social work phd programs in florida

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The graduate school, social work (msw).

University of South Florida

School of Social Work

College of Behavioral and Community Sciences

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Ph.d. in social work, degree requirements.

Students should expect to take at least 4 additional credit hours either in research or area of strategic emphasis, coursework (see below), or in directed studies or dissertation hours.

Students will also take a minimum of three (3) (9 credit hours) graduate research methods courses offered in the College or University.

Students will also take a minimum of three (3) (9 credit hours) of graduate course work in their area of strategic emphasis offered in the College or University.

Other Requirements:

Students must successfully pass the School of Social Work qualifying exam and successfully defend their dissertation proposal in order to be admitted into Candidacy.

Dissertation

Successful defense of a dissertation consisting of original Social Work research. Students will take a minimum of 2 dissertation credits hours at the time of their defense.

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Department of Social Work

• Doctor of Social Work

Doctor of Social Work (DSW)

About the program trauma-informed leadership and practice.

Our Doctor of Social Work (DSW) program is founded on a trauma-informed approach that acknowledges the widespread impact of trauma on individuals and their behaviors. Our goal is to create a safe and supportive environment that fosters healing and empowerment.

The DSW degree is specifically designed for MSW practitioners seeking a practice-focused doctoral degree in Trauma-Informed Leadership and Practice. This unique approach emphasizes the importance of understanding the unique needs and experiences of individuals who have experienced trauma. Our program prioritizes safety, trust, choice, and collaboration in all aspects of service delivery.

Our graduates are equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to become experts in trauma-informed clinical practice, program and organizational management. They are also prepared to disseminate practice-based knowledge to both the professional practice community and Departments of Social Work.

Our gold-standard curriculum immerses students in trauma-informed leadership and practice. Our distinguished faculty members conduct cutting-edge practice research, present at international conferences, and even hold elected office. Our student-centered approach ensures that you will be treated as a human being, not just a number, with caring professors and advisors who are dedicated to your success.

Our program offers a variety of opportunities to connect with peers and network with professionals in the field. This includes participation in our DSW Student Association, virtual holiday reception, peer networking group, and in-person DSW Symposium.

Upon completion of our program, you will be well-prepared to become a doctoral-level scholar-practitioner. You will be equipped to transform workplaces and shape practice in a meaningful way.

DSW Program Goals

The DSW Program’s is guided by five program goals. Graduates are expected to:

•  Demonstrate expertise in advanced trauma-informed and trauma responsive social work practice.
• Utilize empirical knowledge to guide practice, service delivery, and social work education.
• Demonstrate advance competence in social justice advocacy.
• Demonstrate leadership in human service organizations, social work practice, and policymaking.
• Develop and disseminate practice relevant knowledge through a variety of channels (scholarship, peer-reviewed conferences, and teaching).

The objective is to build a cadre of advanced social work leaders, practitioners, and educators who are exceptionally educated and skilled in advanced trauma-informed social work leadership and practice.

Mitch Rosenwald, PhD, LCSW Director and Professor

Welcome to our Doctorate in Social Work Program

“We are pleased you have chosen to broaden your career possibilities by deciding to advance your knowledge and skills in clinical practice, leadership, and higher education. We want to be a part of your exciting journey.”

Doctoral Symposium

The DSW students have drawn on three years of knowledge and skill development through the Trauma-Informed Leadership and Practice focus of the curriculum. The result is this compendium of Practice Advances that reflect practice enhancements from clinical protocols to national service delivery. They are submitting their Capstones as formal manuscripts to peer-reviewed journals for publication and dissemination. The students could not do this without the support of their Capstone Review Panels that include their Chairs and Second Readers.

Top Stories

Barry Grad to Serve as State Representative February 15, 2022

Barry University School of Social Work graduate Daryl Campbell (MSW ’17) will be spending a lot more time in Tallahassee!

The Center for Human Rights and Social Justice: Annual Report 2020 August 04, 2021

The Center for Human Rights and Social Justice (CHRSJ), as part of the School of Social Work, has released its Annual Report for 2020.

How Dr. Mitch Rosenwald Is Using His Social Work Skills To Impact Local Policy June 22, 2021

As a clinical social worker and veteran professor in Barry’s School of Social Work, Dr. Mitch Rosenwald has long championed the benefits of bringing social work perspectives to government policy.

With New Research Social Work Students And Professor Advocate For Gender-Affirming Care March 15, 2021

A new paper published in the peer-reviewed journal Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity is giving voice to members of the trans community who suffer from gender dysphoria.

Doctor of Social Work Student Association

The DSW Student Association, also known as the Doctor of Social Work Student Association, serves as a vital platform at Barry University. With a primary objective of offering governance, programming, and assistance, the organization caters to the specific needs of DSW students. Its mission is to ensure that graduates are equipped to become proficient in trauma-informed clinical practice, program and organizational management. Furthermore, they are encouraged to share their expertise and disseminate practice-based knowledge among the professional practice community and other Schools of Social Work. By providing essential support and fostering a collaborative environment, the DSW Student Association plays a pivotal role in the academic and professional journey of Barry University DSW students.

Admissions Overview Getting Started

Congratulations on taking the first step to pursue your passion, advance your career, and make a difference in your community. We are committed to assist each student through the admission process.

Whether you transition straight from undergraduate studies to a graduate program or have been out of school for some time, we offer a welcoming and professional environment for graduate study.

With small class sizes, there is a considerable amount of personalized attention from your faculty and opportunities to build strong relationships with fellow classmates.

Financial Aid Affordable for you.

At BarryU, our tuition is competitive, affordable and still promises all the perks of a private school education. Our cost per credit is in-line with other institutions, but we offer a mission-driven educational experience and provide our students with small class sizes, personalized attention, and academic excellence. Scholarships, graduate assistantships, and financial aid can also be explored to help offset overall costs.

Barry University participates in the full array of federal and state financial aid programs. At Barry, we are committed to doing all we can to help you finance your education.

Barry University's Financial Aid staff will assist you through the financial aid application process.

Tuition for the online DSW program is $700 per credit.

Your path to social work leadership.

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Master of Social Work (MSW)

Program at a glance.

• In State Tuition
• Out of State Tuition

Learn more about the cost to attend UCF.

Gain the Knowledge and Skills to be a Shining Light to Others and Become a Social Worker

The Master of Social Work (MSW) program prepares you to become a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) to provide mental health services to individuals, families, and groups. No matter what area of social work you want to go into, our program provides you with the knowledge and experience needed to best support others.

UCF offers several tracks that provide you with the convenience and flexibility to best fit your schedule and needs. This includes an advanced standing track for those with a BSW degree from an accredited program awarded within the last six years, and a traditional track for those who have a bachelor’s degree in any other area. You can complete an online Master of Social Work or in-person.

Internships are the pedagogy of social work education. Our field education office connects you with an internship to provide you with critical hands-on experience and professional practice hours through supervised generalist and clinical social work. The UCF MSW program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education and is devised to provide you with all the requirements for licensure in the state of Florida.

Master of Social Work Application Deadlines

Application deadlines vary by track. Please visit the UCF School of Social Work for additional details and requirements.

Find application deadlines

Course Overview

Human behavior in the social environment.

Study of human development and psychosocial functioning of individuals, groups, families and communities with particular attention to implications of human diversity.

Diverse Client Populations

Study of human diversity, focusing on the needs, resources, problems and service issues of several identified minority client populations.

Social Work Practice I: Generalist Practice

Study of conceptual frameworks used to build relationships, interviewing skills and problem-solving skills necessary to work with clients in their environment using a generalist model of practice.

Psychosocial Pathology

Study of psychosocial dynamics of dysfunctional behavior in individuals.

Theories for Evidence-Based Clinical Practice in Social Work

Study of theoretical perspectives including, cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, solution-focused therapy and other therapies.

Clinical Practice with Families

Family-focused models of intervention applied to families in transition and to problems such as divorce, single parenting and blended families.

Throughout my social work career, I have witnessed some of the greatest love stories filled with extraordinary acts of resilience, compassion and strength. Sometimes, my clients may not see their own potential, but I get to watch people accomplish things they didn’t know they had the capacity within themselves to do.” — Erica Sirrine, '00MSW , director of social work at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

MSW Skills You'll Learn

• How to best provide treatment to individuals, families, and groups in a clinical setting
• Evidence-based practice
• Preventive and therapeutic interventions to enhance human functioning and quality of life
• Advocating for others
• Critical and analytical thinking skills
• How to best work with diverse populations

Career Opportunities

• Child and Family Services Social Worker
• Healthcare Social Worker
• Community Agency Social Worker
• Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker
• Military Social Worker
• School Social Worker
• Law Enforcement Social Worker

Admission Requirements

For information on general UCF graduate admissions requirements that apply to all prospective students, please visit the Admissions section of the Graduate Catalog. Applicants must apply online. All requested materials must be submitted by the established deadline.

The Master of Social Work Program offers several options to students including full-time study, advanced standing admission, as well as the mixed mode and online classes to support the part-time study. Applicants must choose a track in this program. Track(s) may have different requirements.

To apply, submit the general graduate admissions requirements , as well as the following items by the deadline:

• Applicants must successfully complete one course in each of the following categories with a grade of C or higher (humanities, physical and biological sciences, mathematics, and social sciences)
• Meet GPA requirements in last sixty credit hours (3.3 for advanced standing and 3.0 for traditional)

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Enter your information below to receive more information about the Social Work (MSW) program offered at UCF.

The Master of Social Work (MSW) program prepares students for advanced social work practice. The program educates students for community-based clinical social work practice with individuals, families, and groups. The MSW program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).

The curriculum draws from a generalist perspective and emphasizes critical thinking skills, empirically based accountable practice, and ethical services for clients experiencing a wide range of problems. Students learn preventive and therapeutic interventions aimed at enhancing human functioning and quality of life. Graduates of the program will have the ability to work with diverse clients in a variety of agency settings.

The MSW program strives to educate students to become successful practitioners in the field of clinical social work. To that end, the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics is re-enforced throughout the academic curriculum. Students who violate the NASW Code of Ethics may be subject to academic sanctions or dismissed from the program.

This program prepares students for state-regulated professional licensure or certification. For more information on how this program may prepare you in that regard, please view the licensure disclosure for the Social Work MSW program.

Please Note: Social Work (MSW) may be completed fully online , although not all elective options or program prerequisites may be offered online. Newly admitted students choosing to complete this program exclusively via UCF online classes may enroll with a reduction in campus-based fees. Students who apply for admission to the online part-time tracks will not be permitted to switch to the campus-based tracks, and students who apply for admission to the campus-based tracks will not be permitted to switch to the online part-time tracks.

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Master of social work, mission statement.

As an integral partner in the diverse, urban community of South Florida, the MSW program prepares students for advanced clinical social work with an emphasis on individuals, families, and groups. The program is rooted in the values and ethics central to the social work profession and educates students to contribute to refining and advancing social work practice through research-based, culturally responsive practice, and collaborative engagement. Using person-in-environment and anti-racist and anti-oppressive frameworks, the program trains students to advance social, racial, economic, environmental and human rights for local and global communities, promoting human and community well-being.

Application Deadlines:

Admissions to the MSW program are rolling. Once all required documents are submitted, an admissions decision can be made. Although the process is rolling, in order to be admitted for a particular semester, the documents must be submitted by the below dates.

• Fall Semester: June 1st for domestic applicants; February 15th for international applicants
• Spring Semester: October 1st for domestic applicants; August 1st for international applicants
• Summer Semester (advanced standing only): March 1st for domestic applicants; December 1st for international applicants

Applicants must meet the following admission criteria:

• 3.0 GPA in upper-division coursework.
• Completion of a three-credit course in Biology with human content
• Completion of a three-credit course in Statistics
• Completion of 12 credits in Social Science course (e.g., Psychology, Sociology, Economics, American Government)
• International applicants whose native language is not English are required to submit a score for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or for the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). A total score of 80 on the iBT TOEFL or a 6.5 overall on the IELTS is required.

To be considered for admission, all applicants must submit the following required application materials :

• Admissions application
• Official transcripts from accredited institutions

The following documents must be completed and uploaded into the “Supporting Documents” section of your University Graduate School application:

• Admissions application to the Master of Social Work (MSW) Program. Please complete the application and upload it into the “Supporting Documents” section of your Graduate Admissions Application Center portal.
• Personal narrative statement Please complete the statement and upload it into the “Supporting Documents” section of your Graduate Admissions Application Center portal.
• Three Social Work Reference Forms Please use only this reference form. Please email the link to the reference form directly to your recommender . Recommenders must download, complete and email the form directly to Ms. Gladys Ramos ( [email protected] ).
• MSW 60-Credit Program Plan
• MSW Program Handbook
• Capstone Guidelines
• School of Social Work Honor Pledge
• MSW Field Education Manual
• Course Offerings

To speak with an MSW advisor, contact Doyline Kreegel, MSW graduate advisor, at 305-348-5841 or  [email protected] . For questions regarding admissions to the MSW program, contact Gladys Ramos, admissions program assistant, at  305-348-5887 or  [email protected] .

Doyline Kreegel, LCSW Sr. Coordinator Academic Support Services (MSW/PhD Graduate Advisor)   305-348-5841   [email protected]

About the School

Ucf school of social work.

The UCF School of Social Work’s mission is to advance inclusive social work practice that promotes physical and behavioral health, social justice, and human rights through our high-impact research, education and community engagement.

The UCF School of Social Work’s vision is to enrich our diverse society with skilled social work professionals and innovative research that elevates the quality of health and well-being for individuals, groups and communities throughout the life course.

The School of Social Work established their current mission and vision statements with the approval of all faculty and staff.

A Social Work and the Law Certificate was launched to provide students an understanding of how social workers can actively participate in the legal system.

The College established the Invincible Knights Scholarship after learning how a social work student overcame adversity.

The Center for Behavioral Health Research and Training was established to promote interdisciplinary research and training for health and behavioral health topics.

The Master of Social Work program launched an Online MSW track. In 2017, an Advance Standing track was added.

The School partnered with other departments within the UCF Academic Health Sciences Center to enhance interprofessional education through the “pop-up” Apopka Clinic.

The Military Social Work Certificate was created to better serve clients who are military personnel, their families and veterans.

The Florida Board of Regents approved implementing a Master of Social Work degree program, which received full accreditation in 1996.

A transition to the College of Health and Professional Studies (now known as the College of Health Professions and Sciences) was made. And in 1999, we moved into our current building, Health Sciences 1.

We pioneered change and hired Dr. Cheryl Evans Green, the first Black woman faculty who was hired at the University.

We received our first national accreditation as a professional concentration in social work by the Council on Social Work Education

The School of Social Work began as the Department of Social Work in the 1960s, with an undergraduate concentration in Social Welfare in the Department of Sociology at the College of Social Sciences at UCF.

BSW Highlights

Over the past year, nearly one-third of our graduates were first-generation students, meaning they were the first in their family to earn a 4-year college degree. We know social work students choose this field because they want to make positive impacts in the lives of others. The field of social work offers so much variety in ways to help others, including family services, mental health counseling, school social work, supporting marginalized communities and overall helping to advance social justice.

BSW students also have the opportunity to earn certificates and minors in the following focus areas to further enhance their social work scope:

Certificates

• Aging Studies Certificate
• Children’s Services Certificate
• Spanish for Social Work Certificate
• Social Work and the Law Certificate
• Aging Studies Minor
• Nonprofit Management Minor

MSW Highlights

We know accessibility is one of the major concerns for graduate students. That’s why we offer this program in a  fully on-campus  mode or a  fully online  mode. Within each program we offer a fast-tracked path for students who have a BSW degree.

Our graduate program was recently named as one of the top social work programs by U.S. World News Report . The MSW on-campus program offers unique opportunities for students, like the option to earn a  Military Social Work Graduate Certificate  to better serve active and veteran military personnel and their families. Qualifying students can also be selected as a recipient of the  MSW Fellowship .

Field Education

From the  Apopka Popup Clinic  that serves migrant farmworkers and uninsured/underinsured patients, to our interprofessional education programs, our School values the importance of collaborative, interdisciplinary work between social work students and their peers in other supporting professions.

Many students are interested in becoming a social worker to advocate for social and economic justice for individuals, groups, and communities. That’s why all our qualifying students are guaranteed field placement, or internships, at agencies like hospitals, schools, police departments, nonprofit organizations, and many more to best fit with their career goals.

Have you wanted to be part of meaningful research that impacts the future of social work? Students have the opportunity to work alongside faculty as Research Assistants or Graduate Research Assistants through our  Center for Behavioral Health Research and Training . Our faculty are  experts  in a range of topics from suicide prevention, substance abuse, violence against women, aging and older adults, refugee mental health, and so much more!

An Inclusive & Diverse Community

The Greater Orlando area is so vibrant with diversity! Not only are we a theme park destination, but our communities embrace what it means to be a good neighbor. We pride ourselves on being a welcoming environment for all to access a better future. Conveniently located in the center of eclectic urban areas, our campus also houses a backyard of natural escapes.

Students have the opportunity to forge lasting partnerships with local agencies that advocate for the community and the people that thrive in the uniqueness of Orlando. It is truly the place where you can balance work and play, while still Charging On toward a shared goal of harmony in your community – that’s why many social work alumni choose to reside in Orlando even after graduating!

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