Doctor of Social Work Program
Expand your education and leadership skills in social work through our fully online program.
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Value quality over quantity when it comes to education
Master-degreed social workers take the journey with us to become future practitioner-scholars in teaching and social service leadership. They experience the benefits of smaller cohorts including one-to-one mentorship and a more personalized educational experience. We keep the cohort size small to focus on the quality of your educational experience.
Start your journey with us and advance your knowledge and skills in leadership and teaching. Our Doctor of Social Work (DSW) program is designed for the working professional with courses fully online, offering an asynchronous and synchronous format. Earning a DSW degree online allows you to reach your educational goals while working full-time, being with family and juggling life priorities. You will learn from Kent School’s full-time faculty in the convenience of your home.
Our program requires students complete both a teaching practicum and leadership practicum as part of their coursework. The program is designed to provide you a well-rounded experience in social work practice with the ability to critically analyze models of teaching and learning. You will demonstrate social service leadership, apply and evaluate best practices in the classroom and in social service agency settings and demonstrate the use of social work ethics in teaching and leadership.
Experience learning at the number one graduate school social work program in Kentucky, and a top 50 program in the nation.* In preparation for the Council on Social Work Education’s anticipated accreditation process for doctoral programs, Kent School follows CSWE guidelines and standards for accreditation and will be prepared for the accreditation process when it becomes available.
*According to U.S. News and World Report, 2025 rankings.
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Advance your professional career with a DSW degree
Select an online program that provides a quality educational experience as you work to become a practitioner-scholar in teaching and excel in social service leadership. Explore the program.
Students successfully present and pass final Capstone projects
Eighteen students in Kent School’s Doctor of Social Work Program, the DSW class of 2026, presented their final Capstone projects in April. They have successful passed and will now prepare for the Graduate School Hooding Ceremony set for May 8.
Jennifer Boa – “Exploring the Professional Quality of Life of Female Collegiate Head Coaches”
Irene Boamah – “Attitudes, Behaviors, and Co-Workers Influence of Those Who Provide Mental Health Support Services to Refugees and Immigrants”
Kellie Burke – “Interventions for Reducing Barriers to Future Employment Success in First-Generation College Students”
Eboni Burton – “Substance Use Stigma: Examining the Role of Social Work Education”
Paige Cook – “From the Frontlines: An Exploratory Study of Barriers and Facilitators of Trauma-Informed Care in Youth Residential Settings”
Elizabeth Davis – “The Unexplored Relationship Between Burnout, Adverse Childhood Experiences, and Resiliency Among Hospital Staff”
Victoria Dobson – “Safe At Work: A Case Study on the Healthcare Response to Employee Disclosures of Domestic Violence”
Jennifer Frazier – “Secondary Traumatic Stress Among U.S. Army Active–Duty Social Workers”
Cheri Loggains – “Hearing Northern New Mexico’s Silenced Voices: Exploring Intersectionality and Allyship”
Ramie Martin-Galijatovic – “Everyone Shows Up Creative, Resourceful, and Whole: An Embedded Case Study of the Organization, Network for Community Change”
Kate O’Bryan – “The Intersection of Athletics and Online Abuse: A Study of Cyberbullying Among Student-Athletes”
Lindsey Page – “Bridging Care Gaps for Sickle Cell Disease: Examining Case Management and Healthcare Utilization”
Christine Popish – “Contributing Factors to End-of-Life Care Conversations with Oncology Patients”
Nicolle Roth – “Assessing the Relationship Between Professional Discipline and Perceptions of Team Functioning Within Hospital-based Multidisciplinary Child Abuse Teams”
Christine Rowan – “Emergency Department Boarding for Psychiatric Care: The Effect of PointClickCare Integration”
Taylor Ryan – “Exploring the Mental Health Experiences of First-Time Parents: A Qualitative Study”
Bradley Scott – “Analyzing Trauma and Behavioral Health Trends: A Study of CANS Data from Kentucky’s Child Welfare System”
Kate Whitney – “Simulation Culture and Organizational Readiness in Social Work Education: Examining Faculty Perspectives”
The why behind pursing a DSW degree
“Social work means so much to me. I felt like I needed to be the best at it as possible, and I feel like the only way I can claim to do that is by pursuing the highest level of education in it.”
Read the news feature or watch the video to hear from Cowann Owens, Kent School alumnus.
Opening doors. Adding value and perspective.
Our program is designed for professionals wanting to serve and bring real change in the field of social work. Read the news feature about the first graduates, and watch the video as they share experiences and how this degree is making a difference in their career pathways.
Frequently Asked Questions
A dissertation is not required. Students have the option of conducting a capstone project.
All classes and program events are online, although you are welcome to visit us at any time.
Yes, the admissions process is competitive and space is limited due to our small cohort size. Students must demonstrate strong verbal and written communication skills, critical thinking and have a commitment to social work values and prioritizing the time needed to undertake doctoral studies.
The program is considered a part-time program because students complete six (6) credit hours each semester. Classes are a hybrid blend of synchronous and asynchronous meetings.
DSW programs can prepares students to become scholar-practitioners in advanced social work practice and leaders in human service and educational institutions. PhD programs prepare students to become researchers who develop theoretical research and educational practices.