phd social work boston college

• Graduate School
• CHESTNUT HILL, MA

Boston College School of Social Work

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• Social Work
• Massachusetts

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• Social Work 248 Students
• Social Psychology

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• Social Work 3 Students
• Social Psychology 1 Student

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• Master's Student
• June 14 2022
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Boston College

School of social work.

Boston College School of Social Work is home to a highly productive community of scholars whose research advances the field of social welfare and the practice of social work. We nurture independence and original thinking to that help students craft innovative research and constructive policy agendas for social change. Students develop expertise in: 1) A Substantive Area of Social Work; 2) A Social or Behavioral Science; 3) Research Methods; 4) Teaching Methods; and 5) Communication Skills.

Boston College School of Social Work offers three separate PhD curriculums:

PhD in Social Work: The curriculum plan for the PhD in Social Work is designed to prepare doctoral students with both the training and expertise to be the very best teachers, scholars, and researchers.

MSW/PhD Program in Social Work: The combined MSW/PhD Program curriculum allows students work toward both degrees simultaneously and finish in significantly less time than it takes to pursue each separately.

PhD in Social Welfare: The PhD in Social Welfare provides students from partner universities in Latin America the ability to combine the strengths of the Boston College School of Social Work and those of their home institutions.

• Where: Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
• Type: Private, Non-Profit
• Degree Offered: PhD in Social Work & PhD in Social Welfare
• Program Type: In-Person Program Only
• Students: Full-time Enrollment Only
• Average Enrolled Students Yearly: 6-8 Students
• GRE Requirement: Yes
• TOEFL Requirement: Yes, with a cut-off score
• MSW Requirement: Yes, MSW or other master's degree required
• Two Years Post-MSW Experience Required: No, but preferred
• Joint MSW/PhD Program: Yes

Substantive Research Areas of Faculty

• Addiction/Substance Use
• Adolescent and Youth Development
• Aging/Gerontology
• Child Welfare
• Children & Families
• Community Practice/Macro Practice
• Family Violence
• Housing/Homelessness
• Immigrants, Refugees & Displaced Persons
• International Social Work & Global Development
• Mental Health
• Poverty/Disadvantaged Populations
• Race and Ethnicity
• Social/Economic Justice
• Work/Family/Family Policy

For more information visit Boston College .

To update your program's profile, please complete the Program Directory Update Form .

• Research guides

Social Work: Doctoral Student Resources

Data/statistics, sources of datasets.

• ProQuest Statistical Insight Complete Collection This link opens in a new window Index to local, national and international intergovernmental statistical publications from 1983 to the present. Includes citation information with large number of pdf or spreadsheet downloads available.

Sources of Data Tables

• Statista This link opens in a new window
• ProQuest Statistical Insight Complete Collection This link opens in a new window

Related Guides to Finding Data

• Find Statistics by Social Science Topic
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• Last Updated: Oct 25, 2023 4:18 PM
• Subjects: Social Work
• Tags: guide , social_work , social_work_doctoral , social_work_doctoral_research_help , social_work_phd , social_work_research_doctoral

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• School of Social Work

Chestnut Hill, MA

School of Social Work / School of Social Work is located in Chestnut Hill, MA, in a suburban setting.

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Boston College MSW in Social Work

Social Work is a concentration offered under the social work major at Boston College. We’ve pulled together some essential information you should know about the master’s degree program in social work, including how many students graduate each year, the ethnic diversity of these students, and more.

If there’s something special you’re looking for, you can use one of the links below to find it:

• Graduate Cost
• Online Learning
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Featured Programs

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

BA in Human Services - Child & Family Services

Gain the fundamental tools required to improve the lives of children and families in crisis with this specialized online bachelor's from Southern New Hampshire University.

BA in Human Services

Improve the lives of individuals, families and communities with the human service tools gained from this online bachelor's from Southern New Hampshire University.

BS in Business Administration - Public Administration

Prepare yourself to make the decisions that best serve a community, its constituents and its economic growth with this specialized business degree from Southern New Hampshire University.

How Much Does a Master’s in Social Work from Boston College Cost?

Boston college graduate tuition and fees.

Part-time graduates at Boston College paid an average of $1,768 per credit hour in 2019-2020. This tuition was the same for both in-state and out-of-state students. The following table shows the average full-time tuition and fees for graduate student.

Related Programs

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BA in Sociology

Learn to analyze social factors and become an advocate for individual and community health with this online bachelor's from Southern New Hampshire University.

Does Boston College Offer an Online MSW in Social Work?

Boston College does not offer an online option for its social work master’s degree program at this time. To see if the school offers distance learning options in other areas, visit the Boston College Online Learning page.

Boston College Master’s Student Diversity for Social Work

Male-to-female ratio.

Of the students who received their master’s degree in social work in 2019-2020, 82.0% of them were women. This is less than the nationwide number of 87.2%.

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

Around 32.3% of social work master’s degree recipients at Boston College in 2019-2020 were awarded to racial-ethnic minorities*. This is lower than the nationwide number of 42%.

*The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• National Center for Education Statistics
• O*NET Online

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Mom and Daughter Graduate College Together With Social Work Degrees

A college graduation is often a family affair, but for this mom and daughter, it was a closer experience than usual. Latonya Johnson and Laila Birchett both graduated from Rutgers University in New Jersey with their bachelors degrees in social work. Latonya says she’s been a drug and alcohol counselor for a long time, but knew she couldn’t advance in her career without a college degree and having her daughter by her side was a big help. Inside Edition Digital’s Mara Montalbano has more.

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Master of Social Work Program

• Full-time MSW Program
• Part-time MSW Program

Field Education

• Advanced Standing
• Dual Degrees

Educating Tomorrow’s Social Work Practitioners

Students in our top-ranked MSW program aren’t just scholars—they’re also researchers who collaborate with faculty on compelling projects and practitioners who spend 2-3 days per week working in schools, nonprofits, and hospitals through our robust field placement program.

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Chart your course to difference-making. 

Choose a specialized practice: clinical or macro.

We challenge and prepare our clinical program students to integrate evidence-based interventions and culturally sensitive practice with individuals, couples, families, and groups. Students become proficient in assessment and diagnostic classification and learn to develop professional therapeutic alliance and relationship skills.

Through coursework and field practice, students are exposed to a broad overview of therapeutic interventions and have an opportunity to develop advanced practice skills and therapeutic techniques.

Two-Year Program Curriculum       Three-Year Program Curriculum

Macro social work aims to affect change within large systems at the community, organizational, and policy levels. BCSSW’s macro specialization focuses on social innovation and leadership, emphasizing the development of ideas, mechanisms, and new social arrangements to enhance community capacity to address complex social challenges. Students train in the foundations of participatory community-based social work practice and research and learn recent advances in human-centered design, systems thinking, and other analytical tools to drive innovation, address complex social problems, and enable sustained social impact.  

In their coursework and field internships, students gain practice skills that focus on advocacy, leadership and administration, financial management and resource development, and novel approaches to drive social change and advance the common good.

Two-Year Program Curriculum      Three-Year Program Curriculum

Choose a field of practice

Within either specialized practice (clinical or macro), you will develop expertise by selecting a field of practice. The six fields of practice offered at BCSSW are:

Afrocentric Social Work

Children, youth, & families, global practice, latinx communities.

• Mental Health

Explore Fields of Practice

Learn in the field

Students in the School of Social Work receive professional training from organizations throughout the Greater Boston area, providing them with critical on-the-ground experience that enhances their classroom learning and prepares them for a successful career. We've cultivated strong relationships with our agency partners, enabling you to choose from more than 1,000 opportunities. You'll receive mentoring and support every step of the way.

Customize your experience

Study full time and finish in two years, study part time and finish in three years.

Full-Time Program of Study

Part-Time Program of Study

You can add an optional certificate to your MSW degree:

Advanced Research  Aging Populations & Gerontology Black Leadership Child Welfare  Design Thinking for Social Change Global Humanitarian Practice Latinx Leadership  Leaders for Equity and Justice in the Workplace  Neuroscience & Social Work  Refugees & Immigrants  School Social Work    Trauma *Early Childhood Policy and Leadership (Lynch School)  

Certificate Details

Combine your MSW with a JD, MBA, or MA in Theology & Ministry.

Explore Dual Degrees

Our MSW program consists of 12 required courses and 5 electives. 

Each semester there are 50+ electives to choose from..

Browse Electives

Fields of Practice  

Our MSW program offers six concentrated fields of practice pathways that include specialized coursework and advanced field education placements. 

The Afrocentric Social Work field of practice centers on the African Diaspora and Black experiences, inclusive of continental Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, Central America, and the United States. The Afrocentric perspective is an ontological and epistemological orientation that places African people as participants and agents shaping their life chances and experiences. It will equip MSW students with a holistic approach towards a critical examination of social work from an African-centered perspective. Students will be exposed to Afrocentric thinking and practice modalities – clinical and macro – that function as staples of social work with Black communities.  Students will have historical and contemporary contexts of the vast African diaspora that makes up the many “Black communities” globally. They will obtain an overview of the African worldview and the history, culture, and contributions to the world civilization of African-descended people applied to social work practice. 

Clinical and Macro Social Work

Required course: Advanced Practice in Afrocentric Social Work

Our innovative Children, Youth, & Families curriculum will prepare you to assess individuals and families and to develop and implement evidence-based intervention strategies that improve the health and resilience of families and their communities.

Children, Youth, & Families students intern in settings such as schools, private non-profits, community health centers, and organizations working on issues related to trauma, poverty, family homelessness, health and behavioral health, immigrant integration, and a host of growing family issues confronting society. In the advanced practice course, students delve deeply into learning how to create engaging, activity-based therapy groups for youth, as well as learning several parenting and family therapy models. Additionally, specialized courses in school-based social work will prepare you for meeting the academic requirements for the Department of Education School Social Work license in Massachusetts and some other states.

Clinical Social Work

Required course: SCWK 8872 Advanced Clinical Interventions with Children, Youth, & Families

Macro Social Work

Required course: SCWK 8885 Management of Organizations Serving Children, Youth, & Families

Global Practice will prepare you to work effectively in the fields of global social work, humanitarian aid, and international development. You will learn different approaches to addressing complex social issues that often transcend national boundaries and affect much of the world’s population. Your work will be guided by the principles of human rights, human security, human development, and the promotion of sustainable solutions to social problems.

As a Global Practice student, you will have the opportunity to work domestically or internationally with one of our many intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizational partners. Examples of this work include providing training and support for case managers serving refugees and asylum seekers; drafting immigration policies; developing programs to promote peace or prevent gender-based violence; writing grant proposals; monitoring and evaluating child protection programs; or helping develop organizational policies for effective and sustainable practice.

Our Global Practice graduates work in the U.S. and overseas in a range of positions that involve direct practice, program development, management, evaluation, research, training, capacity building, and policy. From policy development in Washington, DC., to program development in Cambodia, our graduates contribute to policy, practice, and research that improve the lives and well-being of individuals, families, and communities around the world.

Required courses include: SCWK 7797 Frameworks and Tools for Global Practice SCWK 8806 Global Policy Issues and Implications

Related Links

Global Program on Migration, Refugees, & Humanitarian Assistance

Our primary goal is to prepare you for advanced practice in clinical services, advocacy, or management roles in the field of health care.

You receive specialized knowledge, skills, and training in the areas of assessment, evidence-based interventions, policy, planning, and management techniques. Clinical students focus on developing strong assessment skills and learning evidence-based treatment interventions to work with individuals, couples, families, and groups in healthcare settings. Macro students specialize in developing the policy, planning, and management skills to become effective advocates and leaders at the local, state, or national level.

Our graduates work in a panoply of health and behavioral health settings ranging from hospital based to community based, acute care to rehabilitation facilities, forensic services and homeless services, outpatient clinics and substance abuse programs, state agencies, and grass roots organizations. With Massachusetts leading the way in national health care reform, you will be exposed to the rapidly changing organization and delivery of health care.

Clinical Social Work

Required course: SCWK 8873  Integration of Behavioral Health & Medical Care Practice

Required course: SCWK 8897 Planning for Health and Mental Health Services 

The Latinx Communities field of practice trains MSW students to work with Latinx communities in the U.S. and around the world. Our innovative program includes culturally-centered coursework and field placements, tailored mentoring, self-advocacy training, and career development guidance.

From an asset-based approach, you will develop a nuanced understanding of the barriers Latinx populations encounter in accessing equitable education, social services, and health care, as well as a deep understanding of how to implement evidence-based interventions that address systemic inequities.

Following a cohort model, you will take core classes taught in Spanish and intern at a field placement with one of our many partners in the Greater Boston area that serve the legal, medical, behavioral health, immigration, and educational needs of the Latinx community.

Please note, unlike the other fields of practice, you must apply to the Latinx Communities Field of Practice prior to starting your first year in the MSW program. Learn more about this field of practice and how to apply by reviewing our frequently asked questions .

Required course: SCWK 8837 Social Services with Latinx Populations in the US

Trauma-Informed Mental Health

Our primary goal is to prepare you for advanced practice in clinical services, advocacy, or management roles in the dynamic field of trauma-informed behavioral health.

You receive specialized knowledge, skills, and training in the areas of assessment, evidence-based interventions, policy, planning, and management techniques. Clinical students focus on developing strong trauma-informed assessment skills and learning evidence-based treatment interventions to work with individuals, couples, families, and groups in behavioral health settings. Macro students specialize in developing the policy, planning, and management skills to become effective advocates and leaders at the local, state, or national level.

Our graduates work in a variety of settings that often require trauma-informed skills. Settings range from hospital based to community based, acute care to rehabilitation facilities, forensic services and homeless services, outpatient clinics and substance abuse programs, state agencies, and grass roots organizations. With Massachusetts leading the way in national health care reform, you will be exposed to the rapidly changing organization and delivery of behavioral health.

Required course: SCWK 8874 Adult Psychological Trauma 

Macro Social Work

Certificates.

Our certificates give students the opportunity to build knowledge in subject-specific areas of social work.  Certificates require the completion of three specified courses within a chosen area. 

Advanced Research

Scwk 7747 research methods in social work practice.

Offered: Fall semester

SCWK 9964 Intro to Statistics & Data Analysis

Offered: Fall semester This is a doctoral course. Permission from the instructor is necessary.

SCWK 9960 Regression Analysis for Social & Behavioral Sciences

Offered: Spring semester This is a doctoral course. Permission from the instructor is necessary.

Aging Populations & Gerontology

Swck7721 human behavior and the social  environment, scwk8823 practice in health and mental health settings  with older adults, scwk8802 policy for aging society: issues and  options.

Offered: Spring semester

Black Leadership

Scwk 7723 re-thinking diversity.

Offered: Fall semester 

SCWK 8844 is History of Activism in Black Communities

Offered: Falls semester 

SCWK 8845 Afrocentric Organizations

Offered: Spring semester 

Child Welfare

Scwk 8805 policy issues in family & children’s services, scwk 8880 social work practice in child welfare , scwk 8822 child and adolescent trauma: clinical assessment and treatment.

Offered: Summer, Fall and Spring semesters 

Latinx Leadership

Scwk 8854 advanced clinical practice with latinx populations (in spanish) .

Offered: Summer semester 

SCWK 7777 Service to Migrants: A Border Perspective

Offered: Spring semester (limited enrollment based on seat availability; travel required)

Leaders for Equity & Justice in the Workplace

Scwk 7723 re-thinking diversity: systems of oppression & privilege , scwk 8847 creating the inclusive workplace: topics in organizational justice, scwk 8838 dismantling organizational bias through evidence-based practice, neuroscience and social work certificate, scwk 7721 human behavior and the social environment, scwk 7724 neurobiology of stress & resilience in the life.

Offered: Summer and Spring semester 

SCWK 7726 Neuroscience of Human Relationships & Development 

Refugees & immigrants, scwk 7723 re-thinking diversity: systems of oppression & privilege, scwk 7794 immigrants & refugees, scwk 7719 migration, politics, and social work: the challenge of justice and care.

Offered: Summer semester

SCWK 7777 Services to Migrants

Offered: Spring semester (limited enrollment based on seat availability; travel required) 

School Social Work

This certificate is for clinical students only.

This certificate does not alone meet the requirements for MA. Dept. of Ed. School Social Worker license.

SCWK 8855 Clinical Practice with Children and Families

Scwk 8881 school social work: program development and educational policies, scwk 8858 clinical practice in schools, scwk 8856 clinical practice with adults, scwk 8855 clinical practice with cyf, scwk 8822 child and adolescent trauma: clinical assessment and treatment .

Offered: Summer, Fall, and Spring semesters, and required for all clinical mental health field-of-practice students who want this certificate

SCWK 8874 Adult Psychological Trauma

Scwk 8879 advanced trauma theory and treatment modalities , early childhood policy and leadership* (lynch school).

We are now accepting applications for the next cohort of students interested in the Certificate in Early Childhood Policy and Leadership.

The next cohort will begin in Spring 2024. 

Applications are due October 31, 2023, at 11:59 p.m.

Contact:  buonopaf@bc.edu

This is an interdisciplinary certificate between BC Lynch School of Education and Human Development and the School of Social Work. 

There are four components of the ECPL certificate that must be completed to earn the certificate.  Students must: 

• Take three courses from a list of approved courses. One course must be selected from each of the following three domains: science of early childhood development; policy development and evaluation; and leadership, advocacy, and partnerships. There is a list of courses that satisfy each domain offered through the Lynch School or School of Social Work. Both in-person and virtual course options are available under each domain. For more information on coursework, please see the program of study for this certificate. 
• Participate in a monthly seminar, targeting key issues related to early childhood policy, research, practice, advocacy, and leadership. 
• Complete a three-month paid summer internship in a local, national, or international setting to solidify skills in policy analysis, research, research translation, program development, or leadership in the early childhood field. 
• Translate learning from the internship and certificate courses by completing a capstone project, such as a policy brief, academic paper, or policy analysis.

Additional Information

Global Humanitarian Practice

Scwk7721 human behavior and the social environment (fall semester), scwk8853 global humanitarian practice (fall semester), scwk8807 global migration and forced displacement (spring semester), design thinking for social change.

The Design Thinking for Social Change certificate will engage students in the theories, methods, and practice of design thinking—a non-linear, iterative process that aims to create innovative solutions to social problems from the clinical to macro levels.

Required courses:

Scwk 8800 basic skills in macro practice (fall semester), scwk 8843 theories of design thinking for social change (summer semester), scwk 8848 practicing design thinking for social change (fall semester), tuition & aid.

Of students receive some type of scholarship

Our Students

Our current students and alumni serve communities locally and across the globe, sustaining positive social change through critical work.  

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• current student

Class of 2022 Outcomes

Were employed within one year of graduation

Received starting salaries of $50,000+

Passed licensure exam on first attempt

From the Field: Social Work in Action

“Dispatches from the Field” showcases the relationships BCSSW students foster and the impact they have through fieldwork—in Greater Boston and around the world.

Dispatches from the Field

Quick Links

Msw program, research projects, equity, justice, & inclusion, facts & figures.

June 2024: Dr. Kathryn D. Coduto (COM)

• By: Shannon Landis
• June 1, 2024

What made you decide to be a social scientist/ why does social science matter to you?

I love being able to answer questions about the world; I originally wanted to be a journalist for that exact reason. As I went through my undergraduate program, I discovered social scientific research and realized just how much I could do within this field. I also feel empowered by social science; there was a time when the idea of statistics was so intimidating to me. But now, I am confident in my ability to navigate complex questions  and   their solutions through a variety of tools and techniques, all stemming from social scientific training and exploration.

Can you tell us about a recent research project that you’re excited about?

Dr. Allison McDonald, from the Faculty of Computing and Data Sciences, and I have been working on a project investigating sexting behaviors in romantic relationships. We specifically have asked people about how they negotiate, if they do, the sharing of this highly personal information with partners. I’m especially excited about this project, though, because we are also investigating what people do with sexual material once they’ve broken up. There isn’t much research in this area yet, and I think we’re getting really rich insights into how people are thinking about handling sensitive content throughout the lifetime of a relationship. I recently presented this work at the CHI 2024 conference and got some great feedback on potential design implications for improving technologies in these instances. We have another part of the study we’re hoping to launch soon, too.

What is the best piece of professional advice you ever received?

I had great advisors for both my master’s degree (Dr. Danielle Coombs at Kent State University) and my doctoral degree (Dr. Jesse Fox at Ohio State University). They both always encouraged me to follow my interests, and I always felt supported in exploring the ideas I was most passionate about. I think following your interests is critical to staying interested in and excited by the work you do; I love thinking about research and so much of that is because I study the things I am most interested in. I now pass that advice along to my own advisees, too—follow your interests!

What is your favorite course you’ve taught at BU?

I love teaching Communication Research (CM 722). Comm Research is many students’ first experience with social scientific research, especially in a communication context, and I love helping them realize how much they can do with research. I am always so excited when I see different concepts click into place for students, whether that be perfecting a research design, conducting a statistical analysis, or crafting implications from their research. It is always so rewarding.  

Tell us a surprising fact about yourself.

Before coming to BU, I was an assistant professor at South Dakota State University in Brookings, SD. My favorite place in the world is still Badlands National Park in western South Dakota—I haven’t been anywhere that can top it!

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