PhD Program
Interdisciplinary PhD Program in Sociology and Social Work
- Purpose: The primary purpose of the program is to prepare researchers and scholars of social work who will assume leadership positions in universities, government, and social welfare agencies.
- Interdisciplinary Focus: Central to the program’s mission is promoting research and scholarship that link social science theory and advanced research methods with the pressing social problems of concern to social work. Core theory material addresses classical and contemporary sociological theories, the organizational dynamics of the social work profession, and perspectives on U.S. social policy and programs.
- Specialization: Doctoral students choose specializations in social work and sociology to organize their advanced training. Social work specializations focus on either social policy research or clinical research, and may address the wide range of social work areas of inquiry, such as poverty, child welfare, health services, and aging. Social science specializations include, for example, urban studies, family sociology, race and ethnic studies, and sociology of religion.
- Opportunities: The faculty of the School of Social Work has numerous funded projects to support doctoral Research Assistants. Teaching Assistant positions are also available in the second year of study and beyond. Teaching colloquia are offered within the School for faculty and doctoral students to discuss teaching strategies, dilemmas, and contemporary challenges. The Social Welfare Analysis Colloquium provides an interdisciplinary research forum where working papers from faculty and doctoral students engaged in scholarship on pressing social problems at the policy, organizational and practice level are presented and discussed. Graduate students may also benefit from many institutional resources for learning at Boston University including: the Institute for Geriatric Social Work, the Center for Addictions Research and Services, and the Center for Anxiety Related Disorders.
