DSW - ONLINE Doctor of Social Work

The 100% ONLINE Doctor of Social Work (DSW) program within the Kent School of Social Work and Family Science will educate master-degreed social workers to become future practitioner-scholars in teaching and social service leadership. The overall goal of the DSW program is to provide advanced education, training, and mentoring to social workers with master's degrees who want to become teaching faculty in social work departments/schools and/or leaders managing public or private social service organizations. This program addresses the academic and social service workforce's need for competent and well-trained social work professionals.

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Our Program's Mission

• To educate students on models of social service leadership and teaching and learning
• To train students to analyze and improve models of social service leadership and teaching and learning
• To prepare students to implement social service leadership knowledge and skills in practice
• To prepare students to apply teaching skills and learning strategies in instruction
• To educate students to ethically practice in leadership and teaching positions
• To use various modes of scientific inquiry to critically evaluate the practices of social service leadership and teaching and learning

About the DSW Program

Program Highlights

• Geared towards master degreed social workers who wish to become teaching faculty in departments/schools of social work and/or leaders managing public or private social service organizations.
• 100% online; using both synchronous and asynchronous models
• 44 hours, Part-time program for the working professional. 2 courses each semester over 6 semesters, 1 course each in the 7th and 8th semesters for a total of 3 years. Two courses are offered sequentially each semester (fall, spring, and summer). Each online course is 8 weeks in duration. 
• No GRE Required
• Capstone project for final evaluation

Career Opportunities

Professional Licensure Information

Accreditation Statement

CSWE’s Board of Accreditation (CSWE-BOA) is currently piloting the accreditation of professional practice doctoral programs. Although there are currently no CSWE-BOA accredited professional practice doctoral programs, in June 2020, CSWE-BOA approved and adopted the Accreditation Standards for Professional Practice Doctoral Programs in Social Work. The University of Louisville Kent School of Social Work and Family Science’s Doctor of Social Work (DSW) Program has adopted the Accreditation Standards for Professional Practice Doctoral Programs in Social Work and is prepared to undergo accreditation once it becomes available. Therefore, former, current, and incoming DSW students will not experience issues or barriers to practice or gain licensure.  Graduates of DSW programs before the accreditation is required will not face any negative impacts.

For information about professional practice doctoral program accreditation and the current pilot, please visit the Council on Social Work Education website.