PhD Program Quality Guidelines

The purpose of the Group for the Advancement of Doctoral Education in Social Work (GADE) Quality Guidelines for PhD Programs is to provide guidance for the development, review, and improvement of PhD programs in social work. Specific requirements and program structures will depend on policies and procedures of the host university and the chosen focus of the program. Thus, some variability in and diversity of programs across institutions is expected. The Guidelines are not meant to be prescriptive; rather, they intend to provide an aspirational framework that programs may use in their initial and ongoing development and to inform program assessment and improvement.

2023 GADE Quality Guidelines for PhD Programs in Social Work  
 

Previous Versions

• 2013 GADE Quality Guidelines for PhD Programs in Social Work  
• 2003 GADE Quality Guidelines for PhD Programs in Social Work  
• 1992 GADE Quality Guidelines for PhD Programs in Social Work  

 

DSW Program Accreditation

The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) and its Board of Accreditation (BOA) piloted the accreditation of practice doctorate programs from 2021-2025. Following the pilot, CSWE's Board of Accreditation pursued an expansion of scope with the Council for Higher Education Accreditation’s (CHEA). CHEA approved CSWE’s request for a change in scope of accreditation on July 28, 2025 to include practice doctorate social work programs. CSWE began accepting practice doctorate accreditation applications on August 1, 2025.   

To learn more, please visit CSWE-Practice Doctoral Program Accreditation.