Ph.D. Pre-Doc

Dr. Margaret Adamek

PREDOC EXPLORATORY OPTION

Director: Margaret E. Adamek, Ph.D.

Focus: Exploratory

Credits: Up to 9 credit hours

Admission Requirements: Paper application, transcripts, personal statement, one letter of recommendation, scholarly writing sample, resume

Admissions Deadline: Applications are accepted throughout the year. Applications received by April 1st are guaranteed consideration for fall entry.

Purpose: The School of Social Work offers a PreDoc Exploratory Option designed for students who would like to explore their interest in doctoral education. PreDoc students may complete up to 9 credit hrs in the Ph.D. program, all of which apply toward the Ph.D. degree if the student later applies and is accepted into the Ph.D. program. The PreDoc option not only provides qualified students with an opportunity to "test the waters" before they submit a formal application to the Ph.D. program, but also provides time for the student to prepare an application dossier, including the completion of a scholarly product and the GRE Test.

Participation in the Pre-Doc Option does not guarantee acceptance into the Ph.D. Program. It does, however, provide a unique opportunity for students to explore that possibility. Courses counted toward the Ph.D. degree must be completed within seven years of passing the required qualification examination.

Selection Criteria: The selection of candidates for approval for enrollment in the Pre-Doc Exploratory Option program is based on the following set of criteria:

1. An earned master's degree in social work or a related field.
2. A graduate grade point average of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale is preferred. 
3. Official copies of all baccalaureate- and master's-level transcripts.
4. A 500-word written statement that outlines the applicant's reasons for seeking enrollment in the Pre-Doc option.
5. One letter of reference.
6. A professional resume.
7. A scholarly writing sample.

PreDoc Courses:  Students enrolled in the Pre-Doc Exploratory Option may enroll in research prerequisite courses and up to three 700-level doctoral courses.  PreDoc students are encouraged to enroll in the S721 Scholarship Skills seminar (3 cr hrs) in the Fall semester. Other S700-level courses are: 

S710 Social Work Theories of Human and Social Behavior (3 cr.)
S718 Intermediate Statistics for Social Work (3 cr.)
S724 Theory, Practice, and Assessment of Social Work Teaching (3 cr.)
S726 Advanced Social Work Research: Qualitative Methods (3 cr.)
S727 Advanced Social Work Research: Quantitative Methods (3 cr.)
S728 Advanced Statistics for Social Work (3 cr)
S730 Proseminar on Social Work Policy Analysis (3 cr.)
S740 Social Work Practice: Theory and Research (3 cr.)