Doctorate of Social Work (DSW)
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 the 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 three 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
Full-Time DSW Coursework Structure (3 courses per semester)
Semester 1 (9 credits)
- SWO 701 Transformation, Inspiration, and Inclusion: Social Work Leadership for the Future
- SWO 702 The Inner Life of the Adult Learner: Introduction to Theory and Practice
- SWO 704 Deconstruction and Development of Clinical Social Work Knowledge and Practice
Semester 2 (9 credits)
- SWO 703 Seminar in Ethics and Social Justice
- SWO 705 Power, Passion, and Social Change
- SWO 708 The Fundamentals of Inclusive Course Design and Effective Instruction
Semester 3 (9 credits)
- SWO 707 The Research-Informed Practitioner
- SWO 706 Theories to Advance Practice
- SWO 709 Strategies for Decolonized Clinical Supervision and Management
Semester 4 (9 credits)
- SWO 710 Complex Learning Environments
- SWO 711 Complex/Diverse Populations
- SWO 712 Interdisciplinary Social Work
Semester 5 (6 credits)
- SWO 713 Adaptive Leadership: Implementing Leadership Through Social Justice Lens
- SWO 714 Integrative Seminar
Semester 6 (6 credits)
Part-Time DSW Coursework Structure (2 courses per semester)
Semester 1 (6 credits)
- SWO 701 Transformation, Inspiration, and Inclusion: Social Work Leadership for the Future
- SWO 704 Deconstruction and Development of Clinical Social Work Knowledge and Practice
Semester 2 (6 credits)
- SWO 703 Seminar in Ethics and Social Justice
- SWO 705 Power, Passion, and Social Change
Semester 3 (6 credits)
- SWO 707 The Research-Informed Practitioner
- SWO 706 Theories to Advance Practice
Semester 4 (6 credits)
- SWO 709 Strategies for Decolonized Clinical Supervision and Management
- SWO 711 Complex/Diverse Populations
Semester 5 (6 credits)
- SWO 713 Adaptive Leadership: Implementing Leadership Through Social Justice Lens
- SWO 702 The Inner Life of the Adult Learner: Introduction to Theory and Practice
Semester 6 (6 credits)
- SWO 708 The Fundamentals of Inclusive Course Design and Effective Instruction
- SWO 712 Interdisciplinary Social Work
Semester 7 (6 credits)
Semester 8 (6 credits)
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 the integration of 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.