Berkeley Social Welfare develops doctoral scholars who challenge conventional wisdom and make significant contributions to the field of social welfare and the profession of social work through excellent research, teaching, and service.
Our doctoral graduates are prepared to tackle the most difficult social problems we face, contributing to new knowledge in areas as wide-ranging as poverty, severe mental health, racial and ethnic inequalities, and health. They form a cadre of researchers who are developing new ideas about service systems that can help children, families, and communities to develop and thrive. With over 300 graduates of our doctoral program, our School produces top-notch professors and researchers for some of the best social work schools and policy centers throughout the country and around the globe.
PhD Admission for 2026-2027 Academic Year
Thank you for your interest in applying for the doctoral program at Berkeley Social Welfare. We are accepting doctoral admission applications for entry to the 2026-2027 academic year. We will not be accepting applications to our MSW/PhD combined program, as it is on an indefinite pause.
We look forward to receiving your application for admission to our Fall 2026 cohort!
Questions?
Please contact our Admissions Team at swadmissions@berkeley.edu
PhD Admission Requirements
To be considered for admission to the Social Welfare PhD Program, all applicants must:
- Satisfy the minimum requirements for admission to graduate study at Berkeley.
- Have obtained a master's degree by the time of matriculation into the doctoral program. There is no requirement for the master's degree to be in a specific field.
- Demonstrate evidence of intellectual and other qualifications essential to successful performance in the doctoral program, including examples of scholarly written work.
International Applicants
For international applicants from a country or political entity where English is not the official language, a satisfactory score on the TOEFL exam or other acceptable equivalent evidence of English language proficiency to do graduate work is required.