MSASS - Doctoral Programs

• Doctoral Programs
  • DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
    • Formats of the Ph.D. Program
    • The Full-Time 14-Month Program
    • Full-time Ph.D. Program
    • The Summer Study Program
    • Admission to Doctoral Program
• Academic Policies for Ph.D. in Social Welfare
  • RESIDENCE REQUIREMENT
  • FACULTY ADVISORS
  • QUALIFYING EXAMINATION
  • ADMISSION TO CANDIDACY
  • DISSERTATION REQUIREMENTS
  • DOCTORAL PROGRAM FINANCIAL AID

Doctoral Programs

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

Students selected for study in the Ph.D. in Social Welfare program share a goal with distinguished faculty: the development of knowledge that will enhance the effectiveness of institutions and professions created to serve human need. The purpose of the program is the preparation of scholars, teachers, and practice leaders to generate new knowledge on the policies and programs of social welfare and the practice of social work.

Accordingly, we emphasize the creative and evaluative skills necessary for independent inquiry. We prepare students to be knowledgeable in:

• relevant areas of the social and behavioral sciences;
• research, design, statistics, and the philosophy of science;
• theory-building and theories of social welfare; and
• methods for the application and transmission of knowledge in the human services.

In addition to this foundation knowledge, students develop specialized expertise in policy analysis and program planning or social work practice theory; and in one or more substantive areas of social welfare.

Effort is made to provide an educational climate in which critical analysis and creative thinking flourish. The program core emphasizes philosophical and scientific approaches to theory development, the content and boundaries of theoretical social welfare, statistics and advanced research methodologies, and the social and behavioral science foundations underpinning social welfare programs and social work practice. On entering the program, students are expected to demonstrate competence in basic research methodologies through a performance examination. A non-credit research methodology course is required of students who lack the knowledge base.

The area of specialization enables the student to apply social science theory, analytical approaches, and research tools to either social welfare policy or social work practice. Students are encouraged to focus on a substantive policy or practice area during the period of specialization. This facilitates the development of a dissertation proposal.

Permeating the content of the entire program is a focus on the development and transmission of knowledge as a part of an educational process. Students with a specific career interest in teaching, regardless of their area of specialization, are encouraged to take courses in social work education, learning theories, and teaching strategies as an integral part of the educational plan. Teaching practice can be arranged.

Students can pursue special interests through individual reading and tutorial courses. In addition, regular course offerings in other departments of the University are available to students, and joint offerings have and continue to be developed. To the extent possible, practical experiences on faculty-conducted research projects are made available to doctoral students.

A total of 36 credit hours of course work is required, plus 18 hours of dissertation credit. A qualifying examination, given after completion of the program core, determines each student's eligibility for degree candidacy. The degree is awarded following successful completion of the dissertation.

The school reserves the right to require additional courses which may not be credited toward the doctoral requirements, if the faculty believes the student has insufficient knowledge in core areas of the curriculum.

Formats of the Ph.D. Program

In response to the differential needs and interests of potential Ph.D. students, MSASS offers two formats for meeting course and degree requirements. Program requirements under both formats include taking 12 courses (36 credit hours), passing a qualifying exam, and completing a dissertation. The alternative program structures are:

The Full-Time 14-Month Program

Under this format, full-time students can complete course requirements in a minimum of 14 calendar months. This intensive study plan requires total commitment to Ph.D. study during this period of time.

The Summer Study Program

Course work and residency requirements for the Summer Program can be completed during three summers and two January interim periods. This format is designed to accommodate social work educators and professionals who must maintain their employment commitments, but wish to pursue Ph.D. study during the summer residence.

Under both formats, all students will begin the program the first Monday in June with an intensive six-week period of study. During this time they will take three core courses. Students must devote full time to study during this six-week period. Summer program students will have a one-week period of study in January, a second six-week period of study the following summer, a second one-week period in January, and finally, a third six-week summer period. Full-time students, in addition to the first six-week study period, will take courses in the fall and spring semesters, during the January period, and during a second six-week summer period.

Full-time students will normally complete the qualifying examination in the spring following completion of core courses. Summer-study students will complete the qualifying examination prior to their third summer of residence.

It is expected that the third summer will be devoted to preparation of the dissertation prospectus, as well as completion of course requirements.

*Summer-study students may take two graduate level statistics courses at a university in their own community. The courses must include the range of tests through multiple regression and analysis of variance. Six credit hours (two courses) are transferable.

Admission to Doctoral Program

Through the School of Graduate Studies of Case Western Reserve University, the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences offers a Ph.D. in social welfare. To be admitted to the Ph.D. program, a candidate should have a master's degree from an accredited school of social work or a master's degree in a related field and demonstrate a superior record in undergraduate and graduate studies. Practical experience in social welfare is required. Application to the Ph.D. program will be considered from persons with master's degrees in allied fields with the recognition that their program will include equivalency requirements related to knowledge of social welfare. Students without a master's in social work may be interested in the dual degree M.S.S.A./Ph.D. program.

The Miller Analogies Test or Graduate Record Examination is required for application to the Ph.D. program. Applicants should have a score of at least 1100 on the combined Verbal and Quantitative section of the Graduate Record Examination or 60 on the Miller Analogies Test. A minimum grade point average of 3.0 for baccalaureate and master's degree study is expected.

Additional materials considered in reviewing applications include the completed application form and a written statement, with the non-refundable application fee (waived for students from other countries); official transcripts of all previous undergraduate and graduate courses taken for credit; and letters of recommendation. In addition, students from other countries must submit results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or its equivalent.

General inquiries about the advanced programs and requests for application forms should be directed to:

Completed applications should be sent to the above address.

Academic Policies for Ph.D. in Social Welfare

RESIDENCE REQUIREMENT

To meet the official residence requirement, students must be registered for at least three courses in the Ph.D. program either in each of two consecutive semesters or two consecutive summers. A minimum of one year following successful completion of the qualifying examination and course work is generally necessary to complete the doctoral dissertation.

FACULTY ADVISORS

Each doctoral student is assigned a faculty adviser to assist in the planning of his or her educational experience. At the appropriate time, a dissertation advisor is appointed after consultation with the student.

QUALIFYING EXAMINATION

The qualifying examination for doctoral candidates is taken after completion of foundation courses. The exam is intended to test the student's ability to critically analyze and integrate knowledge.

ADMISSION TO CANDIDACY

Students are admitted to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree upon the successful completion of the qualifying examination. To be admitted to candidacy, the candidate also must have maintained an average of 3.0 and received not more than one course grade of C or lower. To remain in the program, students must maintain a minimum of a cumulative 3.0 average and receive no more than one grade of C or lower.

DISSERTATION REQUIREMENTS

Each candidate for the Ph.D. degree must submit a written dissertation as evidence of his or her ability to conduct independent research at an advanced level. The dissertation must present a significant contribution to knowledge in the student's field, and at least a portion of the content must be suitable for publication in a reputable professional journal or as a book or monograph.

The dissertation prospectus must be completed and accepted within two calendar years after the student has been admitted to candidacy, and the dissertation must be completed and accepted within five calendar years after admission to candidacy. It is to the student's advantage to make steady progress in his or her research and aim for early completion of the dissertation. Before a candidate leaves the school as a full-time student, he or she should have formulated the topic, been assigned a dissertation adviser, and had the dissertation prospectus approved by a faculty committee constituted for this purpose.

Once a student registers for SASS 701, Dissertation, he or she must continue to register each succeeding regular semester (fall and spring) until the dissertation is complete unless granted a leave of absence. The minimum requirement for the dissertation is 18 hours. The minimum acceptable registration is three semester hours per semester, until 18 hours are completed.

All requirements for the Ph.D. degree must be completed within a period of five consecutive calendar years after a student is admitted to candidacy, including periods of leaves of absence. For students whose leaves of absence are for duty in the armed services, the time limitation will be extended by their period of service.

DOCTORAL PROGRAM FINANCIAL AID

Financial aid is available to admitted students in the form of tuition assistance and research and training assistantships.

Policies of the doctoral program regarding international students and registration are the same as those of the master's degree program described in the MSASS bulletin.

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