Greetings. I am very happy to learn of your interest in our PhD program. At this website, you will learn more about our faculty and program strengths, our curriculum, and how to apply to our programs.

Like most PhD programs, we prepare students to independently conduct and disseminate scholarship that contributes to policy or practice, and to prepare students to educate future social workers. Our doctoral program will allow you to develop a coherent program of study with opportunities to pursue your own scholarly interests. These interests are pursued through a core social work curriculum, a minor discipline (sociology, psychology, or health management and policy), and a social work focal area. Students may take focal area courses in any college or department at the University of Iowa.

On our Faculty and Program Strengths page, I have provided more details about our faculty and some of the opportunities available to our doctoral students. Our faculty has achieved national recognition in several areas of scholarship, including, but not limited to, Aging; Child Welfare and Domestic Violence; Diversity, Social Justice, and Inequality; and Substance Abuse and Mental Health. Faculty members sit on prestigious editorial boards for several important journals, such as Social Work, Social Service Review, and Social Work Research, and regularly review and receive federal grants.

During your doctoral studies at Iowa, you will have several opportunities to work closely with faculty and receive mentoring. For example, in your first year, you will complete a mentored research practicum with a faculty member and, in your second year, a mentored in-class teaching experience. Your advisor and I will help you develop your program of study based on your educational and career goals;

At this website, we have included information on how to apply to our programs. Please read all of our materials very closely. If you have questions about our programs or the application process, please go to the link Contact Us. There you will also find a link for some current student perspectives on why they chose UIOWA. For prospective students applying to the Combined MSW/PhD program, you will also need to read the MSW Admissions Policy and PhD Admissions Policies and Procedures and complete the application process for both programs.

I wish you the best of luck in your search for a program that meets your career goals.

Carol Coohey, MSW, PhD Associate Professor and PhD Coordinator

Faculty Curriculum Funding Your Doctoral Education Admissions Policies and Procedures Application Materials Current Students on WHY IOWA Contact Us