Social Work (PhD)
Please visit the program page to learn about curriculum, faculty, careers, and more! You may also be interested in seeing our course descriptions. To request more information about this degree, please fill out our form.
How to Apply
Application Requirements
Eligibility Requirements for the PhD in Social Work
An MSW from a program in social work accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) or master’s degree or higher in a related discipline with a minimum GPA of 3.0
- A minimum of 2 years post-master’s experience working in the social work or related field
- Demonstrated capacity for doctoral study and evidence of scholarly potential
- Career goals consistent with doctoral study that include a desire to conduct applied research, design and evaluate programs and interventions, engage in knowledge translation, and/or other aspects of scholarship.
Please submit a completed application file that includes the following:
- Completed application form
- Nonrefundable $45 application fee
- Official transcripts of all past or current academic work. Please send official transcripts electronically. You can make your request directly with your undergraduate and graduate institutions. These academic institutions will submit electronic transcripts via Student Clearing House, Scrip-Safe, E-Scrip, Parchment Exchange, or any other certified electronic transcript services. Please use our email [email protected] to send electronic transcripts.
- Current resume
- Three letters of professional or academic recommendation— including at least one recommendation from a past professor or academic colleague. References should know you well enough to evaluate your potential success in a doctoral program and as a scholar in the field of social work.
- A 3-5-page personal statement that includes the following:
- Educational background
- Interest in our program
- Professional experience and approach to social work practice
- Areas of research interest
- Career plans and how a Ph.D. in social work supports those plans
- TOEFL scores, if English is not the first language
- Writing sample: Provide one writing sample that shows evidence of your ability to think critically and write clearly. Examples include a written clinical case report (de-identified), conference presentation with proceedings, journal publication, grant submission, evaluation report, academic paper, policy analysis, master’s thesis or similar graduate-level work. If you are not the sole author, describe your contribution to the work. We may ask for additional writing samples from applicants.
- Consistent with the scientific research on standardized tests and admissions, the GRE score is no longer required as part of the application process for the Simmons PhD program.
Application Deadline
February 1st, 2023 for full consideration for admission and scholarships. Admission decisions will be provided by March 15th, 2023.
Applications submitted after February 1st will be considered for admission on a case-by-case basis. In general, no student admissions are made after June 15. Scholarships are partial and do not cover the full cost of the tuition.
Resources
Tuition and fees
Tuition and fees at Simmons are updated annually each spring. They are assessed each semester based on the number of credits enrolled, the level of degree, and the particular program of study.
Merit scholarships and funding options
We believe that your exceptional academic preparation and hard work should be rewarded.
Health insurance
All students taking 9 or more credits are required by Massachusetts State law to enroll in the Student Health Insurance Plan or be covered by a health insurance plan with comparable coverage.