Doctor of Philosophy
The School
The Bryn Mawr College Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research was founded in 1915 as the Carola Woerishoffer Graduate Department of Social Economy and Social Research. The original name honored the dedication of the School's benefactress, a Bryn Mawr alumna who worked with migrant workers in upstate New York and was killed in a car accident. Master's and Doctoral degrees have been offered from the School's inception and in 1920 Bryn Mawr awarded the first Ph.D. in social work.
Throughout its distinguished history the School has been committed to addressing the issues of poverty, civil rights and the place of women in society. Concerns for fostering a caring society are reflected in a caring community at Bryn Mawr. People value and support each other while insisting on intellectual growth and critical exchange. Faculty members work closely with doctoral students in small classes. In the liberal arts tradition, teaching excellence matters.
Our PhD program prepares individuals for intellectual leadership in the profession. These scholars will contribute to understanding and improving the relationships between individuals and society. Students are prepared for careers as advanced social work researchers and educators who will:
- contribute original thinking to the knowledge base in social work and social welfare
- understand theoretical frameworks and research methodologies relevant to the field and contribute significantly to their development
- be proficient in a wide array of conceptual and analytic tools in carrying out their scholarship
- incorporate a multidisciplinary perspective in studying issues of relevance to the profession
- understand various levels and methods of practice and their interrelationships.
