Doctor of Philosophy
PhD Admission Requirements
Typically, the School admits between 4 and 7 doctoral students each year. This depends on the number of highly qualified applicants in a given year, the number of students already in course work, and the existing ratio of part-time to full-time students. Applicants and students come from all over the world.
The School has a rolling admissions process. The Admissions Committee begins reviewing completed applications in the late fall and continues until mid-March. A personal statement is required and all applicants are interviewed in person or by phone. GRE scores must be submitted as part of the application packet. The TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is required for applicants whose native language is not English.
Requirements for Admission
- A Master's degree in social work from an accredited university or a Master's degree in a related field.
- An undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
- A graduate grade point average of 3.5 or higher.
- GRE scores of at least 500 on the verbal and quantitative reasoning parts of the test (600 is desirable); a score of at least 5.0 on the analytic writing test. Grades and test scores are considered in conjunction with the personal statement and interview.
- A personal statement describing an applicant's reasons for choosing to pursue doctoral education in social work and social welfare. Applicants are required as well to analyze a social problem, identifying factors that must be considered in developing a policy or program to address the problem and the social work practice issues implied by the analysis.
- Letters of recommendation are required from three individuals capable of assessing the applicant's ability to successfully engage in doctoral study. Two of these should be academic references.
- Two years of post-MSW work experience is recommended but not required.
- An interview with a faculty member at GSSWSR.
Prior to Applying
Potential applicants must speak with the Director of the Doctoral Program, or a faculty member, prior to submitting the application for admission. This discussion is used to explore the fit between a potential applicant's professional and intellectual interests and the strengths of the School.
To arrange a telephone discussion, the prospective applicant should forward a brief statement about previous educational and work experiences as well as the reasons for pursuing a doctoral degree. A resume may also be attached. This material should be sent to admissions@brynmawr.edu or mailed to Doctoral Program, Office of Admissions, GSSWSR, 300 Airdale Road, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 . The applicant will then be contacted to set up an interview with the Director. It will be helpful for the prospective applicant to review information about the doctoral program and its curriculum prior to the interview. Review of faculty profiles is encouraged: http://www.brynmawr.edu/socialwork/People/faculty.html .
The Director will also explain in detail how the program works, how GRE scores are used in evaluating preparation, how financial aid is allocated, and will suggest other faculty members with whom a prospective student might speak. Potential applicants may visit the School, attend classes, talk with current students, and discuss their interests with members of the faculty.
Bryn Mawr College does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, age, or disability in the administration of its educational and admissions policies, scholarship, loan, athletic, and other College-administered programs.
