UWM’s Doctor of Social Work (DSW) is a 39-credit, fully online, part-time practice doctorate designed for experienced social workers who want to deepen their expertise, advance their careers and become practitioner-scholars who create meaningful change in the profession.
Start Dates: Fall 2027
Cost per credit: $775
Applications Open: January 2027
The DSW program is the same price for students who reside in-state or out-of-state. There are no extra fees.
The social work program at UW-Milwaukee is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education’s (CSWE) Board of Accreditation.
Advance your career with with a DSW
The DSW is an emerging doctoral pathway for professionals who want to remain closely connected to practice while developing doctoral-level expertise.
Prepare to become a practitioner-scholar. You’ll learn how to use research, evidence and innovation to strengthen social work practice and improve outcomes for individuals, organizations and communities.
- Discover your identity as a scholar-practitioner
- Develop new areas of confidence and choose your area of research
- Strengthen your teaching skills
- Elevate your knowledge translating research into practice
In the UW-Milwaukee DSW program, you’re not just a number. You’ll get individualized attention and mentorship from faculty throughout the duration of the program.
Built for working professionals
- 100% Online: Complete the program without relocating to Milwaukee.
- Asynchronous: Engage with coursework when it works for your schedule.
- Part-Time: Balance doctoral study with your professional and personal responsibilities.
- 39 Credits: A focused practice doctorate designed to advance your professional goals.
- Cohort-Based: Move through the program alongside your peers.
- Timeline to degree: Three years (two classes each semester). Students complete seven semesters with one summer session.
Why UW-Milwaukee?
Study in a Top-Tier Research Environment
Access the intellectual resources, research expertise and interdisciplinary connections of a major research university.
Build off a Strong Social Work Foundation
Leverage our established MSW program and build relationships with experienced social workers.
We excel in these focal areas essential to advanced social work practice and leadership:
- Teaching
- Leadership
- Implementation and intervention science
Receive Mentorship from Dedicated Faculty
Work closely with faculty who value their role as your mentor. Areas of expertise include:
- Applied gerontology
- Motivational interviewing
- Trauma-informed care
- Other specialty areas
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