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Doctorate of Social Work

Description

The Doctorate of Social Work (DSW) program is designed for practitioners to advance their knowledge in the areas of  inclusive leadership, clinical practice, and teaching. We prepare clinicians to lead social work thought, education and research-informed practice via a social justice lens.  Students receive one-on-one faculty mentoring and rigorous course work from expert faculty that enables them to orient and accelerate their careers as leaders, advanced clinical practitioners and educators.

Learning Outcomes

The DSW program trains students in advanced leadership, clinical practice, teaching through courses that explore advanced social work competencies, emerging practices, and leadership theory.  Students are required to take three courses in each of the three core areas of leadership, practice and teaching. Additional coursework enables students to shape their skills as research-informed practitioners.  The DSW Program prepares students to become inclusive leaders, engaged educators and expert clinical practitioners.

Requirements for entry into program

Applicants must hold a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from an educational program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) with a minimum GPA of 3.0, and a minimum of two years of relevant post-MSW experience in human services.  Application materials include academic transcripts, 2 recommendation letters (with an option for a third), a personal statement of professional identity, use of self, and how the Simmons DSW is a good fit for future career prospects.  If an international student does not have a college-level degree from an institution in an English-language country, then a TOEFL or IELTS is required.

Delivery Modes Available: 

The DSW program is offered on a part-time or full-time basis.  All courses are offered online, using a combined asynchronous and synchronous format.  Courses are offered at verified times of the day/week during September, January and May terms.

Degree Requirements

Qualifying for Candidacy:

Students can qualify for candidacy in the Integrative Seminar.

Advancement to Candidacy

Students advance to candidacy upon successful completion of the Integrative Seminar. In this course, students must successfully complete three papers which requires thentegration previous curricular content. Upon successful completion of the three course papers, students will submit a portfolio of their work, which will be evaluated by DSW program faculty. Students will participate in an oral defense of their portfolio with DSW program faculty. Upon faculty review and determination of successful defense, students will advance to candidacy.

The Capstone Project

Successful completion of the Capstone Project will demonstrate the candidate's ability to launch or enhance their career in practice, education or leadership. Prior coursework requires students to reflect on how the course fits with their emerging area of expertise. Specifically, the candidate must shape what they have learned toward a personally meaningful project demonstrating application of advanced knowledge that has emerged from their DSW program training.

 

In order to be eligible for graduation from the DSW program, students must complete a total of 48 credits, including the six-credit Capstone Seminar.

Full-Time DSW Coursework Structure

Full-Time DSW Program Coursework Structure: 3 courses per semester Winter Year 1 (9 credits)

  • Leadership 1
  • Teaching 1
  • Ethics & Social Justice

 

 Summer Year 1 (9 credits)

  • Teaching 2
  • Practice 1
  • Power, Passion & Social Change

 

 

 Fall Year 1 (9 credits)

  • The Research-Informed Practitioner
  • Practice 2
  • Leadership 2

 

 Winter Year 2 (9 credits)

  • Teaching 3
  • Practice 3
  • Interdisciplinary Social Work

 

 Summer Year 2 (6 credits)

  • Leadership 3
  • Integrative Seminar

 

 Fall Year 2 (6 credits)

  • Capstone Project

Part-Time DSW Coursework Structure

Part-time DSW Program Coursework Structure: 2 courses per semester

Winter Year 1 (6 credits)

  • Leadership 1
  • Ethics & Social Justice

Summer Year 1 (6 credits)

  • Practice 1
  • Power, Passion & Social Change

Fall Year 1 (6 credits)

  • The Research-Informed Practitioner
  • Practice 2

Winter Year 2 (6 credits)

  • Leadership 2
  • Practice 3

Summer Year 2 (6 credits) 

  • Leadership 3
  • Teaching 1

Fall Year 2 (6 credits) 

  • Teaching 2
  • Interdisciplinary Social Work

Winter Year 3 (6 credits) 

  • Teaching 3
  • Integrative Seminar

Summer Year 3 (6 credits)

  • Capstone Project