Academic & Financial Support
Academic Support
Advising
Faculty advisors support students in educational planning and developing professional networks. In order to help ensure that incoming students get the in-depth advising they need to develop a customized program of study, the Committee on Doctoral Studies selects a first-year advisor for each incoming student, matching theoretical and substantive interests, and taking student requests and faculty experience at the Crown Family School into account.
Students’ advisors are not necessarily the same faculty member with whom they work to fulfill their required first- and second-year research assistantships, though it is strongly encouraged. Some students change faculty advisors as their course of study evolves.
A required, non-credit seminar is offered in the student’s first year and second year in the program to introduce students to different areas of social work and social science scholarship and to provide professional development training. These sessions are also open for advanced students and faculty to attend as desired. Students are exposed to cutting-edge research from faculty at Crown Family School, the broader University of Chicago, and national and international scholars at these sessions. They also receive professional advice and guidance on a range of issues related to student and academic life in these forums.
Preparation for Teaching
The School offers mentored training and teaching opportunities to develop as a teacher while still a student. We require each student to participate in at least three mentored teaching experiences, such as participating in the teaching of a course as an assistant, co-instructor, or instructor. In addition, the University offers many additional teaching supports and trainings through the Chicago Center for Teaching (CCT). We strongly encourage students interested in pursuing teaching positions after graduation to take advantage of CCT’s services.
Career Services
Crown Family School is one of few schools in social work with a Career and Leadership Development Office. This office provides career and professional development programs that include skills-building workshops, individual career counseling, job search strategies, and leadership development. Each year, the Career and Leadership Development Office also assembles a resume book for all graduating doctoral candidates seeking academic appointments and promotes this book widely to deans and directors of schools of social work.
Each year, the doctoral program director provides job market mentoring and hands-on tips and practice to support students seeking post-PhD employment as part of the PhD Job Market Workshop. In addition, UChicagoGRAD career development office provides a full array of career supports including help identifying and applying for jobs, interview supports, networking events, fellowship advising, and more.
Financial Support
Doctoral Program Funding and Research Support
Doctoral students receive significant funding to ensure that they can immerse themselves in the program. All students entering the Doctoral Program are offered a financial aid package that includes full tuition, health insurance, fees, and a yearly stipend set at $45,000 for the current 2024-2025 academic year. The doctoral program involves a full-time commitment. Stipend support is provided in order to allow students to concentrate their time and energy on fulfilling the requirements of the program, developing their scholarship, and completing their doctoral studies in a timely manner.
Many Crown Family School doctoral students receive additional funding through outside training and fellowship programs. Crown Family School students have been very successful in obtaining competitive fellowships and awards from entities such as the CSWE Fellowships for Minority Students, Fahs-Beck dissertation grants, Doris Duke fellowships for the promotion of child well-being, and NIH Dissertation awards.
As part of their financial aid packages, students are expected to work as research assistants with Crown Family School faculty in their first two years and participate in at least three mentored teaching experiences (usually during years three through five).
The Crown Family School Office of Grants and Contracts provides support to doctoral students in:
• Funding Opportunity Searches
• Proposal Planning and Development
• Central Administration/Sponsor Liaison
• Award Administration
• Financial Management/Coordination of Financial Reports to Sponsors
Crown Family School also supports doctoral students for travel related to presentation of papers and job market activities at conferences. Other University resources for graduate students may be found in the Office of the University Provost.