PhD Admissions

All persons who hold or will have earned an MSW degree by the time they begin doctoral studies are eligible to apply to the PhD program; the addition of two years of post-MSW professional work experience would present a stronger application.

Applicants are not required to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE); however, a competitive score may strengthen your application. Scores must be no more than five years old. Please note, however, that the five-year requirement on test scores does not apply to students who received an MSW degree from UGA. Applicants should also have an overall undergraduate grade point average of no less than 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, and an overall graduate (MSW) GPA of no less than 3.5 is also recommended.

The vita/resume, professional goals statement, scholarly writing sample and letters of recommendation should be uploaded to the Graduate School application portal when you apply.

1. Vita/Resume
   A copy of your vita/resume is required.
2. Professional Goals Statement
   The PhD Admissions Committee considers the personal statement to be a significant part of the application. This statement will be used to assess your writing skills, research interests and potential, career goals, and overall fit with the PhD program. The statement should be no more than 5 pages and address the following questions:
   • How have your unique biography, academic training, and practice experiences informed your desire and ability to pursue a PhD in social work?
   • What are the primary areas of research you would like to explore during your doctoral training? And, what is the significance of these lines of inquiry within social work and beyond?
   • What specifically attracts you to the University of Georgia social work PhD Program?
   • Please identify any faculty within the School of Social Work or at the University of Georgia who are well positioned to support you in exploring your research interests. If your research interests are inter- or trans-disciplinary, please articulate linkages with those other fields.
   • What are your career goals and how would a PhD in social work help you achieve those goals?
   • Are there any other factors that should be considered in the evaluation of your application?

   Please organize your personal statement as a cohesive essay, rather than a list of discrete answers to the questions posed.

3. Scholarly Writing Sample
   Applicants must submit a recent, single-authored, scholarly writing example that provides evidence of the individual’s capacity to conceptually organize material in a coherent and logical manner, to write clearly and concisely calling upon prior scholarship and/or theory, and – more generally – to demonstrate the applicant’s readiness to undertake doctoral-level work. The submission should be a “clean” copy (i.e., free of editorial markings).The following are examples of appropriate submissions of scholarly writing:
   • published article, book chapter, or book
   • master’s thesis
   • unpublished research report or white paper
   • term paper written in an upper level graduate course
   • grant application

   If an appropriate example of a recent writing sample is not available, the applicant should prepare a paper of 6-10 pages in length, excluding references; word-processed; and double-spaced. Scholarly literature should be cited and referenced appropriately. APA-style is preferred, but other accepted academic styles are allowed. If the published article is a first-authored paper, the applicants should highlight their specific contribution.

4. Letters of Recommendation
   Applicants will submit three recommendation letters that speak to your potential for success in the doctoral program, your aptitude for research and teaching, and your capacity to engage in collaborative research. Recommendations from individuals who have supervised your research and scholarly work (e.g., research project supervisors, thesis advisors, professors) tend to be the most useful during the selection process and should comprise the majority.Recommendation letters should be submitted online via the Graduate School admission web site. In addition to the recommendation letter, the online form on the web site should be completed.

Please follow the above instructions and suggestions carefully to ensure that your application materials are submitted correctly and in a timely manner for review.