Doctor of Social Work (DSW) | Graduate Studies | Monmouth University

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Doctor of Social Work (DSW)
Online with an annual, one-week summer on-campus residency
48 Credits, part-time

Application Deadlines

Fall
April 15

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Program Overview

As a DSW student, you are building on your social work practice experience with a scholarly and human rights lens to make change across local, national, and global communities. Whether you want to work directly with people or spearhead program and policy development, a human rights-focused DSW can give you the academic and leadership skills you need to drive change.

Monmouth University’s DSW program is convenient and collaborative. You’ll learn online synchronous and participate in an annual one-week summer residency on campus. Throughout the program, you’ll build a portfolio, grow your professional network, and develop a real-world human rights leadership project.

DSW Degree Requirements

Your Doctor of Social Work requirements include a mix of required courses, interdisciplinary electives, and a major doctoral-level project.

Required Courses (39 credits)

Your required courses include:

Intersecting Ethics of Social Work, Leadership, Scholarship, and Human Rights
Herstory and Evolution of Social Work’s Contributions to Leadership and Human Rights
Theories in Social Innovation and Change
Social Justice Approaches to Executive Leadership and Strategic Management
Policy Leadership in Human Rights
Leadership Portfolio Development and Strategic Planning for Career Trajectory
Quantitative Research Methods and Analysis
View the full DSW curriculum requirements and course descriptions at the graduate catalog.

Elective Courses (9 credits)

As part of the DSW degree program, you can enrich your academic experience with graduate-level electives from across disciplines. Align your choices to fit your doctoral research project, considering courses in history, political science, geography, anthropology, nursing, and other areas. Elective examples:

Leadership, Diversity, and Equity
Contemporary Issues in Education
Anthropology of Global Health and Human Rights
African American History

Transformative Human Rights Leadership Project

The hallmark of Monmouth University’s doctorate in social work is the Transformative Human Rights Leadership Project. Similar to a dissertation, this faculty-mentored project allows you to ask big questions and develop a solution to a pressing social issue. At the end of the program, you’ll present this capstone project to your peers and professors.

DSW Application Overview & Requirements

Here’s an overview of the admissions and application process for our DSW program.

Admissions Criteria & Application Requirements

To be considered for admission:

A master’s degree in social work a related social services field with a minimum 3.0 overall GPA
Completion of prerequisite master-level courses
3-5 years of professional experience in social work or a similar field

Your application must also include:

Resume/curriculum vitae (CV)
Three letters of recommendation that address your readiness for doctoral study

Personal statement of 1,000-1,500 words that:
- details how your past and current professional experiences have prepared you for a DSW in human rights leadership
- shares your long-term professional goals

Candidates may be asked to provide at writing sample and/or be selected for an admissions interview.

Prerequisite Courses

Candidates with a master’s degree outside of social work will need to also complete four core MSW courses before entrance to the program:

SW-503 Social Work Practice with Individuals and Families or SW‑513 Social Work Practice with Groups or equivalent
SW-518 Global Community Practice or equivalent
SW-627 Implications of Social Justice and Human Rights
SW-669 Applications of Social Justice and Human Rights

Please note, SW-627 and SW-669 must be taken at Monmouth. Both courses are offered online.

Cohort Model

With a cohort capped at 15 students, you’ll build close relationships with your peers and professors as you engage online and in-person.

Convenient & Flexible

Learn wherever you are with synchronous, online classes, while also benefiting from an immersive on-campus summer residency once a year.

DSW Leadership Project

Address a real-world human rights or social justice challenge that matters to you through faculty-mentored doctoral-level guidance.

Testimonial

“I chose Monmouth’s DSW program because of its rare and powerful focus on macro social work practice, global perspectives, and human rights–based content. The program aligns closely with my vision of connecting disability justice to broader international movements for equity and collective belonging.”
Elizabeth Hill

Among our faculty you’ll find compassionate clinical practitioners and dedicated scholars of social work who are committed to making meaningful change in the world. Their research and professional interests include antiracism, LGBT older adults, disaster relief, grief and loss, human trafficking, suicide prevention, food security, migrant experiences, and international humanitarian law.