Joint PhD in Social Work and Social Science FAQ

The purpose of this document is to provide the applicant to the University of Michigan’s Joint PhD Program in Social Work and Social Science tips for writing a strong application. This document also provides some insight into the priorities of the program: a commitment to training social work scholars who have a deep knowledge of social justice issues and the social work profession, and who are committed to serving vulnerable populations with a passion for improving/changing conditions through intervention research. 

Students will register for DOC 990 when they are taking their social work or social science prelims. They will register for 1-8 credit hours, depending on their need. DOC 995 is specifically for registration during the term the student plans to defend their dissertation, and they must register for 8 hours.

Joint PhD students must submit a "Dissertation Committee Form" to their department or program at least six months prior to the defense. If committee membership changes, the student must submit a revised form to Rackham OARD prior to the oral defense. http://www.rackham.umich.edu/downloads/oard/forms/disscommittee.pdf

The Rackham One-term fellowship is given to students in the semester they plan to defend their dissertation. The Joint PhD Program reviews all applications for one-term dissertations in the spring for the next academic year. One-term Fellowships are given in order of priority, and no guarantee is made to a student requesting the fellowship. Once the fellowship has been awarded, it can't be given to the same student again. If defense is not completed during time of award, the student will be responsible for funding in the term of defense.

The personal debit account can be used by each student needing to be recouped for expenses related to research, courses, travel to conferences, dissertation costs, etc. It will not be available to be used for emergencies, and funds cannot be given in advance. The money does not have to be paid back by the student.

The Reimbursement and Certification form needs to be completed and turned in along with the personal debit form.

Besides what is in each student's personal debit account, students will also be able to apply to the Joint Doctoral Program for conference travel to CSWE and SSWR. The funds distributed on a yearly basis, and are Sex Education in Schools: Exploring Youth Perspectives, Implicit Messages, and Unexamined Implicationsusually first come-first served. Priority is given to those that are presenting, on the job market, or have never been to a conference.

Students can apply for funding through the School of Social Work, which will be awarded on an as-needed basis with available funds. Students can opt for tuition only funding, or ask for their Gradcare to be covered as well. Additional forms of summer funding include the Social Work-Social Science Research Partnership Program, and the Social Work Summer Research Partnership Program. Each of these latter programs offers funding matches when a student finds support through a faculty member in either social work, or their social science.

Gradcare is offered to all students approved for summer funding. It will be paid from the total fellowship amount and the stipend will be less the cost of the health care coverage.

The purpose of this document is to provide the applicant to the University of Michigan’s Joint PhD Program in Social Work and Social Science tips for writing a strong application. This document also provides some insight into the priorities of the program: a commitment to training social work scholars who have a deep knowledge of social justice issues and the social work profession, and who are committed to serving vulnerable populations with a passion for improving/changing conditions through intervention research. 

International applicants with a social work or social welfare degree are required to apply as Pre-MSW. Upon offer of admission, the Joint PhD Program will request syllabus information from the degree granting institution for submission to CSWE (Council on Social Work Education). If the MSW degree is equivalent to one earned from an accredited US institution, the admitted student will then be considered Post-MSW.