Curriculum

The doctoral program is a “cohort model,” in which a group of up to 12 students move through a coursework sequence and a dissertation, designed for completion in approximately 3½ to 4 years, with the first two calendar years devoted to intensive coursework and practica. Only when one cohort arrives at their independent dissertation work do we admit a new cohort.

Students are encouraged, from their earliest courses, to identify their dissertation research interests. This is usually an easy step, as we seek to admit experienced professionals whose interests have evolved in their practices. Students are then assisted by faculty and their advisors to shape their course assignments and practica to support their chosen research interests.

Students matriculate in August, but should plan to be established in the Miami area by May. During the summer prior to August matriculation, a series of vital orientation programs are provided.

Additionally, admitted students must successfully pass a basic proficiency test in introductory social work research methods, administered the second Saturday of May. A text will be recommended that should suffice to prepare students for this examination. Those whose scores indicate need for refresher work will be asked to audit a summer section of one of our MSW research overview courses and take a post-test to demonstrate proficiency. The summer MSW courses are offered in a 12-week term that begins in mid-May. In the rare instance in which, after auditing a review course, a student does not demonstrate basic proficiency in the introductory research methods material, a remediation plan will be offered; however, the student in this situation should expect significant delays in degree completion, since many courses are offered once per cohort, or once every third year.

The 49-58 credit curriculum includes required courses in the following areas:

• Social psychological theories of individual and small group behavior and the sociocultural environment, theory development in the social sciences, theories of social work practice at individual, group, organizational and community levels (10 credits)
• Philosophy of science and research methodology, both qualitative and quantitative, including research synthesis and meta-analysis and a 6-credit research practicum (33 credits)
• Social policy analysis (3 credits)
• Social work education theory and methods

Electives include a teaching practicum (3 credits) and a series of intensive short courses (1-2 credits) on topics such as funding social work and dissertation research, policy development, analysis of qualitative data, legal and ethical issues in social work education and scholarship, and evaluation research. Students who avail themselves of all the elective intensive courses will earn 58 course credits.

A required course in research synthesis and meta-analysis at the end of the second year of study advances the development of a student’s area of specialization, resulting in a publishable paper and many aspects of the literature review that will support their dissertation proposal. Post-candidacy, dissertation development and implementation are supported by a series of seminars and the appointment of a dissertation chair and committee of the student’s choice.

Dissertation methodology is expected to follow from the research question; methods thus may include quantitative, qualitative, mixed-method, secondary analysis, and meta-analysis.

Because the program follows a cohort model, all students who matriculate in a given cohort move together through the curriculum. Accordingly, most individual courses are offered only once every three years. Hence, there is little opportunity to adjust one’s pace until all structured course work is done, in the fall of the third year. The advantage is that students will arrive at the finish line if they can stay on board, and there is opportunity to adjust one’s pace at the point of implementing a dissertation. We recognize that different dissertation studies take different amounts of time, and the program allows up to 8 calendar years from initial matriculation to graduation. We emphasize the essentiality of a student’s being able to commit sufficient time and resources to complete the 2 1/3 year structured curriculum of required and elective courses and practica.

Genuine effort is made to recognize individual student's scheduling needs, but this is not a program for everyone. It is a cohort model, and if a student enrolls, it is critical that they are able to stay on board. Any course failed, or withdrawn from, will not be offered again until a new cohort is admitted, which can compromise the firmly enforced 8-year time limit to graduation from matriculation.

The curriculum is designed for advanced practitioners with articulated research interests and sufficient control of their time to make doctoral study a high priority for approximately 3 1/2 to 4 years, with the first two years making the heaviest demands. Classes, which usually meet once a week (or in the case of special topics intensive seminars, at variable times and/or online), are scheduled in the late afternoon and evening. It is possible to be employed and to participate in this program, if your job provides considerable time flexibility and support for your endeavor.

Academic residency requirements stipulate that students enroll in a minimum of 9 credits for two consecutive or non-consecutive terms. Residency is easily achieved if the student makes use of May intersession intensive short elective courses, which can be combined with either spring or summer course to total 9 credits, or if the research practicum is taken in such a way that a given term reflects 9 credits.

Following the first summer of orientation and establishing foundational research proficiency, student matriculate and can expect to complete all coursework in the subsequent 7 trimesters.

First Year

Before matriculation, in the immediately preceding summer, several orientation sessions are offered that socialize students to doctoral education and its purposes and expectations. Students may audit or test out of a basic research design course offered to MSW students (SW 581 or SW 682).

During the first fall term, students take three 3-credit courses, which will satisfy part of residency and include: Philosophy of Science (HSS 703); Theory Development in Individual & Small Group Behavior and the Social Environment (SW 706); and Advanced Research I, Intervention Research & Experimental Design/ Analysis (SW 710). In the first spring term, students take a macro-social science course, Theory Development in the Social Sciences (SW 703) and Advanced Research II, Sample Survey Design & Analysis (SW 711). During the first summer term students take two courses: Social Policy Analysis (SW 723) and Theories of Social Work Practice (SW 701- 4 credits).

First year electives include: SW 759: Special Topics I, Policy Development (1 credit); SW 759: Special Topics II, Funding Social Work Research (2 credits).

First August: Qualifying Exam. Following the third term in the program, a written qualifying examination is given. Students who pass are qualified to continue in the program. In instances of exceptionally strong performance in first year courses, as verified by instructors and the student’s advisor, a student may be waived out of the qualifying examination.

Second Year

During the second year, students complete a 6-credit , 500 hour research practicum, which can be arranged flexibly over the year (SW 780, 6 credits). During the fall, students take Quantitative Methods of Analysis, a basic statistical analysis course (HSS 707) and Qualitative Methods of Inquiry (HSS 705). During the spring, students take an advanced statistical analysis course, Advanced Quantitative Methods of Analysis (HSS 708) and Social Work Education (SW 750). During the summer students take Instrumentation in Research (SW 766) and Area of Specialization (SW 740) a seminar on research synthesis/meta-analysis, which is intended to produce a publishable paper and segue into the dissertation literature review.

Second year electives include: SW 781, Teaching Practicum (3 cr) with a pre-requisite of SW 750, Social Work Education; SW 759: Special Topics III: Analysis of Qualitative Data (1 cr.); SW 759: Special Topics IV: Legal/Ethical Issues in Social Work Education (1 cr).

Third Year

During the fall of the third year, students complete the elective teaching practicum if not done earlier (SW 781), take an additional required course in research design/analysis (SW 712, Secondary Analysis), and may choose an elective, SW 759: Special Topics V: Program Evaluation (1 cr).

Early in the spring of the third year (February), a written comprehensive examination on the curriculum described above constitutes the candidacy criterion. For students who do not pass the candidacy examination (one re-take is possible in May) a certificate of achievement in post-graduate social work education is granted.

Students who pass the candidacy examination in February (or May) select a dissertation chair and a committee of 3-4 additional members, at least one of whom must be external to the School of Social Work.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

Consistent with the above curriculum description, all candidates are required to earn 49 credit hours beyond the master’s degree in social work; an additional 9 elective credits are offered and encouraged. Following coursework, students enroll each term in which they are working on their dissertations for SW 799, Continuous Matriculation, and therefore may earn additional dissertation doctoral credits, depending upon the duration of their dissertation work.

In addition, the student must:

• Successfully complete a written qualifying examination given at the end of the third term in the program. In instances of exceptionally strong performance in first year courses, as verified by instructors and the student’s advisor, a student may be waived out of the qualifying examination.
• Successfully complete a written candidacy examination given after all coursework is completed. In the event that a section or sections of the candidacy examination are not passed, students may re-take, one time only, the designated examination sections.
• Successfully complete and defend an empirical dissertation.
• Complete all degree requirements within eight years of initial matriculation in the program.