Doctor of Social Work (DSW)

Walden’s Doctor of Social Work (DSW) program offers a variety of specializations to help you meet your personal and professional goals.

To be considered for this program, you must:

• Currently hold a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from a CSWE-accredited program with 3.0 GPA.
• At least 3 years full time and equivalent practice experience beyond the master’s degree. Resume will be required to document experience.

To apply, please submit your completed online application and transcripts. Please note that the materials you are required to submit may vary depending on the academic program to which you apply. More information for international applicants.

Earning your online Doctor of Social Work requires commitment, perseverance, and hard work. You can do it, and Walden is here to help—with our Doctoral Degree Coach™.

• Map and Track Milestones: Break your research down into manageable, sequential steps. See where you are, what’s ahead, and what you’ve already accomplished—all in one place.
• Meet Weekly Targets: No more guesswork. Set prompts based on your to-do list and receive reminders and updates directly to your inbox.
• Connect With Faculty: Stay on the same page and keep your progress on track. With shared access to your dashboard, your chair can easily guide you through your checklists, goals, and timelines.
• Access Helpful Resources: Quickly find support from the right person at the right time. Our comprehensive resource guide points you in the right direction—no more frustrating searches.

The Doctor of Social Work academic residency gives you an opportunity to interact with your peers and faculty, build your clinical skills, and strategize for your action research project. These experiences are designed to enhance your development as both a social work clinician and a scholar-practitioner so that you’re empowered to create positive social change.

During the four-day DSW program academic residency, you’ll be able to:

• Critically assess research.
• Use critical thinking skills expected of doctoral students
• Demonstrate an understanding of appropriate research problems that can be utilized for the capstone process.
• Effectively communicate with others
• Effectively communicate research ideas.
• Conceptualize capstone research studies that have the potential to contribute to positive social change
• Demonstrate an understanding of the steps required to conduct a DSW capstone research study.

For your convenience, the academic residency is scheduled several times throughout the year. They are held in a variety of locations in the United States and virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic. You can participate in the residency as soon as you begin your Doctor of Social Work program, and it must be completed before you begin your action research project.

These are ranges of what a student can expect in terms of time and tuition cost to complete a degree. It does not include other fees, nor is it adjusted for tuition increases over time. Walden faculty has concluded that generally students who do not complete their program in eight years are unlikely to complete and only allow students to exceed that time frame when a student petitions for an extension and provides good reason for the delay and assurances that obstacles to completion can be overcome. Time is calculated using the time allowed for each semester or unit that the student completes. Students are encouraged to work continuously during the program so as not to extend the time needed to complete the degree as work can become stale and students lose focus. Students who earn two grades of “Unsatisfactory,” who repeatedly drop a course before a semester or unit has been completed, or are unable to complete in the eight year time frame, should expect that they may be dismissed from the program. Walden believes that it is in the best interest of a student who is unable to complete the degree in the stated ranges to strongly consider withdrawal or obtaining a lesser degree.

Time to completion and cost are not estimates of individual experience and will vary based on individual factors applicable to the student. Factors may be programmatic or academic such as tuition and fee increases and/or the student’s transfer credits accepted by Walden; program or specialization changes; unsuccessful course completion; credit load per term; writing, research and editing skills; use of external data for their doctoral study/dissertation; and/or individual progress in the program. Other factors may include personal issues such as the student’s employment obligations; care giving responsibilities or health issues; part-time vs. full-time enrollment; leaves of absence; and/or other personal circumstances.

Tuition and fees are subject to change. Books and materials are not included. Students may incur additional costs for remedial writing assistance, if necessary.

^{^}This assumes students successfully complete their coursework on the first attempt.

^† Based on a 2.5-year minimum completion requirement and an 8-year maximum timeframe as outlined in Walden academic policy.

*Tuition and fees will be higher if students petition to extend the 8-year maximum timeframe or choose to take more expensive elective courses.

⁺Tuition and time to complete may be reduced if transfer credits are accepted, or if you receive grants, scholarships or other tuition discounts. For a personalized estimate of the number of your transfer credits that Walden would accept, call an Enrollment Specialist at 844-642-0198.

Walden’s Doctor of Social Work online program provides an immersive and engaging learning experience that fosters your growth as a social work leader. Build a powerful doctoral skillset you need to complete your capstone with confidence. At every step, our faculty are here to support you based on more than 50 years of serving doctoral learners at a distance.

As a graduate of our DSW program, you will be prepared to: