Clinical DSW Program
This post-MSW doctorate program in clinical social work (DSW) is for individuals interested in advancing their clinical knowledge. Penn’s Clinical DSW program differs from most doctoral social work programs in that it is a professional practice degree, designed to prepare students for advanced clinical practice and university-level teaching.
There are several innovative aspects of this program that further set it apart from other social work doctoral programs. Geared toward working professionals, Penn’s DSW is an intensive accelerated program that enables students to complete the course work and dissertation in three years, without career disruption. Unlike traditional doctoral social work programs, in which students complete their course work before embarking on their dissertations, students in Penn’s DSW program begin their course work and dissertation work simultaneously, and complete both in three years.
After the first year courses are taught in modules that meet one Thursday - Saturday block each month, which allows for exposure to a wider range of topics and faculty. The courses and modules focus on clinical practice, research and teaching, and are taught by Penn faculty and nationally recognized experts in the field.
Who is the DSW Program for?
- Agency-based practitioners
- Medical social workers
- School social workers
- Private Practitioners
- Other MSW-level social workers with direct practice experience
DSW Mission Statement
The University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy & Practice is committed to the enhancement of clinical social work practice through the development of a program of advanced study. The goal of this program is to meet four areas of perceived need within the domain of social work:
- Enhance and develop new clinical social work knowledge;
- Enhance the quality of social work practitioners in order to meet arising challenges and new social problems in an environment that demands the ability to apply the newest and most comprehensive clinical knowledge;
- Provide a new cadre of doctoral-level practice professors who will be able to teach high-level practice courses and who will engage in clinical research; and