Plan a focused program of study, expand your knowledge and competencies, establish academic and professional expertise, and formulate a philosophy about your future career.
The Department of Social Work at the University of Mississippi offers a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Social Welfare. Its curriculum is designed to train students to become competent scholars and applied practitioners who advance knowledge and provide leadership in addressing issues pertinent to at-risk and vulnerable populations.
These include but are not limited to:
Ph.D. in Social Welfare
N/A
54
Master's Program
3 years
To apply to the Ph.D. in Social Welfare, students must submit:
Student prospects who have not earned a MSW degree or who do not have 2 years of post-MSW professional experience can still be considered for admission. However, the PhD Admissions Committee will review and consider such applications on a case-by-case basis.
To be considered for a graduate assistantship (GA), a completed application must be submitted by March 1.
Application deadline for all applicants is April 1.
The program consists of 54 post-MSW credit hours. The requirements include 21 hours in a substantive core area of social work; 15 hours of research methods and statistics; and 18 hours of dissertation research.
Additional requirements for the degree include students passing a Comprehensive Exam.
The following types of positions are available through the University for the employment of graduate students.
The terms of individual appointments will vary by department. It is the responsibility of the administrative head of a department to state in writing the terms of appointment for graduate assistantship positions.
The letter should provide information regarding the following conditions, where appropriate:
The title, percentage time, and period of the appointment;
The stipend level for the above period and the availability of supplemental fellowships,
including conditions for receiving a tuition scholarship;
The minimum and maximum course enrollment during the appointment period;
Evaluation procedures and required grade point average and performance requirements for continued employment;
Procedure for reappointment;
Deadline for acceptance of the assistantship offer;
Assistantships are usually subject to taxation and must be declared as income;
Date on which the appointee is required to report for work duty or training.
For all Graduate Instructors, Graduate Teaching Assistants, and Graduate Administrative Assistants, depending on the role, a supervisory faculty or staff member may be designated by the department.
The supervisor is responsible for evaluating their performance. Evaluations and recommendations may be provided by the supervisor to the assistants on an as-needed basis during the appointment period.
These evaluations are used to help the student develop their teaching/research/administrative skills and for decisions regarding reappointment.
For additional policies and procedures for graduate assistantship administration, check Section 2 of the GPC Handbook—Policies related to financial aid and the employment of graduate students.
The PhD in Social Welfare program in the Department of Social Work at the University of Mississippi is committed to nurturing the next generation of social work educators and researchers so that they contribute to the creation of the knowledge base of our profession and positively impact the lives of our client populations.
The overall learning outcome objectives for doctoral students are as follows:
Check out some of the key classes you’ll encounter as a Social Welfare doctoral student. Curious about what else is offered? Browse the full catalog of courses.
GR
3 credits
This course examines evidence-informed and evidenced-based research with diverse and at-risk populations. The focus is on understanding social work research in global, diverse, multicultural societies with an emphasis on developing an anti-oppression framework that promotes social and economic justice, human dignity, and the pursuit of human rights.
GR
3 credits
Scientific research in the field of neuroscience continues to make profound discoveries regarding brain systems, neurobiology, and their implications for social work. This course will provide foundations in neurobiological study through a social work perspective. Students will acquire a fundamental understanding of interacting brain systems as they influence individuals' behavioral, social, and emotional worlds. Particular emphasis will be placed on the biological and environmental factors affecting development and behavior through the study of epigenetics and its influence on daily functioning.
GR
3 credits
This course surveys the evolution of social welfare with a focus on gender, class, and race. The course examines the development of social welfare systems and the underlying philosophies in the context of the social, economic, political, and cultural environments in which they emerged. Topics include the development and history of social work, the development of contemporary social welfare, the professionalization of social work, and methods of social policy analysis.
Median salary for a Postsecondary Teacher in 2025.
Average salary for a Social Science Researcher in 2026.
We're here to answer any of your questions about the Ph.D. in Social Welfare. Don't hesitate to reach out!
Associate Professor of Social Work and Ph.D. Program Director
We have a variety of scholarships and financial aid options to help make college more affordable for you and your family.
Are you ready to take the next step toward building your legacy?
