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):
- Application fee
- Copies of official transcripts from all undergraduate and post-graduate study
- Statement of purpose
- Letters of recommendation (three or more)
- Current CV
- TOEFL score (for international applicants)
- International Financial Certificate (for international applicants)
- Residency form (if claiming North Carolina residency for tuition purposes)