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Doctoral Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission to the doctoral program at UNC School of Social Work, an applicant must have:

  • Master of Social Work degree from a school accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (a master’s degree in a related discipline may be considered but a MSW is preferred)
  • Two years of work experience in human services (this requirement may be waived in special circumstances)
  • Evidence of strong academic ability
  • Evidence of commitment to the values, goals, and purposes of the social work profession
  • Evidence of a direction for and a commitment to social intervention research
  • A strong commitment to a research career

Ideally, the applicant will have had two years of work experience in human services after completion of the MSW degree. This experience offers a real-world view of the social work profession and provides observations from which research interests can grow. Additionally, the Council on Social Work Education requires two years of post-MSW experience for teachers of practice as part of CSWE’s accreditation standards.

Applications are submitted through UNC Graduate School. A complete application packet for doctoral admission includes these materials (please refer to the UNC Graduate School website for complete details):