Doctoral Program in Social Work (Ph.D.)

GSSWSR is proud to offer a nationally renowned Ph.D. program in social work. The country's first Ph.D. degree in social work was awarded at the Graduate School for Social Work and Social Research in 1920.

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Application Instructions for Doctoral Program (Ph.D.)

Explore the Ph.D. Program

Ph.D. Curriculum

Ph.D. Research

Meet our Doctoral Students

Our Ph.D. students—like our faculty—come to Bryn Mawr from throughout the U.S. and internationally to join in our deep commitment to scholarship and our field. Graduates of the program are extremely well situated to pursue academic positions throughout the country and abroad, and indeed our alumni can be found in many key positions of leadership.

The school’s traditional strengths in clinical practice, social theory, and research help to foster a generative community that values innovative approaches that reach across traditional silos to better address the central problems we face as a field.

Distinctive Strengths of our Ph.D. Program

Significant Financial Support

Consistent with our model, all Ph.D. students are funded equally, and do not compete for basic financial support during coursework. We support all Ph.D. students to engage deeply in doctoral training with full tuition waivers and substantial stipends to offset costs of living.

Admissions & Aid

Distinctive Strengths of our Ph.D. Program

Small Cohorts That Foster Close Collaboration

Our small cohorts each year enable a close-knit, vibrant, and productive community of scholars where students often collaborate closely with each other and faculty. In addition to teaching, students and faculty meet frequently to workshop new projects and discuss dilemmas in teaching.

Ph.D. Curriculum

Distinctive Strengths of our Ph.D. Program

Diverse Approaches to Research

Our Ph.D. program places value in qualitative inquiry, quantitative analysis, mixed method designs, and theoretical conceptualization.

Ph.D. Research

Distinctive Strengths of our Ph.D. Program

Distinguished Students and Alumni

Our students have been awarded Fulbright and Woodrow Wilson Fellowships, fellowships from foreign governments, and funding from the Council on Social Work Education.

Graduates of the GSSWSR Ph.D. Program

Our Primary Areas of Focus for Research and Teaching

Health and Mental Health Across the Lifespan

Children, Families, and Society

A Close-Knit Community of Scholars

The centering of faculty-student relationships has been core to our Ph.D. program’s success for almost a century. A distinctive feature of our Ph.D. program is our small size—typically enrolling cohorts of just three or four students per year, and class sizes are typically seven students. This model allows for students to engage and learn more deeply, as individuals, as a cohort, and in close collaboration with faculty.

2:1

Ratio of Ph.D. students at all stages in the program to tenured and tenure-track faculty

Access the Larger Bryn Mawr Community

Resources Beyond GSSWSR

To support our focus on interdisciplinary social work scholarship within a broader liberal arts tradition, students have access to a wealth of resources beyond GSSWSR. Ph.D. students often connect with faculty throughout Bryn Mawr College for special projects and innovative research across traditional disciplinary lines. Students can also take electives to pursue additional areas of focus within the college of arts and sciences at the University of Pennsylvania, as well as at Haverford and Swarthmore colleges.

Learn More About Our Partner Schools

Sara Bressi, Ph.D. Program Director, School of Social Work

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