Doctoral students at CUSSW complete two years of course work in such areas as the history and philosophy of social welfare, statistics and research methods, social work theory and methods, policy analysis, administration, social and behavioral sciences � including economics, political science, sociology, psychology, anthropology � and advanced study in a field of practice (e.g. poverty and income distribution, child and family services or policies, health practice and policy, family services or policies, health practice and policy; social gerontology, industrial social work, and comparative social policy).  After taking comprehensive examinations, Ph.D. students plan and execute research for the doctoral dissertation.  In its instructional methods, the doctoral program supports a range of scholarly interests in conjunction with expert advising and individualized program plans.

Faculty associated with the School�s Ph.D. program are recognized visionaries in the country and in the world within their chosen fields.  Long associated with the program and among its notable and outstanding graduates are current professors in the program and its past chairpersons, including Professor Emeritus Alfred J. Kahn, Professor Sheila B. Kamerman, Professor Brenda G. McGowan, and Professor Irwin Garfinkel.  All of the current faculty mentioned above also hold endowed chairs at the School and are highly sought after by doctoral students to serve as not only as teachers, but also as advisors and sponsors of dissertations.  Going beyond traditional professorial duties, many doctoral faculty become life-long mentors for their students.  The bonds of collegiality between faculty and doctoral students are unusually close, as CUSSW professors help their current and former students gain challenging faculty appointments, conduct research studies, submit grant proposals, and publish articles, books, and chapters.

Since the 1940s, the School�s doctoral program has experienced great demand for the scholars it produces.  Graduates of the doctoral program have gone on to become professors and deans at every leading school of social work in the country.  Increasingly, doctoral graduates also occupy professorships in universities outside of the United States, in Europe, Asia, and elsewhere, where large numbers of them serve in government ministries, policy-making bodies, and key administrative positions.  Indeed, the international complement of students in the School�s Ph.D. program speaks of its global attraction and its influence on social welfare worldwide.  Building on a proud and distinguished tradition while innovating to prepare for the future, the doctoral program at CUSSW looks forward to shaping the foundation of social welfare by educating its builders, innovators, and leaders.