Doctoral Education in Social Work: What We Know and What We Need to Know

Little is known about social work doctoral students and graduates: why they chose doctoral study, the kind of work they do, and the nature of their unique contributions to the profession. This article reviews past studies of doctoral education in social work in the context of general trends in doctoral education in the United States, underscoring the need for more social workers with doctoral degrees. Using data from the Survey of Earned Doctorates, social work doctoral graduates from two recent years are described, including their employment plans at graduation and their indebtedness. Implications of the findings for the profession are discussed.