Doctor of Social Work
Advance your social work career with our fully online DSW program, designed to build and strengthen your expertise in trauma-informed practice, applied research, agency/community leadership, and practice-based teaching.
Experienced professors provide mentorship as you gain the skills and experience needed to become one of the few social workers who possess this expert practice degree. Our program delves into the development of policies, programs, services, and interventions that address significant social issues and conditions using innovative qualitative and quantitative research methods.
Why UNA?
The UNA Department of Social Work has been a leader in the social work community for over 50 years. Since its initial accreditation in 1974, thousands of graduates have embarked on professional careers that have enhanced the well-being of their communities. This history of being at the forefront of social work practice continues with the development of the Doctor of Social Work. This fully online program suits the needs of the busy lifestyle of experienced social work scholar practitioners who want to address complex, real-world social problems.
Curriculum
The DSW curriculum is directly informed by professional social work practice communities through a focus on applied, evidence-based, and practice-informed research, designed to produce "clinician-scholars." The curriculum emphasizes advanced clinical skills, administration, and leadership, preparing social work professionals to address complex, real-world social problems. This Trauma-Informed, Clinical Social Work Practice, and Academic Leadership program prepares graduates to develop innovative social work practice strategies with a focus on social and economic justice.
Accreditation
The development of the DSW is guided by Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) practice-doctorate accreditation standards. The department is currently engaged in the requisite CSWE accreditation process.
What can I do with a DSW?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Social work is one of the fastest growing professions. DSW graduates can expect unique and varied high level job opportunities and career options with a significant increase in salary. These opportunities include advanced clinical practice, agency/organizational leadership, and higher education positions.
Admissions Requirements:
The application deadline for Fall 2027 is March 1, 2027.
- Minimum of 3 years of post-MSW social work practice experience
- Official MSW Transcript from a CSWE-accredited program
- MSW GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Resume or CV
- Personal Narrative Admissions Questions
- 2 Letters of Recommendation from professional sources
- Admissions Interview with DSW program faculty
Resume
- Use one-inch margins, 12-point type with Times or New Times Roman font.
- Personal data: Name, address, phone number, email address
- Educational experience: Institutions and the dates you attended; Academic degrees awarded, including majors and minors
- Work experience: A list of all positions listed in chronological order, beginning with the most recent, with a 2-3 line job description for each
- All beginning and ending dates for each position
- Indication of whether the position was full-time or part-time
- Volunteer experience: A list of all positions listed in chronological order, beginning with the most recent, with a 2-3 line job description for each
- All beginning and ending dates for each position
- Professional affiliations and honors from your school, profession, or community:
- List of any memberships in professional organizations and service groups
- List of honors or special awards received.
Personal Narrative Admissions Questions
Limit your responses to 2,000 words with Times New Roman 12-point font, double-spaced, and number your responses to correlate with the questions below. Be sure to abide by the word limit and the above stated guidelines.
- What are your reasons for pursuing a DSW? Please describe the professional social work experiences that have contributed to your choice of advanced doctoral-level social work as a profession.
- With a focus on your advanced clinical practice and/or organizational leadership plans with diverse client populations and social issues, describe your long-term career goals upon completion of the DSW program
- Using your practice experience, describe your preparation for ethical and effective practice with clients, organizations, and communities whose experiences, identities, and circumstances differ from your own.
- Identify one social problem that interests you and briefly explain how you think doctoral-trained social workers might address this issue via advanced clinical practice, organizational leadership, scholarship, and work in higher education.
- The admissions committee is seeking a group of students that reflect the complex social identities of the region and who can enrich the overall learning experience of the DSW program. What special attributes or personal characteristics do you have that you believe will advance the scholarship and professional experience of your peers in the social work program?
- Signature and date: ___________________________
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