Doctor of Social Work

The Doctor of Social Work (DSW) is a professional doctorate in social work, it is the highest academic award available in the field of social work, and most offer advanced training in a professional area of practice including but not limited to; nonprofit organization, leadership development, and social justice. The DSW is distinct from the more traditional PhD, which is a more research-oriented degree for social workers who wish primarily to further their careers in academia or research settings.^[1] Although different schools vary in the extent to which they emphasize each, both DSW and PhD candidates in the field of social work gain experience in education, advanced practice, teaching, supervision, research, policy analysis, administration and/or program development. As with other doctorates, a holder of a DSW is referred to using the formal title of 'doctor'.^[2]

Individuals who hold the Doctor of Social Work work in a variety of fields and disciplines that coincide with that of social work including social services, educational leadership, health care administration and nonprofit organization.

^ "Social Work Doctoral Programs". SocialWorkLicensure.org. Retrieved November 10, 2018. There are two types of social work doctorate: the DSW and the PhD. However, both confer the title of 'doctor' upon completing a course of approved study, research and defended in a viva voce. The Doctor of Social Work or DSW has traditionally been considered a terminal and practice doctorate, as opposed to a research degree, however all DSW requires a submission of a thesis around 50-60,000 words in length, which is around 40% required of a PhD. The remaining 40% is assessed in a similar way to taught programmes. It's the newer degree, but it's actually far from new. The first DSW programs came into being in the 1940s – when today's retirees were mere children. There is a difference between DSW and PhD programs… sometimes. The title of the degree may have as much to do with its history as its current requirements. Each degree has had times in history when it was favored. If a school offers both degrees, one can expect the PhD to be the research-heavy one.
^ "Social Work Doctoral Programs". Retrieved October 12, 2018.

[1] "Social Work Doctoral Programs". SocialWorkLicensure.org. Retrieved November 10, 2018. There are two types of social work doctorate: the DSW and the PhD. However, both confer the title of 'doctor' upon completing a course of approved study, research and defended in a viva voce. The Doctor of Social Work or DSW has traditionally been considered a terminal and practice doctorate, as opposed to a research degree, however all DSW requires a submission of a thesis around 50-60,000 words in length, which is around 40% required of a PhD. The remaining 40% is assessed in a similar way to taught programmes. It's the newer degree, but it's actually far from new. The first DSW programs came into being in the 1940s – when today's retirees were mere children. There is a difference between DSW and PhD programs… sometimes. The title of the degree may have as much to do with its history as its current requirements. Each degree has had times in history when it was favored. If a school offers both degrees, one can expect the PhD to be the research-heavy one.

[2] "Social Work Doctoral Programs". Retrieved October 12, 2018.

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