prospective teachers

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SOC WEL 375 Teaching in Social Welfare 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2020, Fall 2018, Fall 2017 Interactive seminar that prepares doctoral students for teaching in social welfare. Includes examination of education from the perspective of both student and teacher, and their interface. It reviews philosophies and theories of adult education, and underscores the importance of critical reflection for both teacher and student. The course covers the practice of teaching in social welfare, and addresses specific skills, such as syllabus design, instructional methods, coverage of diversity content, student assignment and evaluation, use of technology, advising, mentoring, and working with students with special needs. Students will share their own learning and teaching experiences, and develop the beginnings of a teaching portfolio. Teaching in Social Welfare: Read More [+]

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SOC WEL 401 Field Practicum 1 - 10 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2017, Summer 2016 10 Week Session, Spring 2016 Supervised field work in social agencies and university-based group meetings. Field Practicum: Read More [+]

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 4-40 hours of fieldwork per week

Summer: 6 weeks - 1-10 hours of fieldwork per week 10 weeks - 1-10 hours of fieldwork per week

Additional Format: One unit of credit awarded for each four hours per week of practicum work. One unit of credit awarded for every eight days of field instruction per week for ten weeks.

Subject/Course Level: Social Welfare/Other professional

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SOC WEL 402 Practicum Integration Seminar 1 Unit

Terms offered: Spring 2003, Spring 2002, Spring 2001 Taken concurrently with foundation (SW 410A/B) and advanced (SW 412A/B) yearlong practicum, the practicum integration seminar facilitates the development of holistic competence for MSW students as they make meaning from their experiences with agency practice, integrate social work knowledge, values, and skills, and form their professional identities as social workers. Practicum Integration Seminar: Read More [+]

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 1-2 hours of seminar per week

Additional Format: One to two hours of seminar per week.

Practicum Integration Seminar: Read Less [-]

SOC WEL 403 Training in Research 1 - 6 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2020, Spring 2016, Fall 2015 Supervised research assistance. Training in Research: Read More [+]

Summer: 10 weeks - 1.5-9 hours of independent study per week

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SOC WEL 410A Foundation Practicum I 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2021, Fall 2020, Fall 2019 The foundation field practicum advances the experiential learning capacities and professional competencies of first year MSW students. Students are placed in an approved field internship placement setting for two days a week with an agency-based field instructor. Available placements provide a range of generalist learning opportunities along all phases of the intervention cycle (engagement, assessment, intervention, and/or evaluation) and various levels of the social ecology (individuals, families, groups, and/or communities). These opportunities allow the student to practice, receive observationally-based feedback, refine professional competencies, and ultimately, have their competencies assessed. Foundation Practicum I: Read More [+]

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 12-12 hours of fieldwork per week

Additional Format: Students will be in field 2 days per week.

Foundation Practicum I: Read Less [-]

SOC WEL 410B Foundation Practicum II 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2022 The foundation practicum advances the experiential learning capacities and professional competencies of first year MSW students. Students are placed in an approved field internship placement setting for two days a week with an agency-based field instructor. Available placements provide a range of generalist learning opportunities along all phases of the intervention cycle (engagement, assessment,intervention, and/or evaluation) and various levels of the social ecology (individuals, families, groups, and/or communities). These opportunities allow the student to practice, receive observational-based feedback, refine professional competencies, and ultimately, have their competencies assessed. Foundation Practicum II: Read More [+]

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SOC WEL 412A Advance Practicum I 6 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2023, Fall 2021, Fall 2020 Advanced Practicum advances the experiential learning capacities, professional competencies, and leadership capacities of second year MSW students. Available placements provide a range of complex learning opportunities along various phases of the intervention cycle; at various levels of the social ecology; and meet specific concentration-based standards. Students in Advanced Field Practicum generally assume a higher degree of professional responsibility for clinical care and/or administrative projects. These opportunities allow the student to practice, receive observational-based feedback, refine professional competencies, and have professional competencies assessed. Advance Practicum I: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: SOC WEL 410A and SOC WEL 410B

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 18 hours of fieldwork per week

Additional Format: Students will be in field 3 days per week.

Advance Practicum I: Read Less [-]

SOC WEL 412B Advanced Practicum II 6 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2022 Advanced Field Practicum advances the experiential learning capacities, professional competencies, and leadership capacities of second year MSW students. Available placements provide a range of complex learning opportunities along various phases of the intervention cycle; at various levels of the social ecology; and meet specific concentration-based standards. , Students in Advanced Field Practicum generally assume a higher degree of professional responsibility for clinical care and/or administrative projects, especially in the spring semester. These opportunities allow the student to practice, receive observational-based feedback, and refine professional competencies, and ultimately, for their competencies to be assessed. Advanced Practicum II: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: SOC WEL 410A , SOC WEL 410B , and SOC WEL 412A

Advanced Practicum II: Read Less [-]

Contact Information

School of social welfare.

120 Haviland Hall

Phone: 510-642-4341

Fax: 510-643-6126

[email protected]

Social Welfare Faculty and Staff Contacts

Please visit our directory:

http://socialwelfare.berkeley.edu/people

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Social Welfare, PhD

The PhD in Social Welfare program develops leaders in academia and research. We foster scholarly energy, collaboration, and creativity and offer a confluence of diverse philosophies and approaches to social work, social welfare research, social policy, social theory, and social justice.

For more information: https://www.sp2.upenn.edu/program/phd-in-social-welfare/

View the University’s Academic Rules for PhD Programs .

Required Courses

A minimum of 20 course units are required.

Up to four credit units of transfer credit from another graduate program will be accepted.

The degree and major requirements displayed are intended as a guide for students entering in the Fall of 2023 and later. Students should consult with their academic program regarding final certifications and requirements for graduation.

Sample Plan of Study

A minimum of four course units of pre-program credits will be granted to applicants with an appropriate master’s degree in social work or a related profession or allied discipline.

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PhD Program In Social Welfare

• Standard PhD
• Joint MSW/PhD
• Financial Support

Welcome to the PhD Program in Social Welfare

The PhD program in Social Welfare strives to develop scholars, leaders, and social work educators who will advance knowledge about social work, social welfare policy, and intervention strategies from a behavioral and social science perspective to improve the quality of life of individuals, families, groups, communities, and organizations. Our program has a strong reputation of academic excellence, ranking in the top 20 Best Schools of Social Work .

Our students work with award-winning research centers and institutes, such as the Institute for Research on Poverty, Institute on Aging, Waisman Center, School of Medicine and Public Health, and more. Our students choose from a wide selection of courses in world-renowned social and behavioral science departments including; Sociology, Economics, Educational Psychology, Human Development and Family Studies, the La Follette School of Public Affairs, Psychology, Gender Studies, Population Health, Nursing, and more.

The PhD program provides an interdisciplinary plan of study in basic and applied social research. In the program, doctoral students build and integrate knowledge in:

• a substantive or social problem area (e.g., child welfare, aging, developmental disabilities, end-of-life care, health, mental health, poverty);
• social science theory (e.g., theories of the life course, economic theory, psychopathology, organizational theory, stress process theories);
• research designs and statistical methodologies (e.g., program evaluation, policy analysis, longitudinal analysis).

The PhD program offers degree options for students entering the program with and without a Master of Social Work (MSW).  For more information, please visit program track tabs.

Why Choose a Social Welfare PhD at UW-Madison?

The UW-Madison Sandra Rosenbaum School of Social Work is known for its:

• National Reputation of Excellence
• Faculty Research
• Highly Recruited Graduates
• Strong Faculty Mentoring Model
• Individualized Programs of Study
• Substantial Financial Support
• Rigorous Interdisciplinary Research Training
• Vibrant Graduate Student Community
• Opportunities to collaborate with world-renowned research centers and institutes
• Options to pursue interdisciplinary PhD minors in Aging; Prevention and Intervention Science; and Women’s Studies, among others

Standard Track, for those with an MSW

Students entering the PhD program with an MSW will follow the Standard plan of study.  Visit The Guide to see the current plan of study for Standard track students (scroll to the bottom of the page)

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 .     

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.

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.  

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

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.

Like all PhD Program applicants, PhD-Only t rack 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 op tion 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.    

Graduate Assistantships

Social Welfare PhD students are generally guaranteed a minimum funding package consisting of a 33.4%, 9-month appointment for a minimum of five years, if they are in good academic standing, make satisfactory progress in their coursework, perform acceptably in their appointed position, and remain in residence.  However, many appointments or combinations of appointments go above the minimum guarantee of 33.4% , and may include summer appointments. 

Typically, students do not receive funding after their 5th year in the program, though some exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis depending on funding availability and the fit between a student’s skills and faculty/departmental needs with regards to TA, PA, RA, and teaching appointments. Refer to the Graduate School Explorer data tools, available at grad.wisc.edu (click “Data” in the upper right), for historical information on how the Program’s students have been funded. Or, click here: https://grad.wisc.edu/data/graduate-student-funding-data/

Graduate assistantships appointed at 33.3% or higher (>13 hours/week) provide multiple benefits:

• monthly stipend;
• remission *  of both resident and non-resident tuition (students will still need to pay  segregated fees , roughly $726/semester); and
• eligibility for health insurance ( health insurance options  for a  reasonable premium are among the country’s best group health insurance plans)

Appointment Types

• Teaching Assistantships (TA): Instructional positions that could include lecturing, grading papers, supervising laboratories, leading discussion sections, or developing course curriculum
• Project Assistantships (PA): Project-related assignments such as coordinating programs, organizing events, analyzing data, or supporting student services
• Research Assistantships (RA): Research under the guidance of a faculty member
• Lecturer, Student Assistant (LSA): Instructional position leading a course in place of faculty or instructional academic staff

For more details on TA, RA, and PA, positions, including stipend levels, please visit: https://grad.wisc.edu/funding/graduate-assistantships/

Support Funding

Support is available for current PhD students seeking conference, dissertation research activities (e.g., data collection costs, participant incentives, transcription), or emergency funding. Examples of conferences that we have supported students attending in the past includes SSWR, APPAM, SRCD, APHA, GSA, Gatlinburg Conference, WAIMH, and more.

As part of our admissions process, the PhD Committee considers all incoming students for available awards, including;

• Graduate Research Scholar fellowships (also called GRS or AOF)
• IRIS Area and International Studies Awards for Incoming Graduate Students
• Kemper Knapp Fellowship
• Lois Palmer Shimpa Memorial Scholarship

In the spring, the PhD Committee awards current students PhD Scholarships and Awards including;

• Alfred Kadushin Dissertation Research Award
• Arthur P. Miles School of Social Work Scholarship
• DEI Leadership Award
• Exceptional Service Award
• Irving Piliavin Award
• Doctoral Research Paper Award
• Dorothy M. Pearson Graduate Fellowship
• Sheldon D. Rose Memorial Scholarship
• Teaching Excellence Award

The UW- Madison International Student Services (ISS) Office offers information on scholarships and grants for International graduate students, as well as educational loan options.  See more here: ISS:  https://iss.wisc.edu/funding-scholarships/

Additionally, we recommend applying for outside awards and funding.  The Wisconsin Scholarship Hub, or WISH, is a great place to start the graduate scholarship search.  Visit the site here:  https://wisc.academicworks.com/

See the  PhD Application Page  for admissions information and requirements.

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

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 2023-24
• 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

Welcome to the SSW

• Social Welfare

Academic Programs

Cswe accreditation.

75 years of community partnerships

The study of social work got its start at UCLA in 1947. Seventy-five years later, the Department of Social Welfare remains committed to enhancing human well-being and promoting social and economic justice for disadvantaged populations.

Throughout the 2022-23 academic year, we invite you to join UCLA Luskin Social Welfare at a series of events marking three-quarters-of-a-century of making a difference in Los Angeles and cities around the world.

The UCLA Department of Social Welfare offers the Master of Social Welfare (MSW) and a Ph.D. in Social Welfare . Joint degrees offer an even broader range of skill and expertise development.  An undergraduate B.A. in Public Affairs , Minor in Public Affairs , and Minor in Gerontology are also available.

The UCLA Department of Social Welfare’s research and teaching guide policy makers, shape practice and programs in such areas as welfare, aging, health care, mental health, children and families, and long-term support. UCLA Social Welfare faculty members are committed to placing their knowledge at the service of communities and empowering the disadvantaged and the vulnerable.

MSW Plan of Study Ph.D. Curriculum

The Master of Social Welfare is a two-year period of full-time study program (6 quarters) merging theory, leadership, and research with generalist and specialized fields of practice. Our curriculum is comprised of coursework and two separate year-long field placement components with social work agencies that allows our students to actualize what they are learning in the classroom, providing holistic, integrated experiences.

The Ph.D. in Social Welfare is a national leader in educating the next generation of social welfare scholars. Whether your interest is in service delivery or scholarly research, you will design your own advanced education aimed at pursuing your own intellectual interests.

The B.A. in Public Affairs offers an in-depth and engaged educational experience with a clear public service ethos. Drawing from UCLA Luskin’s expansive resources in Public Policy, Social Welfare, and Urban Planning, the major combines critical thinking, social science methodology, and experiential learning, connecting the dots between theory and action. The  Minor in Public Affairs  teaches students the skills of policy analysis and exposes them to the many issues facing today’s policymakers and opinion leaders. The  Minor in Gerontology  is an interdisciplinary program which utilizes UCLA’s professional schools and College resources to create an enhanced academic experience in aging.

Part-Time: As of fall 2021, a three-year period part-time program (8 quarters or 9 quarters with Pupil Personnel Services Credential) is available as an option for students interested in the Child and Family Well-Being area of concentration.  Students in this program take classes in the mornings and work with their field agencies to complete their required internship hours over the course of their academic program. Please note that this is not an evening and weekend program; classes and an internship will be scheduled during regular business hours.

Concurrent Degree Programs  include four joint graduate degrees: Social Welfare MSW / Asian American Studies MA; Social Welfare MSW / Law JD; Social Welfare MSW/Public Health MPH, and Social Welfare MSW / Public Policy MPP.

International Study Opportunities include summer programs, internships, international/comparative planning workshops and international exchange agreements.

Visitor Programs   attract and highlight visiting scholars, post-doctoral and graduate researchers, international professionals and trend-setting work by students at other institutions.

International related courses are also available to our students.

Certificates, Licensure and Training Programs

Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) Licensure, Global Public Affairs Certificate, Human Services Management Certificate, Mental Health Training Programs, Public Child Welfare Training Programs, Pupil Personnel Services Credential (PPSC)

As a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, our MSW program measures and reports student learning outcomes.  Click the link below for the most recent data, which is updated every two years.

Form AS M5.0.1(d): Student Achievement Assessment Summary

L.A. County Residents’ Satisfaction With Quality of Life Matches Lowest in Year 9 of Survey High cost of housing is the most important factor impacting the annual Quality of Life Index, particularly among renters

High cost of housing is the most important factor impacting the annual Quality of Life Index, particularly among renters.

Social Welfare Rises to Top 8 in U.S. News Rankings Luskin School also continues to rank among the nation’s top graduate schools overall in public affairs

Luskin School also continues to rank among the nation’s top graduate schools overall in public affairs.

The Power of Lived Experiences Three alumni share the personal stories that impact their policy efforts on homelessness — ‘the greatest moral and humanitarian crisis of our lifetime’ 

Three alumni share the personal stories that impact their policy efforts on homelessness — ‘the greatest moral and humanitarian crisis of our lifetime.’ 

Why Study Social Welfare at UCLA?

Top faculty.

The full-time faculty members in the Social Welfare program are extraordinary scholars in their fields of study. 

Outstanding Curriculum

Choose between three advanced areas of concentration: Child and Family Well-Being, Health and Mental Health across the Life Span, or Social and Economic Justice.

Top Students

Bright, accomplished, diverse and passionate, our students are consistently honored for their work.

A History of Excellence

Established in 1947, UCLA’s Department of Social Welfare is committed to enhancing human well-being and promoting social and economic justice for disadvantaged populations. Among UCLA Luskin’s departments, Social Welfare is the oldest and largest in terms of both student enrollment and number of faculty. As professionals and scholars at a great public research university, the faculty has a responsibility to train the next generation of practitioners and leaders for the social work profession and to advance the knowledge base for social work policy and practice in California and around the world. Graduates assume leadership roles in social work practice and scholarship, and they address the social, health, and mental health needs of diverse populations.

UCLA is committed to increasing diversity in graduate education. We embrace the principles of diversity and inclusion to understand, appreciate, and respect differences in cultures and customs, religious beliefs, gender identity, sexual preferences, immigration status, and political points of view.

Our graduate population reflects broad intellectual interests and includes students from many cultures and backgrounds. We feel it crucial to continue to increase the diversity of our graduate student population so the university community more accurately reflects the demographics of California and the nation.

UCLA offers action-oriented study in arguably the most dynamic region in the world.

Financial Support

UCLA Graduate Division awards numerous fellowships supporting diversity. Luskin School-wide fellowships support our commitment to social justice. The department offers merit-based fellowships to top applicants regardless of citizenship status. All eligible Social Welfare students receive a need-based fellowship award. Ph.D. students typically receive tuition and fees.

Students in our programs come from a wide variety of backgrounds and are attracted to the diversity and vitality of Los Angeles from across the country and around the world. They represent a broad range of undergraduate degrees including psychology, sociology, social work, business administration, political science, literature, and world arts.

The programs attract individuals with a strong interest in public service who share a passion for assisting those in need.  Our program reflects the commitment to making a difference that is common among social workers nationwide and reflected in recent public service announcements from the National Association of Social Workers.

LGBTQ Youth PSA

Single parents psa, older adults psa.

Typically, students who are accepted into UCLA’s program have a minimum of 1-2 years of work and/or volunteer experience.

Most students live off campus and spend a significant percentage of their time in field placements. The Department of Social Welfare and the students themselves have compiled a list of department and university resources to aid them in their studies here at UCLA.

Department of Social Welfare Luskin School of Public Affairs 3250 Public Affairs Building Box 951656 Los Angeles, CA 90095-1656 phone: (310) 825-2892 fax: (310) 206-7564

Laura Abrams Chair [email protected] (310) 825-5932

Shelly Brooks Manager (310) 825-1429 [email protected]

T anya Youssephzadeh Director of Student Services [email protected]

Oliver Ike Admissions Officer (310) 825-7737 [email protected]

Ervin Huang Student Affairs Officer [email protected] (310) 825-5581

Amy Tinoco Student Affairs Officer (HCAI) [email protected] (424) 442-6532

Pauline Paulino Academic Program Coordinator [email protected] (310) 825-2892

Carmen Mancha Administrative Analyst, Field Education Office (310) 825-2257 [email protected]

Tera Sillett CalSWEC Administrative Analyst (310) 206-6048 [email protected]

Lorraine Rosales PPSC Coordinator (424)259-5051 [email protected]

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UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs

3250 Public Affairs Building - Box 951656 Los Angeles, CA 90095-1656

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Social Welfare PhD

School of social work, program description.

The PhD in Social Welfare is a highly flexible interdisciplinary degree program that prepares graduates to be independent social work researchers and scholars. Our PhD students benefit from a small-by-design program that facilitates meaningful connections with peers and mentors. Students engage with our diverse, dedicated and growing faculty, with particular expertise in trauma, veterans' issues, aging, social policy, and refugee and immigrant communities. Further, students receive stable, generous funding through assistantships and scholarship programs.

Lauren McGowan 685 Baldy Hall Buffalo, NY 14260 Email: [email protected] Phone: 716-645-1254 Fax: 716-645-3456

Instruction Method

• In Person   (100 percent of courses offered in person)

Full/Part Time Options

Credits required.

• 47-72 Hours

Time-to-Degree

• 4 to 5+ Years

Application Fee

Special requirements.

Applicants must have a master's degree in social work (MSW) from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited program or international equivalent.

This program is officially registered with the New York State Education Department (SED).

Online programs/courses may require students to come to campus on occasion. Time-to-degree and number of credit hours may vary based on full/part time status, degree, track and/or certification option chosen. Time-to-degree is based on calendar year(s). Contact the department for details.

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Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD)

PhD students at the KU School of Social Welfare graduate with the critical knowledge and skills they need to become innovative stewards of the discipline. They generate and disseminate knowledge as researchers, scholars and educators.

Next application deadline is Jan. 5, 2024

Get started.

PhD Degree Requirements  

Through a rigorous curriculum, real-world research experience, and individualized mentoring by world-renowned scholars, KUSSW Doctoral Program graduates develop the knowledge and skills to drive discovery and advance the field of social work. 

PhD Student Funding  

Full-time doctoral students are guaranteed four years of tuition support, as long as the student remains in good standing in the program.

Support for a Successful Journey

Individualized Support

Added Value Opportunities

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

85 years running.

KU School of Social Welfare is the longest running accredited social work program in Kansas. KU is the only program in the state to offer degree preparation from undergraduate through doctoral degrees in social work.

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2023-24 General Bulletin

Social Welfare, PhD

Dr. Victor Groza, Chair, Social Welfare Doctoral Program [email protected]

Degree:  Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Field of Study:  Social Welfare

Program Overview

Founded in 1952 as one of the first doctoral programs in social welfare in America, the PhD program is a research training program in social work/social welfare.  Doctoral students have the opportunity to engage with world-renowned faculty conducting cutting-edge research.

Learning Outcomes

• Leadership is a process whereby an individual influences others to achieve a common goal.  Leadership in academe is unique in that the organizational structure is more horizontal and shared, while in most organizations it is hierarchical.  Students will achieve competency in academic leadership by understanding their and others' style of leadership and participating in student and professional activities that enhance leadership skills.
• Research competency means mastery of skills needed to design and conduct systematic, empirical, objective, public, and critical investigation of a social welfare problem or issue.  It means having the capacity to frame a question about a social welfare issue or problem that can be evaluated or examined using social science research methods.  The research may be descriptive, designed to develop a theory , or intended to test a hypothesis.  Research competency also entails mastery of oral, written, and visual communication skills needed to disseminate research.   Research competency includes the ability to critically evaluate and synthesize research conducted by others.  Lastly, it entails knowledge of, and commitment to, ethical principles guiding research and mastery of skills needed to protect the rights of research participants.
• Teaching competency includes a conceptual understanding of how people learn and the translation of this understanding into constructing and delivering learning opportunities  to diverse audiences.  Teaching competency at the doctoral level is based upon a general understanding of the historical evolution as well as current roles, structure and function of higher education and the academic profession in American society.  A prerequisite to placing social work education within the context of higher education is knowledge of the relationship of professional education to liberal education and knowledge of the history and current context of social work education. This includes knowledge of social work educational policy and program accreditation standards for program design and curriculum development.  Teaching competency also entails an understanding of learning theory and its application to professional education , including capability in educational program design, curriculum development, and the delineation and assessment of educational objectives.
• Theory competency means the mastery of skills needed to use theory and conceptual frameworks in social science research.  Students mastering the theory competency will be able to use theory effectively to develop research questions and hypotheses for empirical testing.  They will possess an understanding of the conceptual nature of theory and the ways theory can be applied in knowledge development.  Students who master the theory competency will understand the evolution and history of theory development related to social welfare policies and problems.

Our curriculum and professional development opportunities are focused on assisting students to meet these four competencies. Student performance on the competencies is assessed annually in faculty reviews and students' activities and accomplishments reports.

Leadership is a process whereby an individual influences others to achieve a common goal. Leadership in academia is unique in that the organizational structure is more horizontal and shared, while in most organizations it is hierarchical. Students will achieve competency in academic leadership by understanding their and others’ style of leadership and participating in student and professional activities that enhance leadership skills. Students are encouraged to participate in professional social work organizations in their areas of expertise as well as to assume leadership roles in Mandel School, CWRU and community committees.

Research involves the mastery of skills needed to design and conduct a systematic, empirical, objective, public and critical investigation of a social welfare problem or issue. Doctoral students graduate with the capacity to frame a question about a social welfare issue or problem that can be evaluated or examined by using social science research methods. Their dissertation research may be descriptive, designed to develop a theory, or intended to test a hypothesis. The typical doctoral student has a prospectus approved within two years of completing coursework and a dissertation defended within five years of completing coursework, although many complete all requirements sooner. Through the dissertation, students demonstrate the ability to conduct independent research and to make appropriate use of quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods of analytical techniques. The majority of our doctoral students present research at professional conferences and author or co-author a publishable-quality article for a peer-reviewed journal during their time in the Doctoral Program. In the first three years of the full-time program, 20 hours each week are devoted to a paid individualized research fellowship matching a student’s interests with a faculty member’s research projects. Specialized research mentorships are also available for both full-time and part-time students who wish to work with an individual faculty member on a specific research topic.

We expect scholars and leaders to be able to effectively communicate with others and to be able to teach. Students can take coursework related to teaching and engage in a teaching mentorship with a faculty member. During the mentorship, students practice didactic, interactive, and experiential teaching strategies in classroom settings. They also learn approaches to other forms of knowledge dissemination such as presentations and writing papers for publications.

Teaching involves a conceptual understanding of how people learn and the ability to translate this understanding into constructing and delivering learning opportunities to diverse audiences. Formal coursework on social work education and funded teaching mentorships allow doctoral students the opportunity to develop knowledge of the history and current context of social work education and skills in educational program design, curriculum development, and outcome assessment of educational objectives. Students have an opportunity to participate in seminars on teaching offered by the University Center for Innovations in Teaching Excellence.

Students in the Mandel School Doctoral Program acquire the skills needed to use theory and conceptual frameworks in social science research. Upon completion of the program, students will be able to use theory to develop research questions and hypotheses for empirical testing and will possess an understanding of the conceptual nature of theory and the ways theory can be applied to the development of knowledge in social welfare. Through coursework, research fellowships and dissertation work, students apply a theoretical framework in research to a social welfare problem and are able to discuss implications of empirical research findings on theoretical relationships.

Each doctoral student is assigned a faculty advisor to assist in the planning of their educational experience. At the appropriate time, a dissertation advisor is selected by the student and in consultation with the Doctoral Program Chair.

Qualifying Examination

The qualifying examination for doctoral candidates is taken after completion of required coursework. The exam is intended to test the student’s ability to critically analyze and integrate knowledge.

Students are admitted to candidacy for the PhD degree after completing all coursework and upon the successful completion of the qualifying examination. To be admitted to candidacy, the candidate also must have maintained a grade point average of 3.0.  The Doctoral Program follows the grading policy and GPA Guidelines of Graduate Studies.

Dissertation Requirements

Dissertation formats.

Students may choose one of two different formats for writing their dissertation. Each format should be carefully considered by the student in consultation with their dissertation committee chair.

Traditional Dissertation

The first format is the monograph or “book” format for a dissertation. In this format, the dissertation is organized as an integrated set of chapters written as a logical progression of ideas pertaining to a central topic. Monograph dissertations typically include chapters formatted much like a book, with an abstract, table of contents, introductory chapter(s) addressing literature and theory, a methods chapter, one or more results chapter, a discussion chapter, and reference list.

Three Paper Dissertation

The second dissertation format is a series of three research papers that may differ in a topic but are clearly reflective of a coherent program of research. Each paper is a stand-alone manuscript that is intended to be submitted to a high-quality peer review journal. Examples of acceptable paper formats may include: systematic literature review, theoretical or conceptual, or empirical which must contain its own literature review, background, motivation, theory, data, methodology, results, and conclusions. Other types of papers may be acceptable but must be approved by the dissertation committee. The three paper dissertations include the following components: abstract; an introductory chapter addressing the literature and theory of the program of research; three chapters that are the stand-alone manuscripts; a discussion chapter that discusses common implications across the program of research for social work, policy, practice and/or research; and a complete reference list. The student is the sole author of the dissertation, including the three paper chapters. In no cases should the paper chapters be articles that have already been published or submitted for publication prior to the committees’ formal approval of the dissertation. The student can make the choice to co-author any subsequent publications that are derived from or related to the dissertation research. Co-authorship may occur after the dissertation committee has formally approved the dissertation and prior to the paper being submitted for publication.

The dissertation prospectus must be completed and accepted within two calendar years after the student has been admitted to candidacy, and the dissertation must be completed and accepted within five calendar years after admission to candidacy. It is to the student’s advantage to make steady progress in their research and aim for early completion of the dissertation.

All requirements for the PhD degree must be completed within a period of five consecutive calendar years after a student is admitted to candidacy, including periods of leaves of absence.

Information about admission to the Doctoral Program can be found on the Jack, Joseph, and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences Doctoral Program Website . 

Information about  financial aid for the PhD in Social Welfare can be found on the Jack, Joseph, and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences website. 

PhD Policies

For PhD policies and procedures, please review the School of Graduate Studies section of the General Bulletin .

Program Requirements

A total of 37 credit hours of coursework is required, plus 18 credit hours of dissertation credit. A qualifying examination, given after completion of coursework, determines each student’s eligibility for degree candidacy. The degree is awarded following successful completion of the dissertation.

The school reserves the right to require additional courses, which may not be credited toward the doctoral requirements if the faculty believes the student has insufficient knowledge in core areas of the curriculum, or to assist students in their intellectual and professional development.

In response to the different needs and interests of potential PhD students, the Mandel School offers two formats for meeting course and degree requirements. Program requirements under both formats include taking 55 credit hours (28 required, 9 electives, and 18 dissertation credit hours), passing a qualifying exam, and completing a dissertation.  The Alternative Program Structures are:

 Full-Time Program

Under this format, full-time students can complete coursework requirements and individualized research fellowships over two academic years.

Part-Time Program

Part time students are expected to complete the coursework requirements within three years.

Sample Plan of Study

Elective outside of the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences

Elective at the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences

Required for first time teaching for all students

Optional - may be repeated through the first three teaching experiences

Minimum of 1 credit hour per semester until at least 18 credit hours are taken

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Ph.d. in social welfare.

The Ph.D. in Social Welfare is the flagship program of the School of Social Work. The program prepares students in cutting-edge investigative techniques and methodologies. The program has one of the fastest completion rates, and highest retention rates among social work Ph.D. programs nationally. Students can complete the program in as little as three years. We are able to achieve this because of an intensive first-year curriculum, and because students work closely with our nationally and internationally renowned faculty. Our Ph.D. graduates have secured positions in the best universities in the country, prestigious government institutes such as the National Institutes of Health, post-doctoral positions in Ivy League universities, as well as an increasing number of leadership positions in the community. Our graduates are especially sought after for their expertise in minority health disparities.

To find out more about the program please follow these links:

• Application procedures
• Curriculum and program of study
• Ph.D. Handbook
• Fellowships, scholarships and other financial aid
• Students are encouraged to apply for any and all of the following doctoral funding opportunities for which they qualify: Graduate Assistantships: https://fiu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_01xxp3D7bacfTRY which opens in November or December.
• C.V Starr Scholarships https://fiu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_dgJU30kuogg2VdY which opens in November or December. More information on these funding mechanisms is available here: https://stempel.fiu.edu/students/funding-your-education/
• McKnight Doctoral Fellowships https://gradschool.fiu.edu/students/funding/externalfunding/#fundingopportunities  

The University Graduate School also has several fellowships and scholarships available for doctoral students. Please let Dr. Beaulaurier know if you believe that you qualify for any of the awards available at this website:  https://gradschool.fiu.edu/students/funding/external-funding/#fundingopportunities  

In particular these programs which are available to first year students:

• Undergraduate to Graduate Program (UtGP)
• Presidential Fellowship (PF)
• Veteran’s Fellowship
• Inclusion Fellowship
• Provost Employer Supported Tuition Fellowships

Richard Beaulaurier Graduate Program Director, Ph.D. Program in Social Welfare, [...]   305-348-5876   [email protected]

30 Best universities for Mechanical Engineering in Moscow, Russia

Updated: February 29, 2024

• Art & Design
• Computer Science
• Engineering
• Environmental Science
• Liberal Arts & Social Sciences
• Mathematics

Below is a list of best universities in Moscow ranked based on their research performance in Mechanical Engineering. A graph of 269K citations received by 45.8K academic papers made by 30 universities in Moscow was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. Moscow State University

For Mechanical Engineering

2. Bauman Moscow State Technical University

3. National Research University Higher School of Economics

4. Moscow Aviation Institute

5. N.R.U. Moscow Power Engineering Institute

6. National Research Nuclear University MEPI

7. National University of Science and Technology "MISIS"

8. Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology

9. Moscow State Technological University "Stankin"

10. RUDN University

11. Moscow Polytech

12. Moscow State University of Railway Engineering

13. Finance Academy under the Government of the Russian Federation

14. Moscow Medical Academy

15. Russian State University of Oil and Gas

16. mendeleev university of chemical technology of russia.

17. Russian National Research Medical University

18. Plekhanov Russian University of Economics

19. National Research University of Electronic Technology

20. Moscow State Pedagogical University

21. Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration

22. State University of Management

23. Moscow State Institute of International Relations

24. Russian State Geological Prospecting University

25. russian state agricultural university.

26. New Economic School

27. Moscow State Technical University of Civil Aviation

28. Russian State University for the Humanities

29. Russian State Social University

30. Moscow State Linguistic University

Universities for Mechanical Engineering near Moscow

Engineering subfields in moscow.

Victor Mukhin

• Scientific Program

Title : Active carbons as nanoporous materials for solving of environmental problems

However, up to now, the main carriers of catalytic additives have been mineral sorbents: silica gels, alumogels. This is obviously due to the fact that they consist of pure homogeneous components SiO2 and Al2O3, respectively. It is generally known that impurities, especially the ash elements, are catalytic poisons that reduce the effectiveness of the catalyst. Therefore, carbon sorbents with 5-15% by weight of ash elements in their composition are not used in the above mentioned technologies. However, in such an important field as a gas-mask technique, carbon sorbents (active carbons) are carriers of catalytic additives, providing effective protection of a person against any types of potent poisonous substances (PPS). In ESPE “JSC "Neorganika" there has been developed the technology of unique ashless spherical carbon carrier-catalysts by the method of liquid forming of furfural copolymers with subsequent gas-vapor activation, brand PAC. Active carbons PAC have 100% qualitative characteristics of the three main properties of carbon sorbents: strength - 100%, the proportion of sorbing pores in the pore space – 100%, purity - 100% (ash content is close to zero). A particularly outstanding feature of active PAC carbons is their uniquely high mechanical compressive strength of 740 ± 40 MPa, which is 3-7 times larger than that of  such materials as granite, quartzite, electric coal, and is comparable to the value for cast iron - 400-1000 MPa. This allows the PAC to operate under severe conditions in moving and fluidized beds.  Obviously, it is time to actively develop catalysts based on PAC sorbents for oil refining, petrochemicals, gas processing and various technologies of organic synthesis.

Victor M. Mukhin was born in 1946 in the town of Orsk, Russia. In 1970 he graduated the Technological Institute in Leningrad. Victor M. Mukhin was directed to work to the scientific-industrial organization "Neorganika" (Elektrostal, Moscow region) where he is working during 47 years, at present as the head of the laboratory of carbon sorbents.     Victor M. Mukhin defended a Ph. D. thesis and a doctoral thesis at the Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia (in 1979 and 1997 accordingly). Professor of Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia. Scientific interests: production, investigation and application of active carbons, technological and ecological carbon-adsorptive processes, environmental protection, production of ecologically clean food.   

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• Tentative Program