PhD in Social Welfare
Every spring, PhD students have an opportunity to present their research at our annual doctoral research poster session.
Become a social work scholar and use research to create social change through UB’s PhD in Social Welfare program. Learn to conduct meaningful, impactful research in a supportive, collaborative environment taught and led by a diverse and dedicated faculty.
Our full-time, on-campus PhD program allows you to create an individual, fully interdisciplinary program of coursework and scholarship, preparing you to engage in creative and effective strategies to share knowledge in social work.
UB’s PhD in Social Welfare is a research-intensive program that prepares scholars for careers in academic research, higher education and advanced policy analysis. Our curriculum emphasizes the development of original, theory-driven research that advances knowledge in social welfare while upholding social work ethics and a commitment to social justice.
At the UB School of Social Work, PhD students engage in diverse research opportunities, receive training in interdisciplinary methods and produce scholarship with meaningful implications for policy and practice.
What you learn in our PhD in Social Welfare
As a PhD student, you will develop advanced knowledge and skills in:
- Designing and conducting independent, original research in social welfare
- Applying advanced qualitative and quantitative research methodologies
- Examining social policies, systems and structures that contribute to inequality
- Integrating interdisciplinary theory from the social and behavioral sciences
- Advancing social justice through scholarly research, teaching and policy engagement
Our PhD students join a vibrant research community shaped by faculty mentorship and interdisciplinary collaboration. Guided by expert faculty, you will develop a rigorous research agenda with real-world relevance through UB’s centers, institutes and community partnerships.
- Collaborate with a diverse and growing faculty with expertise in trauma, veterans’ issues, aging, social policy, technology in social work, refugee and immigrant communities and more.
- Participate in scholarly exchanges through UB’s research centers and institutes.
- Access research opportunities, facilities and support through our Buffalo Center for Social Research.
Our PhD program is for those with a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from a CSWE-accredited program or international equivalent. If you do not have an MSW, we offer a dual-degree program leading to the MSW and the PhD in social welfare.
What Is the difference between a DSW and PhD in social welfare?
As advanced degrees, our Doctor of Social Work (DSW) and PhD in Social Welfare serve different purposes within the field. They differ in focus, career outcomes and approaches to research and faculty mentorship.
| Focus Area | DSW | PhD in Social Welfare |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Focus | Advanced professional degree | Original research and scholarship |
| Career Outcomes | Leadership, advanced practice roles | Academic research, teaching, policy analysis |
| Research Emphasis | Applying research to practice through implementation science | Producing independent, theory-driven research |
| Faculty Mentorship | High-touch, high-support capstone guidance | Intensive, research-centered mentorship |
All accepted PhD students are offered a competitive standard funding package. Additional funding may be available through fellowships.
- Fully Funded PhD: Students receive full tuition coverage for up to 47 credits. This typically covers your required courses for four years. If you continue past four years (or 47 credits), you must secure your own funding (e.g., working on a faculty research grant, teaching, serving as a practicum liaison).
- Graduate Assistantships: All PhD students are guaranteed a graduate assistantship for four years. Assistantships are 10-month appointments, 20 hours per week with a base stipend of $27,000 per year beginning fall 2027.
- Fellowship Opportunities: Presidential and Schomburg Fellowships are available for academically outstanding new PhD in Social Welfare students. These awards come with a substantial stipend. PhD students will be considered at the time of admission.
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A PhD in Social Welfare is a research doctorate that prepares students for careers as social work scholars and researchers. The program emphasizes original research and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Graduates pursue careers in academic research, teaching, policy analysis and research leadership.
Career paths include:
- University faculty or researchers
- Policy analysts or consultants
- Leaders in research institutes or community organization
At UB, a PhD in Social Welfare is focused on preparing students for research and scholarly careers through intensive study of social problems, research design and interdisciplinary analysis. In contrast, a DSW generally emphasizes advanced practice and the application of research to practice settings.
A PhD is typically pursued by those seeking academic or research-focused roles, while a DSW is geared toward advanced practice leadership.
Yes. Applicants must hold an MSW from a CSWE-accredited program or an international equivalent.
If you do not have an MSW, we offer a dual-degree program leading to the MSW and the PhD in social welfare.
Yes. All accepted students receive competitive funding, which may include:
- Full tuition waivers for required coursework
- Graduate assistantships with a stipend
- Additional fellowship opportunities
The program typically takes four to five years to complete. As a PhD student, you will receive guidance from faculty mentors throughout coursework and dissertation research. In addition, you will have access to our Buffalo Center for Social Research, as well as research centers and institutes around the university, to support data collection, analysis and dissemination.
