HOW WILL YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

Program Objectives of ICSW’s Ph.D. in Clinical Social Work

Getting your Ph.D. in clinical social work requires fundamental skills that will help you and your clients. The Institute for Clinical Social Work is a unique graduate institution whose singular mission–training and developing clinician-scholars at both the master's and doctoral levels–is how we prioritize our students, making sure they understand the objectives behind receiving a PhD in clinical social work.

Learn How to Plan, Conduct, Evaluate, and Disseminate Research

With almost all Ph.D. students continuing their research one or two years after graduation, you gain the skills and competence that will enable you to conduct research with the intention of completing your dissertation. A dissertation is a fundamental objective of the PhD program and is required to graduate from the Institute for Clinical Social Work.

Preparation for Comprehensive Examinations

While enrolled in our Ph.D. in clinical social work program, you will learn about appropriate intake, assessment, case conceptualization, diagnosis, treatment plan, and documentation. This knowledge will be taught in preparation for the National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination.

Minimum Requirements to enroll in our clinical social work doctoral program?

For consideration for the PhD program (Onsite and Distance) include:

• A master’s degree from an accredited graduate school of social work, counseling psychology, or a master’s degree in a closely related field.

• Graduate program grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

• Personal therapy experience is not required as a prerequisite for admission, though such experience is favorably considered.

• At least baseline licensure in the State where you practice (i.e., LSW, LCP, etc.) by the time ICSW classes begin; applicants without baseline licensure may be admitted on the condition that they receive baseline licensure by the start of classes. Once classes begin, we expect students with baseline licensure to be working actively toward receiving terminal licensure (i.e., LCSW, LCPC), following their State’s guidelines regarding clinical supervision.

• An active weekly clinical caseload; ICSW doctoral students need to discuss their clinical work regularly, both in class and in consultation with members of the faculty, which will help prepare them for a clinical social work job. 

Applicants who meet the above criteria and are interested in applying to the program are welcome to apply online. During this process, applicants are asked to submit:

• Application Form

• Personal Statement (Uploaded with application) (Guidelines to Phd in Clinical Social Work)

• Practice Philosophy (Uploaded with application) (Guidelines)

• Curriculum Vitae (Uploaded with application)

• Transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate colleges or universities attended

  • Official electronic transcripts preferred if available; they can be sent to Andrea Hall, Associate Director of Admissions and Enrollment Management, at ahall@icsw.edu

• Non-refundable $100 application fee (Submitted with application)

Based on the above materials, applicants who appear well qualified for the program will be invited to a minimum of two interviews with ICSW faculty members (onsite or via video conferencing), and will be asked to take an online writing / critical thinking assessment.