Social Work Ph.D. Program

Focuses on the foundation of social work practice and processes from a generalist practice framework. Emphasis is placed on the introduction of social work knowledge, ethics, and values, promotion of social and economic justice, eco-systems, cultural competence, the problem-solving process, and development of the client/consumer-worker relationship. Explores the relevance of practice-informed research and research-informed practice in working with diverse individuals, families, and groups.

Deepens understanding of concepts and principles introduced in SWDS 100, with emphasis on the assessment phase of the problem-solving process in direct practice.  Field education experiences and theoretical concepts are integrated with focus on understanding and application of interviewing skills, values and ethics, ecological and strengths-based approaches, and goal setting and termination. Interventional strategies dealing with individuals and families are introduced in addition to selected knowledge from small group practice. 

First of four required Agency-Based Education courses in regular 60-hour degree program.  Focuses on integration of foundation knowledge and practice skills for beginning generalist practice.  Requires completion of 233 clock hours, including 10 hours for Agency-Based Education orientation, 208 hours in assigned Agency-Based Education agency setting, and 15 hours in scheduled Agency-Based Education integrative seminars. 

Second of four required Agency-Based Education courses in regular 60- hour degree program.  First of three Agency-Based Education courses in Advanced Standing program.  Focuses on integration of differential foundation knowledge and practice skills.  Requires completion of 223 clock hours, for regular students, including 208 hours in assigned Agency-Based Education agency and 15 hours in scheduled Agency-Based Education integrative seminars.  Requires 233 clock hours for advanced standing students, including 10 hours for Agency-Based Education orientation, 208 hours in assigned Agency-Based Education agency, and 15 hours for scheduled Agency-Based Education integrative seminars.   

Third of four required Agency-Based Education courses in regular 60-hour degree program. Second of three required courses in advanced standing program.  Focuses on integration of advanced knowledge and practice skills in chosen Practice Method concentration and Agency-Based of practice specialization.  Requires completion of 272 clock hours, including 260 hours in assigned Agency-Based Education agency setting, and 12 hours in scheduled Agency-Based Education integrative seminars.  

Fourth of four required Agency-Based Education courses in regular 60-hour degree program.  Third of three required courses in Advanced Standing program.  Focuses on integration of advanced knowledge and practice skills in chosen Practice Method concentration and Agency-Based of practice specialization.  Requires 272 clock hours, including 260 hours in assigned Agency-Based Education agency setting, and 12 hours in scheduled Agency-Based Education integrative seminars. 

Focuses on historical, social, cultural, political, economic and global conditions that have affected that institution. The course discusses key issues, themes and debates in the field and analyzes a variety of theoretical perspectives of examining the African-American family life.

Examines the development of social welfare in the United States, including the evolution of social welfare from the Colonial Period to the present and its social, historical and economic impact. Examines the factors that contribute to the knowledge base, practice models and social contexts. Considers a welfare system's relevance to a modern industrial society with highlights on the contributions of African-Americans and women.

Reviews the fundamentals of scientific methods. Familiarizes students with quantitative and qualitative research methods; research design and measurement; instrument development, validity and reliability; principles and types of sampling; essentials of program evaluation; demographic and secondary data analysis; and practicum in survey research.

This is the first of two required courses on statistical methods for social work doctoral students. The course examines several content areas related to quantitative data analysis. These include (a) Basic research and methodological terms; (b) Working with SPSS software; (c) Descriptive statistics; (d) Normal and skewed distributions; (e) Steps in hypothesis testing; (f) Inferential statistics including parametric and non-parametric tests; (h) Bivariate statistical tests; and (i) presentation, interpretation, and reporting of statistical findings.

This is the second required course on statistics for doctoral students. It builds on Quantitative Methods. It furthers students' acquaintance with social work and social sciences statistical techniques and provides additional analytical skills necessary to assess the validity of the research literature. The course examines several content areas related to advanced statistics including (a) sample power and sample size; (b) simple, multiple, and logistic regression analyses, (c) two-way analysis of variance and covariance, (d) repeated measures analysis of variance, (e) multivariate analysis of variance and covariance and; (f) canonical correlation analysis.

This course will take an in-depth look at various family theories, including the following: ... Understand the relationship between theory and research.

Enables students to develop skills in designing and implementing research projects on problems and issues related to social work. Students will design a research project and select statistical procedures appropriate for the design. The resulting research proposal will address social work, theoretical and practice issues in the student's special area of interest, usually related, but not limited, to people of color.

Focuses on theories and conceptual approaches used as the knowledge base for social work practice with individuals. Theories covered draw from biological, psychological, sociological, and cultural perspectives. Emphasis given to enhancing the student's reasoning repertoire with respect to articulating a rationale for selecting a theoretical perspective for a social work purpose. Critical variables related to social work theory identified, assumptions assessed, values examined, and empirical evidence analyzed. With an interest in developing the theoretical knowledge base of social work practice with individuals, especially people of color, emphasis is placed on integrating selected and related constructs, e.g., empowerment and world views, into theory and knowledge for ethnically sensitive and culturally competent practice.

This seminar focuses on the theories, conceptual approaches, and methodologies that form the knowledge base of social work practice with groups. Emphasis is placed on the significant social science theories and models, such as, group dynamics, role and system theory, social group work theories, and organizational development that underpin the state of the practice art. Concepts of leadership and followership and the impact on group processes will be explored from an applied perspective.

Examines communities and organizations as a level of intervention for solving social problems, with emphasis on analyses of existing theory, research, and models. Special attention paid to issues of concern to African Americans. Implications for other minorities and for women also examined.

Introduces students to contemporary features of American social work education. Special emphasis given to Black perspectives in social work education. Attention provided to women's issues and issues relevant to other diverse and frequently oppressed populations. Includes the structure of the educational system, aspects of the learning-teaching process, issues of curriculum and accreditation, recent research about social work education, and the place of social work education in higher education.

Study under guidance of a faculty member with special competence in an area.

Study under guidance of a faculty member with special competence in an area.

Study under guidance of a faculty member with special competence in an area.

This course will include consideration of individual rights, especially the rights of populations at risk, rights regarding civil commitment and treatment, professional roles vis.-a-vis. Consumer rights, and consumer advocacy. Attention will be given to persons with mental illness, developmental disabilities, learning disabilities and substance abuse disorders-or combinations of these conditions-with special focus on individuals with severe and persistent mental conditions. U.S. mental health policy will be examined as it is enacted in programs and services, social entitlements, financing arrangements, and organizational missions. Ethical and value dilemmas connected to these topics will be examined within an American as well as comparative historical and cultural context. The major focus of this course will be on public policies and services, with an ongoing examination of the relationships of this public domain to the non-profit and for-profit sector. Special consideration will be given to how the contemporary mental health system relates to and is experienced by economically disadvantaged persons, women, transgendered, lesbian, bisexual, gay, and queer persons, and persons of color.

Students learn about mental health disorders, counseling theories, human development, substance abuse counseling and family counseling.

Extended, written and approved treatment of subject submitted for doctorate degree.

Extended, written and approved treatment of subject submitted for doctorate degree.

Provides the history, mission, philosophy, and evolution of social welfare policies and services that form the foundation of social welfare, specifically in relation to poverty, racism, and the needs of oppressed and marginalized populations from both a strengths and Black perspective using social policy frameworks and social work values and ethics.  Examines African American and other social welfare pioneer exemplars, their efforts to influence and change social welfare policy and services, and their influence on contemporary programs and services in select Fields of Practice. 

Builds on content in SWPS-215 by promoting understanding of and competence in application of policy frameworks for analysis, formulation, advocacy, use of policy research through assessing context, intent, process, and the impact of organizational, executive, legislative, and judicial decisions to advanced social and economic justice. Examines use of diverse strategies to create planned change in organizations and larger social systems for direct, community, administration, and policy practice. 

Provides knowledge and understanding of research as a scientific process including methodology, formulation of research problem, sampling, measurement, and data collection procedures. Enhances analytical skills necessary to assess the validity of research literature.  Introduces students to statistical skills and procedures, which can be used to enhance assessment, planning, execution, and evaluation of interventions in social work practice. Students must also enroll in a one-hour Research Lab that provides them with the opportunity to gain hands-on literature review search and computer software such as SPSS that will be used in the classroom.