PhD Student Handbook

Updated August 2006

Disclaimer
The policies and procedures described in this manual are continually revised and updated. The program reserves the right to revise the manual on an as needed basis. For the most recent policies and procedures, consult the website for the School of Social Policy and Practice at www.sp2.upenn.edu. In addition to the contents of this manual, students must also comply with the rules stipulated in Section 8 of the Graduate Catalogue which can be found at www.upenn.edu/grad/rules.html#phalf

Graduation
Students who are planning to graduate in 2007-2008 should check the Office of Graduate Studies page graduation calendar.

Introduction

The field of Social Welfare draws from all the basic social science disciplines and the experience of social work and other professions. The practice of social welfare is the vigilant application of this knowledge toward improving our collective life, with particular attention to those who are most vulnerable to a loss or lack of resources. The vitality of social welfare is maintained by the passions for social justice brought by those who choose to enter the field. Our doctoral students receive the training necessary to augment their passion with disciplined scholarship.

Like all Ph.D. programs at Penn, the Social Welfare doctoral program is operated as an interdisciplinary enterprise through a “Graduate Group” that includes the faculty of the School of Social Policy and Practice along with faculty with interest in social welfare from Anthropology, Sociology, History, Education, Psychology, Psychiatry, Religious Studies, Criminology, Nursing, among other departments and schools. After completing a core set of courses in research methods, theory, and policy, students have the opportunity to take full advantage of the broader university. Many students use this time to make a ‘home away from home’ in another department or program, supplementing their training in the core courses with substantive training in a compatible discipline.

The Ph.D. in Social Welfare prepares students for careers as outstanding researchers and scholars. This is accomplished through a curriculum that is both flexible and rigorous. While held to high standards in the examination and dissertation processes, students are also encouraged to develop their own work and voice through relationships with mentors and colleagues.

With this vision in mind, the Penn program in Social Welfare focuses its doctoral training on the following components:

Core courses that provide a common foundation in the “three legs” of the social welfare stool, theory, research, and policy;
Elective courses that allow students to explore and shape their own expertise;
Research assistantships with working researchers that include real world application of classroom knowledge; and
Examination and dissertation processes that focus on the rigorous development of a scholarly colleague.

This manual will provide you with a guide to each of these elements in the process of earning a Ph.D. in social welfare.

A University Degree

The Ph.D. is a University degree—meaning that it is not granted by the School of Social Policy and Practice (as are D.S.W. degrees in many social work schools). Therefore, the University maintains an interest in quality standards across all Ph.D. programs. The University, through the Office of Graduate Studies sets the calendar of deadlines, creates forms, and processes degrees, not the School of Social Policy and Practice. A first step toward understanding Ph.D. study at Penn is to take time to understand the University infrastructure and policies for graduate study. To begin, visit the web site for the Office of Graduate Studies.

Penn has also prepared a Graduate and Professional Student Handbook, which highlights many aspects of social and cultural life at Penn as well as additional academic resources.