The PhD in Social Work is a competitive full-time program of study designed to enable significant development of competency in social work values and ethics, theory, research methods, a substantive interdisciplinary specialization, and teaching.

The program features a 63-credit plan with coursework completed in four semesters (two years). Specifically, we require a minimum of 27 credit hours in research methods courses, which includes quantitative and qualitative approaches, 12 credit hours in a specialization, 16 credit hours in core social work courses, and 8 credit hours in teaching methods and training.

We are pleased to offer a generous multi-year funding package of up to five years, which includes tuition, paid stipends, and health care. PhD students are funded through a combination of tuition scholarships, and research and teaching assistantships. While students gain hands-on research and teaching experience, assistantships supported by the School of Social Work are paid as stipends during the eight-month academic year.

Professional Education Programs (PEP) at BU School of Social Work offers courses, workshops, and postgraduate certificate programs to individuals and organizations throughout the human service field. We focus on theory-based skill development, application of new areas of research, and advancement of critical thinking. Most PEP programs are evidence-based, skills-oriented, and tailored to focus on contemporary practice issues in both macro and clinical social work.

The School is an approved provider of Continuing Education Credits (CECs) and has been authorized by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Board of Social Work Registration to approve offerings from other institutions for CECs.

Discounts for current BUSSW students, alumni, field instructors, and faculty advisors are available. Group discounts also available.