Academic Programs > PhD > Course Requirements

Program Requirements In addition to completing their academic course of study, students must register for a full-time program during their first two years, pass an oral qualifying examination in their three chosen fields of study and complete a dissertation demonstrating their ability to conduct and report significiant independent research. Because there is no minimum unit requirement, the time needed to obtain the Ph.D. degree varies according to each student's preparation, progress in the program, and the nature of the dissertation research. A minimum of three years is necessary to complete the program (two years of full-time course work and one year for the dissertation) although most students require a longer period. Recently, the median time to degree has been 4.5 years. Applicants should be aware that most faculty appointments in schools of social work and social welfare require not only the doctoral degree but also two years of post-MSW practice experience. Students preparing for an academic career who lack this experience can receive assistance in accumulating practice experience during their doctoral program. We are pleased to inform you that free Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Preparation Tests are now available online at http://www1.ucgateways.org/gre/