Ph.D. Doctor of Philosophy Social Work

The USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work established the first social work doctoral program in the western United States in 1953. Today, we continue to welcome highly motivated, self-directed individuals interested in university research and teaching. Students admitted to the Ph.D. program pursue an in-depth, customized course of study in an atmosphere of careful mentoring and respect for scholarship.

Our doctoral curriculum is highly interdisciplinary, with the intent of producing graduates who are capable of original research and passionate about advancing the profession’s knowledge base. Course work and independent study opportunities within the school and across the university offer intellectual grounding in:

• Comparative social science theories
• Advanced research methods and statistics
• Global issues
• Policy analysis and advocacy
• 21st-century challenges

The USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work is a leader in social work and nursing education and research. The school integrates the science of social work with real-world practice to improve the well-being of vulnerable individuals and communities and advance social and economic justice on a local, national, and global scale.