University of Tennessee-Knoxville

The University of Tennessee College of Social Work offers a Ph.D. in social work. The purpose of our program is to train researchers and teachers who can work in a variety of settings to develop and disseminate knowledge about interventions, programs, and policies that will be used by professional social workers. Students who complete our PhD program will receive extensive training in research methods and statistics and will critically examine issues relevant to social work practice at both the micro and macro levels. An essential aspect of their training is their access to state-of- the art technology and equipment. Students also gain extensive experience in effective college teaching, including online teaching and best practices for the use of technology in the classroom. A cornerstone of the PhD program is strong mentoring relationships between students and faculty. Working closely with a faculty mentor, students will become thoroughly familiar with the professional literature in their selected area and will conduct empirical research that will contribute to the knowledge base of social work. PhD students have multiple opportunities to publish research papers, make presentations at national conferences, and develop their skills as social work educators.