Doctoral Admissions

The University of Chicago Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice has been a leader in social work and social welfare scholarship since we helped establish social work as a field of scholarly inquiry in 1908 and our doctoral program in 1920. The University itself is home to six graduate and professional schools, offering Crown Family School doctoral students extraordinary opportunities for cross-disciplinary study and research.

The Doctoral Program is structured so that students receive core training in history, theory, and research methods while pursuing additional curricular offerings matched to their individual interests. The Crown Family School is at the forefront of social work schools that emphasize the role of social science theory and rigorous empirical methods in guiding the investigation of social problems and the development of interventions. In consultation with a faculty advisor, each student develops a program of study that includes two years of coursework, mentored research and teaching training, a qualifying examination, a publishable pre-dissertation research project, and a dissertation study. 

The Doctoral Program is a full-time program focused on research and scholarship in social work, policy, and practice. Advanced practitioner training beyond the master’s level, including a DSW, is not currently part of our academic offering.

Each year, the Admissions Office receives about 100 applications, and we expect to enroll approximately 5-7 students.

Financial Supports

All students entering the Doctoral Program are offered a financial aid package that includes a stipend, full tuition, health insurance, and fees. A variety of financial resources are available to doctoral students to support conference travel and methods training. Many Crown Family School doctoral students receive additional funding through outside training and fellowship programs.

Doctoral Fellowship Opportunities

Crown Family School students have been very successful in securing competitive fellowships, including the Illinois Consortium for Educational Opportunity Program Fellowships, the Fahs-Beck Dissertation Fellowships, the National Institute of Justice Graduate Research Fellowship, and the Center for Gender Studies Dissertation Awards.