Doctor of Social Work
DSW Program Overview
The Doctor of Social Work (DSW) in Leadership in Community Practices program at Spalding University is an accelerated program that leverages innovative instruction to foster a diverse community of learners. Prevent career disruption with our professionals-friendly program that develops advanced skills, focuses on justice, and prepares students to promote social change at all system levels. Become a catalyst for change through collaborative and experiential learning with Spalding’s DSW.
- 50 credit hours, low-residency format
- Degree completion in only two years
- Cohort model
- 100% online (blend of synchronous and asynchronous options)
- Student-directed capstone
Courses
All courses for the Spalding DSW program are offered online, with a blench of synchronous and asynchronous options. This means you will engage in meaningful discussions with classmates and expert faculty in real time.
Classes take place virtually on Saturdays where you’ll join your cohort to engage in experiential workshops and discussion.
Ultimately, students will work alongside diverse, qualified colleagues and faculty to create a capstone project customized to your professional interests and career goals.
Tuition
Are you ready to promote justice-centered practice? Our DSW program is a convenient, accessible, and affordable doctoral degree for social work practitioners and educators.
Learn about tuition and fees for our DSW program, as well as your financial aid options.
We offer a 10% tuition discount to alumni of Spalding University.
Admission Requirements
Do you want to meet the needs of the times as a social work leader? Discover how Spalding’s DSW program can prepare you to be a catalyst for positive change.
Fall 2026 DSW Cohort Application Deadlines
Early Decision: April 28
Late Decision: May 31
Accreditation
Spalding University’s School of Social Work is accredited for the Bachelor of Science in Social Work and Master of Social Work programs by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
Find Possibility in the Heart of the City
DISCOVER YOUR GROWTH POTENTIAL
Meet the needs of the times as a social work leader. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that roles for social work professionals will grow faster than the average for all occupations between 2024-2034.
High-Impact Career Preparation
Spalding DSW graduates are prepared to meet the needs of the times as social work executives, leaders, and educators in settings such as:
- Behavioral health centers
- Child welfare organizations
- Colleges and universities
- Family service organizations
- Hospitals
- Public health departments
The DSW Program Prepares Students to:
- Understand and apply social justice-focused practices at all systems levels (micro, mezzo, and macro)
- Apply research-informed knowledge, values, ethics, and skills through practice, leadership, and teaching
- Demonstrate leadership skills in support of and in collaboration with communities or those most impacted
- Advance social work practice knowledge through a capstone project
[Why Spalding?] The students and faculty are co-creators of the learning experience at Spalding’s DSW program. Students take responsibility for their own learning, prepare for class carefully and completely, and are committed to the collaborative work style typical of a learning community.
Kevin Borders, Chair, School of Social Work
Spalding’s Doctor of Social Work program is led by
School of Social Work faculty
We Want You Here
Our long-standing, reputable School of Social Work is committed to being inclusive, accessible, and accountable. We respect and value diversity and difference, including but not limited to age, caste, class, color, culture, disability and ability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity and expression, generational status, immigration status, legal status, marital status, political ideology, race, nationality, religion and spirituality, sex, sexual orientation, and tribal sovereign status.
