Ph.D. Program Admission Requirements
The Ph.D. program admits students every other year. If you would like further information about the program, please email Ph.D. Program Director Jen Currin-McCulloch at jen.currin-mcculloch@colostate.edu.
Applicants must have the following:
- Master’s degree in social work or an allied discipline from an accredited institution
- A completed statistics course within two years prior to admission
Note: We will give preference to applicants who have an MSW. Further preference will be given to applicants who have an MSW and at least two full years of post-MSW professional practice experience.
Required Application Materials to be uploaded to the Graduate School’s online application during the application period include:
- Resume
- Official transcripts from each post-high school institution attended. To be official, transcripts must be sent directly from the issuing institution to CSU. If the transcripts are in a language other than English, we require that certified translations accompany the transcripts. (Exception: Colorado State University transcripts do not need to be sent).
- Three letters of recommendation, at least one of which should be from a former professor and speak to the applicant’s ability to succeed in the Ph.D. program, when possible. The letters must be uploaded directly from the person recommending you to the Graduate School application site. You provide CSU with the email addresses of those submitting recommendations, and CSU then sends those people instructions on submitting the recommendation.
- Personal Statement: In less than 2500 words, please address the following.
- Tell us why you want to pursue a PhD in social work. What academic, professional, and personal experiences prepare you for this degree? What are your long-term professional goals with this degree?
- What are your current research interests? Keep in mind that your research interests may not be fully developed and may change over time. We’re interested in understanding how you think about pressing issues in the field of social work and what issues you would like to explore in a doctoral program.
- Why are you interested in CSU’s School of Social Work PhD program? Please indicate faculty research that interests you.
- How do your past experiences, professional goals, and/or future research/teaching interests align with our School’s mission? The School of Social Work strives to create an anti-racist, anti-oppressive, and liberatory learning community. We prepare leaders who demonstrate excellence in practice, research, advocacy, and community engagement across local and global settings.
- Please describe your commitment to and involvement in/action toward social justice, access, and success.
- Please describe how personal attributes and experiences (such as motivation, leadership, resilience, problem-solving, curiosity, critical thinking, creativity, teamwork, tenacity, caregiving, volunteer work, and community engagement) have prepared you for a doctoral program.
- Can you describe an academic, professional, or personal challenge that you have experienced and how you overcame it?
Also, please note:
- Applicant interviews with the admissions committee may be required as a part of the application process prior to offering formal admission.
- International Students are required to score 550 (paper-based) or 80 (internet-based) for TOEFL; 6.5 for IELTS; and 58 for PTE. Please refer to CSU’s Graduate School website for FAQs on English proficiency for international students.
- WICHE/WRPG If you live in the Western United States Region outside of Colorado and would like to apply for in-state tuition with WICHE/WRPG, please refer to the Graduate School website.
Please note: application requirements may be subject to change by our department, the Graduate School, and/or the CSU Office of Admissions.