Boston College School of Social Work
In keeping with the four-century-old Jesuit tradition of educating students in the service of humanity, Boston College established a School of Social Work (SSW) in March 1936. The SSW offers the Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) and the Doctor of Philosophy in Social Work (Ph.D.) degrees. In addition to providing foundation courses for all students, the Master of Social Work program of study affords each student the opportunity to specialize in a social work practice intervention method. The two areas of specialized practice are Clinical Social Work and Macro Social Work on the master’s level. Six advanced Fields-of-Practice are offered: Children, Youth, and Families; Global Practice; Health; Latinx Communities; Mental Health; and Older Adults and Families. The School also offers a research-oriented Doctoral program that prepares scholars to pursue knowledge that will advance the field of social welfare and social work practice.
Doctor of Philosophy Degree Program
Introduction to Doctor of Philosophy Degree Program
The School offers a research-oriented Ph.D. program that prepares scholars committed to pursue knowledge that will advance the field of social welfare and social work practice. Students master a substantive area of scholarship and gain methodological expertise to excel as researchers and teachers in leading academic and social welfare settings throughout the world. Grounded in core values of human dignity and social justice, the program nurtures independence and originality of thought in crafting innovative research and policy agendas for constructive social change.
The School of Social Work doctoral program offers three programs of study: a Ph.D. in Social Work, a Ph.D. in Social Welfare, and a combined M.S.W./Ph.D. The Ph.D. in Social Work is designed for students with an M.S.W. or equivalent degree. The Ph.D. in Social Welfare is designed for students enrolled in the International Doctoral Program with partner Jesuit Universities in Latin America. The M.S.W./Ph.D. is designed for exceptionally talented students with several years’ work experience and another master’s degree.
Program of Study—Social Work
Research training is at the core of the program. Students acquire expertise in applied social and behavioral science research methodologies that are especially appropriate for investigating critical policy and practice questions. This set of courses emphasizes analytic skills needed to understand, appraise, and advance knowledge in social work. The learning process involves more than classroom instruction. Students are expected to work closely with faculty mentors in their roles as scholars and researchers. Besides required courses, students can select from an array of elective academic courses, independent studies, research internships, and teaching practicums.
A minimum of 51 credit hours are required to complete the degree: 45 credits for academic courses and 6 credits for the dissertation. Among the 15 elective credits, 3 elective credits are specified to be an advanced social or behavioral science theory course, and 9 credits are specified to be a methods course. Students must pass the qualifying exam at the end of year two. For the qualifying exam, students need to produce a publishable paper that meets the requirements for publication in a scholarly journal. Before beginning research on the dissertation, the student must complete all required courses and the publishable paper. Required courses include the following:
- SCWK9950 Professional Development Seminar
- SCWK9951 Survey of Research Methods in Social and Behavioral Science
- SCWK9956 The Dialectics of Social and Behavioral Theory
- SCWK9959 Doctoral Publishable Writing Project
- SCWK9960 Regression Analysis for Social and Behavioral Sciences
- SCWK9964 Introduction to Statistics and Data Analysis
- SCWK9991 Doctoral Teaching Practicum
- SCWK9992 Theories and Methods of Teaching in Professional Education
- SCWK9993 Research Internship
- SCWK9994 Integrative Dissertation Seminar
Total Credits
The 51 credits are a minimal requirement. The actual number of courses taken by an individual student varies according to prior educational background and coursework.
Program of Study—Social Welfare
Students in the International Doctoral Program in Social Welfare enroll in courses in both Boston College and a partner Jesuit university in Latin America. Students start the program in the partner university taking elective courses in social behavioral science theory and other courses that provide a foundation in a social problem likely to be the focus of the student’s research. In subsequent years, student’s residence alternates between Boston College and the partner university. The International Doctoral Program in Social Welfare encourages and facilitates students to focus their doctoral research on topics and populations drawn from Latin American countries.
The program provides a strong foundation in research and preparation for an academic career through nine required courses and two dissertation direction courses. Students will enroll in a total of four to six courses in the partner university during year one and year three. The remaining four elective courses will be taken during students’ residency at Boston College in year two. Students must also pass a written comprehensive examination and produce a manuscript that is fitting for publication in a peer-reviewed scientific journal. Before beginning research on the dissertation, the student must complete all required courses and pass an oral qualifying examination based upon the publishable paper requirement. Required courses include the following:
- SCWK9951 Survey of Research Methods in Social and Behavioral Science
- SCWK9952 Tools for Scholarship in Social and Behavioral Science
- SCWK9980 History and Philosophy of Social Welfare in the U.S.
- SCWK9954 Models for Social Welfare Intervention Research
- SCWK9959 Doctoral Publishable Writing Project
- SCWK9960 Statistical Analysis for Social and Behavioral Research
- SCWK9961 Introduction to Structural Equation Modeling
- SCWK9992 Theories and Methods of Teaching in Professional Education
- SCWK9994 Integrative Seminar for Doctoral Students
Total Credits
The minimal credit requirement is 51, of which 38 credits are taken at Boston College and include required and elective courses and 6 credits for the dissertation. The remaining elective credits are taken at the partner university and may vary in accordance with the partner university’s academic offerings. The actual number of courses taken by an individual student varies according to prior educational background and coursework.
Dual Degree Program—M.S.W./Ph.D.
BCSSW provides an option for those who don’t already have a master’s of social work to earn both the M.S.W. and the Ph.D. degrees. Applicants will be considered for acceptance into the M.S.W./Ph.D. program in exceptional cases and must possess a master’s degree in a behavioral or social science discipline in addition to considerable work experience. This program is especially well-suited for international graduate students, enabling them to acquire an understanding of fundamental American social welfare policy and social work practice prior to launching their advanced doctoral studies.
A minimum of 98 credit hours are required to complete the degree: 92 credits for academic courses and field work and 6 credits for the dissertation. Among the 12 elective credits, 3 elective credits are specified to be an advanced social or behavioral science theory course, and 9 credits are specified to be a methods course. Students must pass the qualifying exam at the end of year three. For the qualifying exam, students need to produce a publishable paper that meets the requirements for publication in a scholarly journal. Before beginning research on the dissertation, the student must complete all required courses and the publishable paper. Required courses include the following:
- SCWK7701 Social Welfare System
- SCWK7721 Human Behavior and the Social Environment
- SCWK7722 Psychosocial Pathology (Clinical) OR SCWK8833 Leadership and Social Transformation (Macro)
- SCWK7723 Diversity and Cross-Cultural Issues
- SCWK7762 Basic Skills in Clinical Social Work
- SCWK8800 Basic Skills in Macro Social Work
- SCWK8802, SCWK8805, SCWK8806, or SCWK8817 Advanced Policy course
- SCWK8872, SCWK8885, SCWK7797, SCWK8873, SCWK8897, SCWK8837, SCWK8865, or SCWK8823 Advanced Practice in Field-of-Practice
- SCWK8855 Clinical Practice with Children and Families: Assessment, Intervention and Evidence Based Practice (Clinical) OR SCWK8889 Social Innovation (Macro)
- SCWK8856 Clinical Practice with Adults: Assessment, Intervention, and Evidence Based Practice (Clinical) OR SCWK8886 Financial Management and Resource Development (Macro)
- SCWK9921 Field Education I
- SCWK9932 Field Education II—Clinical OR SCWK9942 Field Education II—Macro
- SCWK9933 Field Education III—Clinical OR SCWK9943 Field Education III—Macro
- SCWK9934 Field Education IV—Clinical OR SCWK9944 Field Education IV—Macro
- SCWK9950 Professional Development Seminar
- SCWK9951 Survey of Research Methods in Social and Behavioral Science
- SCWK9956 The Dialectics of Social and Behavioral Theory
- SCWK9959 Doctoral Publishable Writing Project
- SCWK9960 Regression Analysis for Social and Behavioral Sciences
- SCWK9964 Introduction to Statistics and Data Analysis
- SCWK9991 Doctoral Teaching Practicum
- SCWK9992 Theories and Methods of Teaching in Professional Education
- SCWK9993 Research Internship
- SCWK9994 Integrative Dissertation Seminar
Total Credits
The 98 credits are a minimal requirement. The actual number of courses taken by an individual student varies according to prior educational background and coursework.
Doctoral Funding
There are five major sources of funding available for students in the Doctoral Program in Social Work at Boston College:
- The Boston College Doctoral Fellowship in Social Work is awarded each year on a competitive basis to full-time doctoral students in social work. Full tuition and a stipend are provided for four years as long as the student maintains good academic standing and demonstrates progress toward the Ph.D.
- Two Fellowships are awarded each year on a competitive basis to full-time doctoral students to provide additional financial support to help encourage them to successfully complete their studies.
- Research Assistant positions are provided through faculty research and training grants.
- Teaching Assistant positions are available for some doctoral and M.S.W. courses.
- Additional grants and scholarship opportunities are available on an individual basis.
In addition to the financial assistance directly available from Boston College, SSW doctoral students are encouraged to apply for nationally competitive fellowships from private foundations and federal agencies.
For More Information
For a more detailed description of course offerings, the applicant should consult the Boston College School of Social Work Bulletin, which may be obtained by e-mailing swadmit@bc.edu or by writing to the Assistant Dean of Enrollment Management, Boston College School of Social Work, McGuinn Hall, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467.