Requirements and Course Offerings
The goals of the Ph.D. Program in Social Work are to prepare students to assume positions of leadership in the field of social welfare by contributing to the knowledge base of social work and the related fields of human services as faculty, administrators and researchers. Theory development and research are emphasized in two major areas of concentration: (1) Social Policy Analysis and Administration; and (2) Direct Intervention Theory and Research. In addition, students are expected to develop expertise in a specific substantive problem area or field of service.
Students are expected to achieve the above by successful completion of a 72 credit program including:
- a course of study with 30 to 48 credits, 30 credits if holder of an M.S.W. degree—18 credits from the accredited M.S.W. program can be transferred into the Ph.D. program, 30 to 48 credits if the Masters is in another field (depending on transfer credits),
- a research internship,
- a passing grade on a qualifying examination,
- successful defense of a dissertation proposal, and
- conducting research, writing and successfully defending a dissertation (a minimum of 24 research credits while in candidacy) for 72 total credits.
The overall policy is guided by a belief in maximizing student choice. Students are encouraged and expected to make decisions concerning their course work, research internship, and dissertation project.
SELECTION OF A MAJOR CONCENTRATION: Direct Intervention or Social Policy/Administration
There are both commonalities and differences in the content of the two major concentrations. Both focus on research as well as on theory. Both require at least one course in an outside discipline. All students take two terms of statistics and two terms of research methods.
In addition, students in Direct Intervention (DI) take a course in Current Perspectives in Direct Intervention and a course in Theory Development in Direct Practice Intervention. DI students also must take at least one from a range of Problem/Policy Area courses.
Students in Social Policy/ Administration (SP), in addition to the above commonalities, must take Social Policy Analysis and one other Problem/Policy Area course of their choosing. The focus in both these courses is on mastering different theoretical approaches to policy analysis, current research, and substantive issues in one policy arena.
Students must declare a choice of Direct Intervention or Social Policy when applying to the program.
DISTRIBUTION OF Ph.D. APPROVED COURSES
The required distribution for each concentration is as follows:
| DIRECT INTERVENTION | Credits | SOCIAL POLICY | Credits |
| Theory Development |  3 |
Social Policy Analysis | 3 |
| Current Perspectives | 3 |
Social Policy/Problem Area | 3 |
| Course in Problem Area | 3 |
Course in Outside Discipline | 3 |
| Course in Outside Discipline | 3 |
Research Methods | 6 |
| Research Methods | 6 |
Statistics | 6 |
| Statistics | 6 |
*Electives | 9 |
| *Electives | 6 |
||
| ____ |
____ |
||
| 30 |
30 |
||
*in or outside Social Work Ph.D Program.
Students with an M.S.W. may transfer 18 credits toward the Ph. D. upon completion of 12 credits of graduate level course work with grades of B or better. Those with another masters degree may not have as many transferable credits. In any case, 48 course credits are expected prior to the dissertation phase of the program. The Program Director will assess transferability of masters-level courses.
Students are encouraged to review the list of courses associated with each concentration and discuss their choices with an advisor in designing a course of study.
DESIGNING A COURSE OF STUDY
The distribution of Ph.D. courses includes required, restricted choice electives and free elective courses. Students should plan with their advisors the choices among restricted electives, free electives, and outside discipline courses that will best build a coherent body of knowledge in the student’s chosen area of interest. Students should begin to work with their advisors early in the first year to develop a focus of interest. In addition, students may wish to pursue an area in which no formal course in or outside the Program can be found. In such cases, a tutorial, called Individual Study could be considered. (See separate statement, The Individual Study) Students may change advisors, but must notify the Doctoral Program Director, Program Secretary and their former advisor in such case. Suggested course plans for full time and part time students are presented on pages 11 and 12.
OUTSIDE DISCIPLINE
All students must take at least one course in another discipline outside of Social Work. This may be done in another program in the Graduate School such as Sociology, History, Anthropology, etc. It also may be done in another professional school not part of the Graduate School, such as Law, Public Health, Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology, or Graduate School of Education. (Note: A student may only take 24 credits outside the Graduate School and may have already used as many as 18 as transfer credits from the masters degree.) Outside courses may also be arranged through cross-registration with Princeton University, the New Brunswick Theological Seminary, or the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. The criteria for course selection are: (1) it adds central and useful knowledge, theory or methodology to the student’s developing area of interest; (2) it is at the doctoral or equivalent level; and (3) the student’s advisor agrees that it furthers the student’s educational plan.
It is possible that a faculty member teaching an outside course will become the outside member of the student’s dissertation committee. The student is urged to consider taking more than one course in this outside area in order to become familiar with that discipline’s way of approaching and dealing with issues. Students will need to consult with the Program Secretary regarding registration for these courses.
IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS
Students are expected to complete their degree within seven years of their first registration for the Ph.D. Program in the School of Social Work. Students who have dropped out of the program (not registered for one or more semesters) must receive permission from the Doctoral Program Executive Committee to continue (re-register). Students admitted into the Program are expected to remain registered in every fall and spring term until completing the program and earning their degree. Students who must interrupt their studies may, with the approval of the Program Director, register for matriculation continued for a maximum of two consecutive terms. This category is not available to students who have attained doctoral candidacy. Those students are expected to register for research until they have completed their degrees.
All students, with the exception of those who are candidates for the doctoral degree, who have interrupted their studies may apply for readmission after one or two terms during which they were not registered through the Office of the Graduate School. After this, students must file a new application with the Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions and will be considered by the Doctoral Program anew for possible re-acceptance.
THE RESEARCH INTERNSHIP
Each student is required to participate in a Research Internship with a faculty member within or outside the School, who is a member of the Graduate School Faculty. If a student wishes to take part in a Research Internship with others than those who are Graduate School Faculty members, a member of the Social Work Faculty must oversee the project to ensure that it meets the internship objectives. The purpose of the Research Internship is to expose all students to the realities of the research effort necessary to complete a dissertation by having them share in the efforts of a more experienced researcher. Three or six research credits are used for this effort (Research in Social Work 910:701, 702). Ideally, the student should be exposed to and participate in all stages of research design and completion of data collection and analysis to the extent it is feasible. The Research Internship cannot be taken until after the first 15 credits of course work is completed.
The internship should involve:
- Discussion with and guidance by the advisor;
- A negotiated agreement between student and the professor supervising the research regarding specific research assignments and products;
- Credit to be granted for three dissertation research credits for one semester;
- Graduate Faculty members (full or associate) who are involved in bona fide research projects;
- A Research Internship plan, presented in writing, signed by the student and faculty member, and approved by the Director of the Ph.D. Program for dissertation research credits (910:701, 702 Research in Social Work). This contract must specify the responsibilities of both student and faculty member.
The Qualifying Examination (Q.E.) is given at least once a year, generally during the Spring semester, but may be offered in the Fall term as well. It is designed by a Committee of the School’s Graduate Faculty to assess (1) the student’s theoretical knowledge relevant to the concentration, (2) a problem area, (3) an outside discipline, and (4) research methods/statistics. A bibliography of essential reading material for preparation of the Q.E.’s will be made available in the Fall term to students planning to take the examination in the Spring. The Q.E. consists of a eight hours of written examination and is held over two days.
The Q.E. Committee will design the examination in accordance with the following minimum requirements:
- There will be four questions offered to the student, of which the student selects two.
- Questions are structured so that the student must answer both a methodological and a substantive area question.
Eligibility for the Qualifying Examination
- Students must have completed all 48 credits of required course work. They must have ensured that the credits of their Masters degrees have been accepted and signed off by the Doctoral Program Director so that these, plus the courses taken in the Ph.D. Program, total 48 credits.
- Students must maintain a minimum GPA of B (3.0).
- Students must have no incomplete grades.
- Students must have fulfilled the requirements of their selected major.
The Q.E. should be taken not later than four years after the student has first registered in the Graduate School and at least two terms before taking the final dissertation examination.
Upon completion of the Q.E. the Application for Admission to Candidacy form is to be signed by the Chair of the Q.E. Committee, Q.E. Committee members, and the Program Director. Once the Q.E. is passed, the student must continue in registration, whether for courses or research or lose his/her status as a candidate.
THE DISSERTATION PROPOSAL; SELECTION OF THE DISSERTATION COMMITTEE
Upon completion of the Q.E. the student in consultation with the Coordinator of Dissertations selects a Dissertation Chair. This person must be a Full Member of the School of Social Work Graduate Faculty and should be knowledgeable about the topic in which the student is interested. The Chair and the student together choose the rest of the Committee members. Final approval of the Committee rests with the Doctoral Program Director, who appoints the Committee in consultation with the student’s adviser. Three Committee members, including the Chair, must be members of the Graduate Faculty in Social Work. The Chair must be a Full Member of the Graduate Faculty, the two other members may be Associate or Full members. The fourth Committee member must come from outside the program and may come from outside the University. The outside member should be a recognized authority on the subject matter of the dissertation. Once a Committee has been constituted, substitutions in membership must be approved by the Doctoral Program Director, and will occur only if a member is unable to serve or the student’s dissertation topic has changed. Any other changes must be approved by the Dean of the Graduate School- New Brunswick. Committee members who have left the University for another academic appointment may continue to serve on a Dissertation Committee, but may not serve as Chair of the Committee. Committee members who have moved to Emeritus status may serve on a Committee for a year after retirement, and their Committee membership may be extended for additional one year terms at the discretion of the Doctoral Program Director. Emeritus faculty may not serve as Committee Chairs.
The student must work with the Chair to develop a dissertation proposal. This serves as a detailed contract for the work the student will undertake in order to complete a dissertation and the remaining research credits. The proposal should be defended before the student’s committee within six months of passing the Q.E..(See separate statement: The Dissertation Proposal). Upon acceptance of the dissertation proposal by the Dissertation Committee, the student is admitted to candidacy for the doctoral degree.
After being accepted into candidacy, a student must take a minimum of 24 research credits (including the Research Internship) to complete requirements for the degree. Course credits apply to all courses, independent studies included. Research credits apply to the Research Internship (3 credits), and all work on the dissertation itself. However, credits taken prior to passing the Q.E. other than those used for the Research Internship cannot be included as part of the 24 research credits.
SAMPLE COURSE PLANS, FULL AND PART TIME STUDENTS
DIRECT INTERVENTION
| FIRST YEAR—FALL TERM | FIRST YEAR—SPRING TERM |
| #687 Theory Development | #644 Current Perspectives |
| #637 Quantitative Analysis | #640 Qualitative Research Methods |
| #638 Adv. Statistical Methods I | #639 Adv. Statistical Methods II |
| #___ (Elective) | #___ (Elective) |
| SECOND YEAR—FALL TERM | SECOND YEAR—SPRING TERM |
| #___(Elective--Problem Area) | (Qualifying Examination) |
| #___(Elective--Outside Discipline) | |
| #701, 702 Research Internship (Timing Varies) | |
| THIRD YEAR—FALL TERM | |
| Dissertation Proposal Defense |
| FIRST YEAR—FALL TERM | FIRST YEAR—SPRING TERM |
| #647 Social Policy Analysis | #___ (Elective) |
| #637 Quantitative Analysis | #640 Qualitative Research Methods |
| #638 Adv. Statistical Methods I | #639 Adv. Statistical Methods II |
| #___ (Elective) | #___ (Elective) |
| SECOND YEAR—FALL TERM | SECOND YEAR—SPRING TERM |
| #___(Elective—Problem Area) | (Qualifying Examination) |
| #___(Elective--Outside Discipline) | |
| #701, 702 Research Internship (Timing Varies) | |
| (Transfer of MSW Credits) | |
| THIRD YEAR—FALL TERM | |
| Dissertation Proposal Defense |
DIRECT INTERVENTION
| FIRST YEAR—FALL TERM | FIRST YEAR—SPRING TERM |
| #637 Quantitative Analysis | 640 Qualitative Research Methods |
| #638 Adv. Statistical Methods I | #639 Adv. Statistical Methods II |
| SECOND YEAR—FALL TERM | SECOND YEAR—SPRING TERM |
| #687 Theory Development | #644 Current Perspectives |
| #___(Elective) | #___(Elective--Outside Discipline) |
| THIRD YEAR—FALL TERM | THIRD YEAR---SPRING TERM |
| #701, #702 Research Internship (Timing Varies) | Qualifying Examination |
| #___(Elective—Problem Area) | |
| #___(Elective) | |
| FOURTH YEAR---FALL TERM | |
| Dissertation Proposal Defense |
| FIRST YEAR—FALL TERM | FIRST YEAR—SPRING TERM |
| #637 Quantitative Analysis | #640 Qualitative Research Methods |
| #638 Adv. Statistical Methods I | #639 Adv. Statistical Methods II |
| SECOND YEAR—FALL TERM | SECOND YEAR—FALL TERM |
| #647 Social Policy Analysis | #___(Elective) |
| #___(Elective) | #___(Elective--Outside Discipline) |
| THIRD YEAR—FALL TERM | THIRD YEAR---SPRING TERM |
| #701, #702 Research Internship (Timing Varies) | Qualifying Examination |
| #___(Elective—Problem Area) | |
| #___(Elective) | |
| FOURTH YEAR | |
| Dissertation Proposal Defense |
16:910:637 (F) QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS (3)
Knowledge and skills needed to carry out independent doctoral level research in social work. Identification and study of state of- the-art methods of design and measurement; qualitative and quantitative formulations; data gathering, processing, analysis, and interpretation.
16:910:638 (F) ADVANCED STATISTICAL METHODS I (3)
Analytic and measurement strategies fundamental to multivariate model testing in policy, administration, and direct practice research. Topics include tabular and loglinear analysis, multiple regression, analysis of covariance, and analysis of variance in its principal forms. Multiple indicators and measurement approaches, such as exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis.
16:910:639 (S) ADVANCED STATISTICAL METHODS II (3)
Prerequisite: 16:910:638
Use of multivariate, quantitative methods. Employing multiple dependent variables, nonlinear relationships, mediator effects, instrument variables, and multilevel analysis.
16:910:640 (S) QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS (3)
Examination of the methods of collecting, analyzing, presenting, and applying qualitative data. History and evolution of qualitative research methods; theoretical orientations; data-collection methods, including ethnography, participant observation, in-depth interviewing, focus groups, and archival analysis; methods of data analysis; and research applications, including theory development and program design and evaluation.
16:910:644 (F) CURRENT PERSPECTIVES (3)
Prerequisite: 16:910:687
Theories and models of intervention used in social work direct practice. Applications.
16:910:646 (S) FAMILY THEORY AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT (3)
Study of family theory and its relationship to program development at different levels of practice and social planning. Geared toward both a policy planning and intervention perspective, as well as a sociological interest in socialization and the study of deviance.
16:910:647 (F) SOCIAL POLICY ANALYSIS (3)
Paradigms, methods, and strategies for the analysis of policy from social work, economics, sociology, political science, public administration, policy sciences, and planning.
16:910:649 (F) MENTAL HEALTH POLICY (3)
Major issues in mental-health policies and programs in socio environmental context.
16:910:650 (S) PROBLEMS IN HEALTH AND SOCIAL POLICY (3)
Selected critical issues in the delivery of human services; application of social research to policy. The policy research process. Topics may include care of the aging and the health policy challenge posed by the AIDS epidemic.
16:910:682 (F) ADVANCED INDIVIDUAL STUDIES IN SOCIAL WELFARE (3)
Study in depth, and on an individualized basis, various areas of social policy, social planning, social administration, or direct intervention.
16:910:683 (S) ADVANCED INDIVIDUAL STUDIES IN SOCIAL WELFARE (3)
Provides an opportunity to specialize in a specific area of policy analysis, social planning, social administration, or direct intervention, on an individualized basis.
16:910:687 (S) THEORY DEVELOPMENT IN SOCIAL WORK DIRECT PRACTICE (3)
The relative places and contributions of theoretical conceptualization, “practice wisdom,” and descriptive and prescriptive research.
16:910:694 (S) SOCIAL WORK ORGANIZATIONS (3)
Applicability of organizational theories and concepts from the social sciences for analysis of human service organizations; strategies and performance with clients and constituents. Criteria and procedures for organizational assessment and case studies of public and private social welfare organizations. Use of various paradigms for critical analysis of organizational culture, environmental interactions, resource dependency, policy impact, and program implementation.
16:910:701, 702 RESEARCH IN SOCIAL WORK (BA, BA)
Independent research study related to proposed dissertation, with assistance of appropriate faculty. Dissertation seminar.
16:910:703,704 RESEARCH INTERNSHIP (BA,BA)
Independent research internship under guidance from the faculty adviser to develop a dissertation proposal.