Social Work (DSW)

The Doctorate of Social Work (DSW) program at the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work offers a professional practice doctorate in social change and innovation for master’s- level social work practitioners who are graduates of CSWE-accredited programs and for professionals with master’s degrees in allied fields from accredited institutions. The DSW program prepares doctoral level practitioner-scholars to create practical, applied solutions to large-scale social challenges that directly impact vulnerable, marginalized or otherwise disadvantaged populations.

Graduates of our program should possess the following capabilities:

1. Research-Informed Practice: Our graduates apply and disseminate research-informed knowledge, values, ethics and skills in social work through practice, professional leadership and teaching, driving positive change in the field.
2. Advancing Practice: Graduates excel at advancing practice at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels within the social work field, addressing a wide range of social challenges and promoting positive change.
3. Knowledge Development: They are skilled at developing, translating, and advancing social work practice knowledge to address evolving challenges in the field.
4. Systematic Inquiry: Graduates engage in systematic inquiry to inform evidence-based practice and contribute to the profession’s knowledge base.
5. Leadership Excellence: They excel in roles within professional leadership (including higher education leadership), contributing to the advancement of social work practice and knowledge.
6. Substantive Expertise: Additionally, our program emphasizes the development and maintenance of substantive expertise in one or more areas of social work practice, ensuring that graduates are well-equipped to make a meaningful impact in their chosen specialization areas.

Students are required to complete a minimum of 42 units of course work beyond their master’s degree. The core DSW curriculum consists of 14 courses culminating with an independent capstone project, representing a substantive advancement in research-informed practices well as in professional leadership, which may include leadership in the context of higher education. The foundation for the DSW curriculum rests on three pillars: (1)  advanced practice expertise; (2) systematic inquiry and (3) professional leadership. Students complete 12 units of course work in each of these areas and 6 units of preparatory scholarship for their capstone projects. The DSW program is typically completed in 9 semesters, with no accelerated options for completing the minimally required courses.