A doctoral student in Social Work will gain the foundations and expertise necessary for change oriented research and scholarship. Through the mentoring of a faculty advisor and committee, students engage in translational science research and scholarship – moving primary research results into application and dissemination to the social work practice community. The curriculum, candidacy exam, and dissertation are all designed to contribute to this goal. 

The mission of the doctoral program in Social Work is to nurture the next generation of social work researchers and educators within the translational research framework with the ultimate goal of positively impacting the lives of individuals, families, communities, and society. 

• Theory-driven intervention and implementation research
• Qualitative and quantitative research methods to understand the individual, family and community contexts of social problems
• Mixed methods research to understand the agency and program contexts where interventions are implemented
• Pedagogical skills to be effective social work educators
• Grant writing skills for research funding
• Publishing and presenting