About PhD Program,
We are committed to training the next generation of scholars in social work, whose research will inform policy and practice addressing society’s most pressing problems.
Doctoral education in Social Work prepares students for leadership roles in social work research, social work education, social policy, planning, and administration. We provide students with advanced academic training that will allow them to contribute to the knowledge base of our profession.
Our faculty includes nationally recognized leaders in every area of social work practice and research, and we take a hands-on, supportive approach to doctoral education.
The doctoral program is open to applicants who have demonstrated intellectual capacity, critical thinking skills, and potential for research and scholarship.
Please visit our PhD Admissions web page for admissions-related information.
PhD Program Degree Eligibility with GPA,
The University of Pittsburgh’s social work doctoral program is among the oldest and most-respected in the United States. Our full time program is highly competitive, and we accept 5-8 students each year. Students are fully funded with tuition and stipend support for four years of study. Tuition support includes health insurance, and our wonderful Social Work Library is part of Pitt’s world-class University Library System.
The doctoral program is open to applicants who have demonstrated intellectual capacity, critical thinking skills, and potential for research and scholarship.
Admission to the program is for the fall term only and the deadline for the application is December 15. To apply to the program, please access our online application. Log into your online application frequently to monitor your progress.
PhD Funding Coverage,
Doctoral students are supported in years 1 and 2 by research-based graduate student assistantships (GSAs) and in years 3 and 4 by teaching assistantships (TAs). Exceptional students with post-master’s teaching experience and who have defended their overviews may apply for our teaching fellowships (TFs). Both GSAs and TA/TFs provide tuition remission and stipends for the fall, spring and summer terms. There is a 20-hour-per-week work requirement for both GSR and TA appointments.
Students receive GSA or TA support for four years as long as they are making satisfactory progress toward their doctoral degrees. If a fifth year is required, it is usually supported by adjunct teaching or research assistantships. Students are also encouraged to apply for pre-doctoral research traineeships and other awards, and many of our students are successful in securing external support for their dissertations.
In addition to the above, we offer some support for conference travel each year.
Application Requirement,
- Completion of the PhD Application.
- Official copies of all official undergraduate and graduate transcripts.
- Personal Statement: Why do you want to pursue a social work PhD? Describe your experiences with research and how they prepared you for pursuing a PhD. What research questions or social issues do you want to study? How might you approach studying them? Describe why Pitt SSW would be a good place for you to pursue your research interests. Note potential faculty mentors at Pitt and other campus resources you might engage. What career would you like to pursue? How will a social work PhD contribute to your career goals?
- Social Justice Statement: What aspects of your personal and/or professional history have informed how you have come to understand social justice? How do your history and understandings of social justice connect to your career goals? Anti-racism and anti-oppression are core values in the Pitt SSW. How do you see your time in the Pitt SSW PhD program, current and/or future work (e.g., research, teaching, mentoring, community organizing, advocacy, activism, etc.) as aligning with anti-racist and anti-oppressive praxis?
- Writing sample: Please provide a writing sample that is solely authored by you. You may choose anything that will show us that you can write clearly and coherently about topics relevant to social work, ideally, research topics relevant to social work. Your writing sample should be approximately ten to fifteen pages.
- Three letters of reference from professors and others who have known the applicant in a professional capacity. Do not include personal references.
- We require a course-by-course evaluation completed for any international college courses taken. An evaluation is also needed for any transcripts not provided in English. We accept evaluations from any members of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) organization. Find a list of NACES members.
Application Deadline,
Dec 15, 2024
Application Fee,
- The $50 application fee is waived for fall 2025 applicants.
