1. What is the purpose of the Rutgers University Social Work Ph.D.?
The Rutgers Social Work Ph D is a research degree designed for students who are planning for careers in teaching and research in social policy or direct intervention, or who are planning for careers in social policy analysis or administration in public or private settings. Unlike the M.S.W. or practice doctorate degrees, it is not designed as an advanced practice degree.
2. What types of careers do your program's graduates pursue?
Program graduates teach in university and research institutions, work in governmental and non-profit agencies, or are consultants in research or social policy analysis. Some work as executives in social welfare organizations or state agencies. Some also pursue careers in private practice, although this is not a primary focus of the program.
3. What are the requirements for entering the doctoral program?
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
M.S.W. degree or a masters degree in a closely related discipline.
Strong undergraduate and graduate academic records
Competence in conducting research and/ or teaching
Acceptable scores on the Graduate Record Examination
Strong letters of reference from relevant individuals
A personal statement describing why the applicant wants to pursue doctoral work at Rutgers School of Social Work and how this will fit with the applicant’s future plans.
(Additional admissions information and downloadable admissions materials may be found at: http://gradstudy.rutgers.edu/
4. Do you accept part-time as well as full-time students?
Yes, both part-time and full- time students are accepted into the program. However, all students should note that the Graduate School- New Brunswick and the Social Work Doctoral Program have a seven year requirement for completion of doctoral studies, and a part-time program necessarily extends a student’s time to completion.
5. May I enroll as a non-matriculated student in doctoral level courses?
Non-matriculated students may enroll in several doctoral level courses which are without pre-requisites. This will be on a space available basis, and requires the permission of the Instructor and the Doctoral Program Director.
6. Do I have to take the TOEFL?
Rutgers University requires all international students whose native language is not English to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), with the exception of students who earned their Master's degree at an institution in an English-speaking country.
7. Are GRE’s required for application to the program?
Yes, Rutgers University requires that all applicants take the GRE and include their scores in their application. There are no exceptions. Applicants who have taken the GRE within the past five years need not retake the examination.
8. Are there minimum scores required on the GRE?
While Rutgers University does have a preferred minimum score for the GRE’s, it is possible that a student will excel in one area and perform slightly below the desired score in another, or that the applicant’s total GRE score is below the desired score, but that other aspects of the student’s application ( undergraduate and graduate GPA’s, research or teaching experience, publications etc) are very strong. Such applicants may be acceptable to the Program.
9. I want to transfer from another doctoral program in social work into Rutgers. Can I do this?
Yes, but you will need to complete an application form just as any other applicant. If you have not taken the GRE, this will be a necessary part of your application. Which courses are transferable and which courses may be waived will depend upon a determination by your academic advisor and the Doctoral Program Director. Students may not transfer credits for courses taken at other institutions until they have completed at least 12 hours of graduate courses with a grade of B or better as a matriculated student at the Graduate School–New Brunswick. The courses being transferred must relate directly to a student’s
program of study at Rutgers, and the student must have received a grade of B or better in them. No credit may be transferred for thesis research work, course work done as
independent study, or work in courses that were not graded. P or S grades are eligible for transfer if equivalent to a grade of B or better and accompanied by a letter of equivalency
from the instructor of the course. Permission is required to transfer credit for courses taken more than six years prior to the application for transfer of credit. No more than the equivalent of one year of course work normally may be transferred toward the Ph.D. degree (i.e., 24 credits).
10. When is my application due?
Applications are due by February 15 for Fall admission. Applications from abroad are due April 1.
11. How much does it cost to apply?
The current fee for applications is $50.
12. How can I be sure that all my application materials have been received?
We carefully account for all the admissions materials that arrive for each applicant. If something from your application is missing, we will either call or e-mail you in order to let you know what we need. You will receive one notification of missing materials, after which point you will be wholly responsible for following up on missing items. Remember application materials should be sent to the Graduate School- New Brunswick, not to the School of Social Work.
13. Is it possible to send in my application materials in several installments?
Incomplete applications are not processed. Until all the parts of the application are received, your application will not be considered. Remember that you will have to rely upon outside sources for portions of your application. Therefore, we strongly advise that you take the GRE (and if necessary, TOEFL) and ask for your recommendations well in advance of applying to the program.
14. When should I expect to hear about my admissions decision?
We try to process completed admission materials within two weeks of their receipt, but depending upon volume, this may take longer, especially for applications received later in the cycle. You will be notified of the decision in writing, but you can also access the information on-line.
15. What financial aid is available to students?
The Program offers a range of funding packages to accepted students requesting financial aid. These can include full or partial tuition remission or other financial support. Qualified students may also be eligible for Teaching Assistantships (TA’s) which include full tuition and a stipend.
16. How hard is it to get into the program?
Every year, the Rutgers Social Work Doctoral Program attracts a number of highly qualified applicants. The program is competitive and some applicants will be unsuccessful. A letter of rejection does not necessarily mean that the applicant is not qualified, but that we that we have received applications from other students who better fit with the program.
17. Where should I direct my other questions about the doctoral program?
If you have any additional questions, feel free to contact the Doctoral Program Secretary, Ms. Donna Albert by email at donaalex@rci.rutgers.edu or by telephone at 732-932-6967
18. How can I visit Rutgers?
Consult the information found at the following website:
http://ruweb.rutgers.edu/visitingru.shtm