Ph.D. Program Description
The
Goal of The University of Kansas School of Social Welfare doctoral program
is to prepare students to become leaders nationally and internationally in
advancing social work practice and policy through research and scholarship.
Our students graduate from the Program with the critical knowledge and
skills they need to become innovators as researchers/scholars,
educators,
and social policy analysts.
Our Faculty:
Our Doctoral faculty have national reputations in their fields, with
expertise in the following substantive areas: aging, child welfare, child
mental health, adult mental health, corrections, juvenile justice, school
social work, and poverty.
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"KU is a place where a
student can do independent thinking within an environment where
faculty and students see one another as part of a community."
(Recent Doctoral
Graduate)
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The KU School of Social Welfare faculty has consistently been ranked highly
in published program comparisons based on criteria that are strongly related
to our doctoral program faculty and students. For example, a study reported
in the Journal of Social Service Research in 2007 ranked our faculty
in the top 10 nationally in terms of publications in six major social
work journals.
Current students report that faculty accessibility and interest in
doctoral students is very high. In a survey of our recent graduates, a
high percentage reported great satisfaction with the preparation they
received in the KU School of Social Welfare doctoral program. They
particularly commented on the quality of the faculty-student relationship.
Our Students
Students who make the best fit for our program have professional aspirations
that match our overall program goal.
Many of our students receive funding through one of our three research
offices:
- Office of Aging and Long Term Care
- Office of Adult Mental Health
- Office of Child Welfare and Child Mental Health
Other research and funding opportunities are often available through
individual faculty research projects in a variety of areas. Applicants to
the program are asked to name their fields of interest in order to help
match student interest with available funding opportunities.
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"KU
SSW offers varied research training opportunities with talented
researchers backed by solid financial support."
(Recent Doctoral
Graduate)
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In addition, many of our students are able to take advantage of
opportunities to teach as Graduate Teaching Assistants, and these students
are carefully mentored to strengthen their teaching approaches and skills.
Our School and University
School of Social Welfare is consistently ranked in the top tier among
graduate social work programs nationally. However, we like to think that the
best evidence of our excellence comes from our graduates and from the people
who hire them.
The University of Kansas is a major, public research university, with over
100 programs of study, over 40 nationally ranked.
