The major goal of the doctoral program in social work is to produce social work scholars who will have the capacity to make valuable and significant contributions to the knowledge base of the profession. It is believed that students who acquire the skills necessary to become professional scholars also develop a significant capacity and ability for professional leadership. Toward this end, the school is committed to pursuing excellence in education with persons of definite promise and to seeking gifted students of varied social, ethnic and economic backgrounds.
Through training in specific areas, graduates of the program develop theoretical, conceptual, critical and analytic skills which can be applied to social, organizational, interpersonal and personal problems. They emerge from the program with the knowledge base for approaching problems, a systematic way of developing approaches to their solutions, and the analytic skills for determining if the proposed solutions work. With these skills, they are able to take a disciplined approach to the issues which are confronted by the profession and its practitioners and are prepared to make a significant contribution to the core knowledge of the profession through research and other forms of scholarship and the dissemination of this knowledge.
The Ph.D. program in social work is administered by the Doctoral Committee of the School of Social Work in accordance with the policies set by the Graduate School. The requirements listed below are special to the School of Social Work and must be read in conjunction with the general requirements of the Graduate School listed in this catalogue.
(1) A master's degree from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.
(2) Graduate standing at the University of Southern California.
(3) Academic promise, as evidenced by above average achievement in undergraduate and professional education.
(4) Professional competence as demonstrated through substantial experience in responsible social work positions subsequent to the master's program.
(5) Personal qualities compatible with performance in social work and indicating a potential for leadership in the field; skill in relationships, flexibility and openness to new ideas, maturity, identification with the profession of social work, and commitment to furthering the development of the profession.
(6) Satisfactory performance on the Graduate Record Examinations -- existing test scores may be submitted if the GRE has been completed no more than five years prior to the date of application. Information may be obtained from the USC Testing Bureau, 3375 South Hoover, Suite D, University of Southern California, University Park, Los Angeles, CA 90007.
(7) Submission of application materials as required. Instructions for application to the Doctor of Philosophy in Social Work program may be obtained by writing to the director of the program.
Under unusual circumstances, applications from persons who do not meet these requirements, including those who have just been awarded the M.S.W. degree, will be considered. In cases where the M.S.W. (or its equivalent) have recently been granted and the applicant does not have the prerequisite post-master's degree employment experience, it is required that such experience be acquired concurrent with enrollment in the doctoral program.
Applications may also be considered from people with demonstrated practice strengths and a commitment to the profession of social work who do not meet either the GPA or GRE requirements of the university. Such applicants, if admitted to the program, may be admitted on conditional status for their first semester in the program and may be allowed to begin the program on a part-time basis only.
Under very unusual circumstances, applications to the doctoral program in social work will be considered from those who do not hold the M.S.W. or an equivalent degree. Such applicants, in order to be admitted to the program, must have a master's degree (or its equivalent) in a field related to social work, a demonstrated commitment to the field of social work as evidenced by substantial work experience in the field and must demonstrate high potential for both success in the program and for making a substantial contribution to the knowledge base of the profession. Admission decisions on applicants who do not hold an M.S.W. or equivalent degree will be made by the full Doctoral Program Committee of the School of Social Work rather than by a subcommittee of that body.
Priority will be given to applications which are completed by March 15.
| Required courses | Units | |
| SOWK 702 | Theories of Human Behavior in the Contexts of Social Environments | 3 |
| SOWK 703 | Explanatory Theories for Larger Social Systems | 3 |
| SOWK 733 | Social Policy in the United States | 3 |
| SOWK 760L | Introduction to Social Work Statistics | 4 |
| SOWK 761L | Multivariate Statistics | 4 |
| SOWK 762 | Social Work Research Methods I | 3 |
| SOWK 763 | Social Work Research Methods II: Issues in Research or Social Work Practice | 3 |
| SOWK 743 | Theories for Practice with Small Systems, or | |
| SOWK 744 | Theories for Practice with Large Systems | 3 |
Field of Practice is defined as a field of activity in which there is an identifiable service delivery system, a continuum of care for clients exists, and there is a defined or established role for social workers.
Given the current expertise of the faculty and available faculty resources, students may choose from the following fields of practice specialization: (1) family and children, (2) mental health, (3) health, (4) occupational/industrial employment, (5) aging/gerontology, or (6) economic security/income maintenance.
Additional fields of practice can be added to the above choices depending on faculty interest, expertise and availability.
Practice Theory is defined as advanced knowledge of comparative practice theories at one point on the intervention continuum as they relate to the field of practice chosen. The practice intervention continuum is defined to include practice with individuals, families and groups, as well as community practice, administration, planning, and policy practice.
Explanatory Theory is defined as advanced knowledge of comparative social science theories as they relate to the field of practice and level of intervention chosen.
Specialized Research Skills is defined as advanced skills in research methodology and statistics which support the student's dissertation within the field of practice.
Students fulfill the requirement for the mastery of the content of their individualized course of study through a combination of at least three (2 credit) directed tutorials (SOWK 790) with members of the Social Work faculty and at least two university courses.
For students to enter their course of individualized study at the beginning of their second year of full-time study, they and their advisor begin planning their individualized curriculum during the first semester of the first year in the program. Students are required to file and have approved a plan of individualized study. This plan enumerates the way in which the student will reach mastery of the second year content through a combination of individual and group tutorials and university courses. This plan is filed with the doctoral committee, which reviews and approves the plans submitted.
Produced by the USC Division of Student Affairs, Office of University Publications, May 1, 1995