Question: What is the difference between a Doctor of Social Work (DSW) and a PhD in Social Work?
Updated: March 11, 2025
Answer: A Doctor of Social Work (DSW) is a professional doctorate degree that focuses on the application of social work theory and practice to real-world situations. In contrast, a PhD in Social Work is a research-focused degree that emphasizes theoretical and empirical scholarship. The main difference between these two degree programs is that the DSW degree is geared toward social work practitioners who want to step into leadership positions at their place of work and beyond, while the PhD in Social Work is designed for scholars who want to contribute to the social work field through research of social work theories, methodologies, and historical and contemporary issues in the field.
Social work is a complex and impactful field of practice, advocacy, and research that is dedicated to addressing issues of social justice and providing multifaceted support to communities and individuals in need. The Doctor of Social Work (DSW) and PhD in Social Work are considered the highest degrees in the profession. In addition, both doctoral degree programs place emphasis on research as a way to investigate and address issues of social justice, inequality, and inequity, with the aim of alleviating human suffering and increasing societal well-being.
However, the DSW and PhD in Social Work are distinct from each other in that the DSW is more practice-oriented, preparing students for leadership roles in organizational contexts, whereas the PhD prepares students to conduct doctorate-level research on important social work issues. As a result, the DSW tends to include more courses on leadership methods and innovation in social work practice, while the PhD in Social Work tends to include courses on advanced research methodologies and how they can be applied to examining social work and social justice-related phenomena. The following sections outline in detail the differences between a DSW and PhD in Social Work.
Note: Doctoral programs in social work, due to their emphasis on organizational and macro-level leadership in the field, are not designed to prepare students for direct social work practice or licensure in clinical social work. Students wishing to enter the field of direct practice social work typically do so through a Master of Social Work program, even if they have already earned a master’s degree in a related field.
Curriculum Differences Between DSW and PhD in Social Work Programs
The DSW is designed for experienced social work practitioners who want to step into leadership roles managing teams and organizations in the development of solutions and interventions that support underserved and marginalized populations. In this way, the DSW can be seen as an extension of the training and preparation that social workers receive at the undergraduate and master’s levels, through Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) and Master of Social Work (MSW) programs, respectively. The BSW and MSW are practice-oriented degree programs that prepare students for direct work in the field at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels (depending on students’ chosen specialization within their degree program). As an extension of this, the DSW features a curriculum that prepares MSW graduates to take the next step in their careers, typically with courses on organizational leadership, innovation in social work interventions, leadership in policy and advocacy, and other highly practitioner-focused topics. In addition, the DSW generally features courses on how to use action-oriented research to improve outcomes in a particular social work context.
In contrast, the PhD in Social Work is generally geared towards social work professionals and scholars who want to investigate social work issues and advance social work best practices through doctoral-level academic research. As a result, the PhD is distinct from the BSW, MSW, and DSW in that it features courses that incorporate a broader historical and contemporary view of the social work profession, and which focus on advanced research theories and methodologies. Below are sample course titles for DSW and PhD in Social Work programs, to give prospective students an idea of the course content they can expect from each degree program.
Sample Doctor of Social Work Courses:
- Advanced Clinical Research for Community Practice
- Advanced Policy Advocacy and Practice
- Strategic Social Work Innovation
- Organizational Leadership in Social Work
- Data-Informed Decision Making in Social Work
- Executive Leadership in Social Work
- Financial Management in Human Services Organizations
Sample PhD in Social Work Courses:
- The History of Social Welfare Systems and the Social Work Profession
- Advanced Statistical Analysis
- Mixed Methods Research in Social Work
- Microeconomic Forces and Social Welfare
- Macroeconomic Forces and Social Welfare
- Advanced Topics in Social Work and Welfare Policy
- Advanced Social Science Theory in Social Work
As the sample course titles illustrate, the DSW generally includes courses on advanced social work research as it relates to directly improving social work practice, as well as classes on executive and organizational leadership, communication skills, finance and budgeting for social work agencies, and other professionally focused topics. In contrast, the PhD in Social Work focuses on advanced theory, statistical analysis, and research of social work principles, policies, and practices. In other words, the DSW prepares students to lead programs and initiatives for social work and human services-related organizations, while the PhD prepares students to interrogate and therefore advance the social work discipline through academic research.
Practicum and Capstone Experiences for DSW vs. PhD in Social Work Programs
The DSW and the PhD in Social Work both typically require students to complete 1) a practicum experience in a setting that is relevant to their academic and professional interests and 2) a doctoral capstone project or dissertation. The key difference between the practicum and dissertation/capstone experiences for a DSW and a PhD in Social Work, is that the DSW typically requires students to find a professional leadership-oriented practicum experience, and to complete a capstone project that seeks to directly resolve a real problem or challenge in social work practice. In contrast, the PhD generally requires students to complete their practicum in an advanced research setting or in a teaching or instructional context (depending on the student’s goals post-graduation).
For example, a DSW student might fulfill their practicum experience in a psychiatric health care setting, a social justice advocacy organization, or a child welfare agency, applying concepts from their doctoral coursework to leadership work under the supervision of a preceptor. On the other hand, a PhD student might complete their practicum at a social work or social policy research organization, or at an institution of higher education as a teaching assistant or instructor.
In terms of students’ culminating experience requirements, a DSW program might allow students to complete a capstone project that is directly applicable to their current or desired work setting — examples of such projects could include a social welfare program proposal, a plan for an agency or organizational re-design, or an intervention plan aimed at addressing a pressing social justice or equity challenge. In contrast, students of PhD in Social Work programs might investigate a broader social welfare, social justice, or mental health-related issue, such as the incidence of depression in a particular minority group, or the sociopolitical mechanisms that lead to education or health care access disparities. Furthermore, PhD programs in social work generally require students to complete a traditional five-chapter doctoral dissertation that explains their research findings.
Admissions Requirements for DSW vs. PhD in Social Work Programs
In general, both DSW and PhD in Social Work programs require students to have completed an MSW program at a school that has been accredited through Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). However, PhD in Social Work programs may also admit students who have a master’s degree in a related field, such as sociology or criminology. In addition, while a PhD in Social Work might not have clinical or direct social work practice requirements, DSW programs generally require a certain number of years of clinical or professional, post-master’s social work experience for students to be eligible for admission.
Aside from the aforementioned admission requirements, DSW and PhD in Social Work programs might have minimum GPA requirements for students’ past academic work. In addition, both types of programs typically expect students to submit a personal statement and/or admissions essay, and two to three letters of recommendation. As admission requirements for DSW and PhD in Social Work programs vary by school, students who are interested in applying to either or both types of programs should contact the admissions offices of their programs of interest.
CSWE Accreditation for DSW Programs
Another significant distinction between DSW programs and PhD programs in social work is their accreditation processes. In 2025, the CSWE, which is the sole accrediting body for bachelor’s and master’s programs in social work, finished a four-year pilot project that established procedures for accrediting DSW programs. By developing accreditation standards for DSW programs, the CSWE seeks to ensure that doctorate of social work programs sufficiently prepare students for leadership roles in social work practice.
Once the CSWE has officially launched its DSW accreditation process (which it is expected to do in late 2025), this will be another differentiator between DSW programs and PhD programs. While DSW programs will have to undergo a rigorous accreditation process through the CSWE that involves submitting program documentation, meeting key benchmarks, and undergoing evaluations while under candidacy (similarly to BSW and MSW programs undergoing CSWE accreditation), PhD programs only need to receive approval through their institution. As a result, PhD programs in social work are not required to meet or maintain a set of accreditation standards designed to promote quality assurance, consistency, and efficacy of doctoral social work leadership education.