Program Description
NYU Silver School of Social Work’s PhD program prepares students to become leading researchers and educators in the promotion of social justice and the health and well-being of marginalized communities nationally and globally.
Our intensive doctoral training competitively positions graduates for top-tier academic and research opportunities—such as faculty positions at leading research universities—cultivating the next wave of independent investigators, scholars, and social work leaders. Building on Silver’s nationally recognized strength in intervention and implementation research and our focus on addressing inequities, the PhD program prepares students to make their own unique contributions to the field of social welfare.
Our rigorous coursework educates students in classic and contemporary theory, cutting-edge quantitative, qualitative and mixed methodologies, and specialized learning in their substantive areas. The opportunity to take electives within the larger university allows students to explore further their areas and methodologies in an interdisciplinary classroom. NYU Silver also prepares students to be educators through training, including in anti-racist pedagogies, and hands-on experience teaching BSW and MSW level courses.
At the heart of our program is the mentored research practicum offering students the opportunity to put their learning into practice. NYU Silver PhD students are paired from day one with a research mentor as part of our personalized mentoring program, helping them develop competencies in core research, scholarship, and teaching areas. NYU Silver Faculty are renowned for their expertise in several key research areas, including racial and social justice, behavioral health services, child welfare, and aging. Being part of a large Global Network University and located in the diverse and dynamic city of New York, NYU Silver offers an unparalleled environment for the study of areas critical to local, national and global well-being.
Admissions
Requirements for admission to the Social Work PhD program include:
- A master’s degree (MSW is preferred) with a graduate grade point average of 3.0 or higher, based on a 4-point scale;
- A bachelor’s degree with an undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 or higher, based on a 4-point scale;
- Acceptable scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam, for applicants whose first language is not English or who have not earned a degree from an institution where the language of instruction is exclusively English. The program will accept Duolingo English test scores if applicant received a combined undergraduate and graduate education of four years where the official language of instruction of the institution was English for all course work. Test scores for TOEFL, IELTS, and Duolingo English Test are considered valid for two years.
See Admission Requirements for admission requirements and instructions specific to this program.
Program Requirements
The program requires the completion of 54 credits, comprised of the following:
Course List
| Course |
Title |
Credits |
| PHDSW-GS 3050 | Philosophy of Science & Knowledge Development | 3 |
| PHDSW-GS 3059 | Seminar on Social Policy History and Analysis | 3 |
| PHDSW-GS 3053 | Social Science Theories and Social Work | 3 |
| PHDSW-GS 3064 | Social and Behavioral Intervention Research | 3 |
| PHDSW-GS 3027 | Quantitative Methods | 3 |
| PHDSW-GS 3032 | Qualitative Methods | 3 |
| PHDSW-GS 3028 | Introductory Statistics | 3 |
| PHDSW-GS 3067 | Statistical Methods II: Generalized Linear Models | 3 |
| PHDSW-GS 3077 | Conducting Research with Diverse Populations | 3 |
| 15 |
| Prevention Science | |
| Structural Equation Modeling | |
| Implementing Evidence-Based and Evidence-Informed Practices | |
| Mixed Methods | |
| Grant Writing II | |
| Grant Writing I | |
| PHDSW-GS 3013 | Dissertation Proseminar (Dissertation Proseminar) | 3 |
| PHDSW-GS 3033 | Teaching Social Work | 3 |
| Total Credits | 48 |
Residency Requirement
Students are required to take 48 credits to complete the coursework phase of the PhD program. Full-time doctoral students normally take 9-12 credits of coursework in the fall and spring semesters over two to three years, as indicated on the following schedules. Students, in consultation with their faculty mentor and the PhD program office, should plan their course schedules accordingly. In addition, students must successfully complete a supervised research practicum before the end of the coursework phase of the program.
Students who plan to register for either more or less than 12 credits for any semester during the coursework phase of the program should notify the Assistant Director of the PhD Program about the exact number of credits for which they will be registering in order to avoid problems with their account.
Additional Program Requirements
Qualifying Exam
The qualifying exam will entail a choice between a systematic review or a comprehensive literature review of a given topic of interest. All students must pass a qualifying exam, which serves as an examination of what students have learned to date in the program and a determination of whether they are ready to engage in independent research. Successful completion of the qualifying exam also demonstrates that a student is able to adhere to accepted norms of scholarship and produce written work of publishable quality.
Dissertation Proposal
In creating a dissertation proposal, students will choose a topic or research question to study, and will form a dissertation committee based on their research area interest and faculty area of expertise. Students will submit their written proposal to the dissertation committee and arrange for an oral defense.
Dissertation
The student, in consultation with their dissertation committee, will determine the appropriate structure and form of the dissertation. All dissertations will be evaluated on the quality and clarity of the conception, writing, presentation, evidence of scholarship and systematic inquiry, originality, and significance to the field of social work. Students will submit a written dissertation and also have an oral defense of their dissertation, which is open to the public.
Note: The doctoral program does not prepare students for advanced practice in clinical social work or for licensure for social work practice in New York State. Students licensed as an LMSW or LCSW by the New York State Education Department may practice according to the guidelines of their particular license. Unlicensed students may not provide professional services in New York State unless otherwise authorized by state law.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will be able to:
- Provide leadership in the development of knowledge in a substantive area that is important to social work practice and/or social service delivery.
- Conduct independent research that demonstrates advanced knowledge of the methodology used, and which meets current publication standards.
- Engage in critical analysis of clinical practice models and their underpinning theories, including evidence of empirical support.
- Draw upon established social science theories to generate hypotheses regarding problems relevant to social work practice.
- Critically examine social policies using established models of analysis.
- Communicate effectively at a professional level, orally and in writing, the products of one’s scholarship to diverse constituencies.
- Compete successfully for academic positions in social work or related disciplines.
Policies
NYU Policies
University-wide policies can be found on the New York University Policy pages.
Graduate Silver Policies
A full list of relevant policies can be found on the Silver Academic Policies page.