Fully Funded PhD in Social Welfare at University of Wisconsin System

About PhD Program,

The PhD program in Social Welfare strives to develop scholars, leaders, and social work educators who will advance knowledge about social work, social welfare policy, and intervention strategies from a behavioral and social science perspective to improve the quality of life of individuals, families, groups, communities, and organizations.

Our students work with award-winning research centers and institutes, such as the Institute for Research on Poverty, Institute on Aging, Waisman Center, School of Medicine and Public Health, and more. Our students choose from a wide selection of courses in world-renowned social and behavioral science departments including; Sociology, Economics, Educational Psychology, Human Development and Family Studies, the La Follette School of Public Affairs, Psychology, Gender Studies, Population Health, Nursing, and more.

The PhD program provides an interdisciplinary plan of study in basic and applied social research. In the program, doctoral students build and integrate knowledge in:

1. a substantive or social problem area (e.g., child welfare, aging, developmental disabilities, end-of-life care, health, mental health, poverty);
2. social science theory (e.g., theories of the life course, economic theory, psychopathology, organizational theory, stress process theories);
3. research designs and statistical methodologies (e.g., program evaluation, policy analysis, longitudinal analysis).

The PhD program offers degree options for students entering the program with and without a Master of Social Work (MSW).  For more information, please visit program track tabs.

Why Choose a Social Welfare PhD at UW-Madison?

The UW-Madison Sandra Rosenbaum School of Social Work is known for its:

• National Reputation of Excellence
• Faculty Research
• Highly Recruited Graduates
• Strong Faculty Mentoring Model
• Individualized Programs of Study
• Substantial Financial Support
• Rigorous Interdisciplinary Research Training
• Vibrant Graduate Student Community
• Opportunities to collaborate with world-renowned research centers and institutes
• Options to pursue interdisciplinary PhD minors in Aging; Prevention and Intervention Science; and Women’s Studies, among others

PhD Program Degree Eligibility with GPA,

• An undergraduate grade-point average of at least 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale) on the equivalent of the last 60 semester hours. Those entering with a master’s degree should have a strong graduate record.
• A completed statistics course and 30 semester credits of social science courses.
• Evidence of research interest and potential for scholarship in a relevant social problem area. This is demonstrated in a carefully thought-out Statement of Reasons for Graduate Study, and other application materials.
• English Proficiency test scores, if applicable, taken within two years of the application date.  For additional information, test waiver criteria, and test submission instructions, please go to Requirements for Admission
• The approved tests and required scores are listed below.

1. Minimum TOEFLrequirement: 100
2. Minimum IELTSrequirement: 7.0
3. Minimum IELTS Indicatorrequirement: 7.0
4. Minimum Duolingo English Testrequirement (starting spring 2025 admit term): 130

International Applicants

For information on additional requirements for International Applicants, please see the International Applicant Requirements.

PhD Funding Coverage,

Social Welfare PhD students are generally guaranteed a minimum funding package consisting of a 33.4%, 9-month appointment for a minimum of five years, if they are in good academic standing, make satisfactory progress in their coursework, perform acceptably in their appointed position, and remain in residence.  However, many appointments or combinations of appointments go above the minimum guarantee of 33.4%, and may include summer appointments.

Typically, students do not receive funding after their 5th year in the program, though some exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis depending on funding availability and the fit between a student’s skills and faculty/departmental needs with regards to TA, PA, RA, and teaching appointments. Refer to the Graduate School Explorer data tools, available at grad.wisc.edu (click “Data” in the upper right), for historical information on how the Program’s students have been funded. Or, click here: https://grad.wisc.edu/data/graduate-student-funding-data/

Graduate assistantships appointed at 33.3% or higher (>13 hours/week) provide multiple benefits:

• monthly stipend;
• remission* of both resident and non-resident tuition (students will still need to pay segregated fees, roughly $726/semester); and
• eligibility for health insurance (health insurance optionsfor a reasonable premium are among the country’s best group health insurance plans)

Application Requirement,

• Graduate School Application
• Current UW-Madison Students
• Applicants Without an MSW
• Social Welfare PHD Supplemental Application
• Writing Sample
• Official Transcript(s)
• Statement
• Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Three Letters of Recommendation
• Application Fee
• English Proficiency

Application Deadline,

Dec 01, 2024

Application Fee,

The Graduate School offers a limited number of application fee grants to make sure that the application fee is not a barrier for students from our key recruiting initiatives.