Become a More Effective Practitioner-Scholar and Leader

UMass Global’s Doctorate of Social Work (DSW) is a practice doctorate designed for working professionals seeking to lead at the intersection of social work and digital innovation. As technological advances reshape human services, there’s an urgent need for leaders who can navigate AI-enabled service delivery, digital ethics, and accessible care. Grounded in a digital-practice curriculum spanning telehealth, online education, and social innovation, this program prepares doctoral-level social workers to innovate workforce systems, expand access, and implement services across modern environments.

  • Fully online, no residency: This 39-credit DSW program doesn’t require an in-person residency, enabling you to earn your degree more quickly.
  • Support throughout the program: You’ll be assigned a faculty mentor, and the program employs a cohort model, so you’ll be encouraged and supported throughout your academic journey.

At a Glance

Online: Instructor-Led
39 Credits
$1140/Credit
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Next Start Date
Fall I (Aug 31, 2026)

Program Benefits that Benefit You.

Technology-Driven Curriculum

Learn to teach online, deliver effective telehealth care, and become a social work leader and entrepreneur.

Real-World Capstone

Developed throughout the DSW program, your capstone focuses on solving social problems or evaluating programs instead of conducting original research.

Flexible Entry

Tailored for working adults, the DSW offers start dates each January and August, making it easy to begin classes when it best aligns with your career and personal life.

Next Session Starts

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Career Outlook for Doctor of Social Work

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Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
Median Salary2
Job openings (in the last 12 months)
Top Companies Hiring
Median Salary2
Job openings (in the last 12 months)
Top Companies Hiring
Median Salary2
Job openings (in the last 12 months)
Top Companies Hiring
Median Salary2
Job openings (in the last 12 months)
Top Companies Hiring
Median Salary2
Job openings (in the last 12 months)
Top Companies Hiring

Data source: Lightcast™ 2026 www.lightcast.io

The pathway information provided through this website is based partly on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data licensed by the University of Massachusetts Global from Lightcast. While the University of Massachusetts Global believes this data to be reliable, some of the data is based on estimates made by Lightcast when actual data is unavailable. Those estimates and the corresponding data may need to be corrected.

  1. Change in employment projections 2022 - 2032
  2. Based on BLS Occupational Employment Statistics and updated quarterly
  3. The University of Massachusetts Global does not guarantee a job to graduates upon completion of any program

Courses You Might Take

SOWK 700

Introduction to Doctoral Studies: Becoming a Practitioner-Scholar Leader

3 Credits
SOWK 703

Advanced Telehealth Clinical Practice with Diverse Populations

3 Credits
SOWK 705

Social and Global Entrepreneurship to Promote Human Rights and Social Justice

3 Credits
SOWK 706

Teaching in Online Learning Environments: Theories, Methods, and Assessment

3 Credits
SOWK 707

Clinical and Program Evaluation

3 Credits
SOWK 751

Strategic and Innovative Leadership and Administration across Settings

3 Credits

What Our Students Say

tina b

UMass Global really set the bar high for what a virtual school should be doing for graduate level students by pushing, supporting, and guiding us. I'm so grateful for UMass Global, the instructors and staff, and every peer I've been fortunate enough to meet along the way.

Tina B.
Master of Social Work

Pursuing higher education has been one of the most difficult yet rewarding things I have ever done. It has taught me the importance of surrounding myself with like-minded individuals - those on the same journey to not only better themselves but to make a difference in the communities we serve.

Victor C.
Master of Social Work
cherie c

The university has made my college experience smoother by providing an academic advisor who helped create a tailored education plan for my needs. Additionally, having a financial advisor to review my financial needs and expectations was invaluable. Open communication with my professors and faculty from other departments played a significant role in my success here.

Cherie C.
Master of Social Work

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Admission Requirements

Applicants for this program must complete the formal application process with all required documents, which include:

  • Completed application
  • Personal reflective statement (800-1000 words)
  • 3.0 grade point average (GPA)
  • Current resume showing two years of post-MSW professional social work experience
  • Official transcripts showing a conferred MSW from a CSWE-accredited program. The CSWE must evaluate international degrees.

Program Start Dates

The program offers two start dates annually—in Fall I and Spring I. Applications are accepted year-round starting February 2026.

Important Deadlines (Fall 2026)

  • Application Opens: February 2026
  • Priority Deadline Closes: July 2026
  • Classes Start: August 31, 2026

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Ways to Get Started

Our Faculty

All Faculty
Jeannine Meza, DSW
Director of DSW Program, Associate Professor of Social Work
Jeannine Meza DSW

Frequently Asked Questions

The Doctorate of Social Work (DSW) is a professional doctorate focused on innovative leadership, based on real-world research — translating results into solutions in the world, rather than hypothetical outcomes. The DSW is a practice-oriented degree, preparing graduates for leadership roles in social work clinical practice, administration, and in setting policy on a larger level. Many DSW graduates also go on to teach, though often in part-time, adjunct, or practice-focused faculty roles rather than traditional tenure-track positions.

A Doctor of Philosophy in Social Work (Ph.D.) is a research degree focused on generating knowledge and data through original research. Unlike the DSW’s practice-oriented focus, the Ph.D. in Social Work prepares graduates for careers in academia, research, and advanced scholarship.

With the rapid change in society due to technology and the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a need for social workers who have a DSW. Students with this degree typically continue working in clinical settings, creating or managing agencies, and creating or implementing policies on micro and macro levels. Having a DSW adds a level of expertise and knowledge to allow those graduates to move into leadership and advanced practice roles.

Here are a few potential career paths for those with a DSW:

  • Executive leadership in social service agencies and organizations
  • Clinical supervision and consultation
  • Advanced clinical social work practice
  • Policy analysis and advocacy
  • Social work program development and evaluation
  • Teaching and administration in higher education

Bottom line? The Doctorate of Social Work is a versatile degree that can enable you to pursue careers in clinical settings, public health, or public policy with the intent on driving societal change.

The UMass Global DSW program was designed to be completed in two years. There are two factors involved in this — a lower credit hour requirement and no summer residency requirement (however, students must attend all six sessions, year-round).

UMass Global’s capstone is designed to deliver tangible impact in the field, preparing graduates for advanced practice, policy, and leadership, not just academia. Students are assigned a faculty mentor and join a cohort, building their own professional community — an approach that has been shown to boost completion rates and post-graduation success. Graduates of UMass Global can move into executive, clinical, and entrepreneurial roles at local, national, and global levels.

All doctoral degrees at University of Massachusetts Global are accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).

The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) recently established an accreditation process for the Doctor of Social Work (DSW) degree. UMass Global's DSW program has been designed to align with CSWE's accreditation standards and expectations and has been granted pre-candidacy status* by CSWE—the initial step toward accreditation.

Students who are admitted to pre-candidate programs in the fall (or later) of the academic year in which the program is granted candidacy status will be retroactively recognized as graduates from a CSWE-BOA accredited program as long as the program attains initial accreditation.

*Pre-candidacy status indicates that it submitted an application to be reviewed for candidacy and received approval of its Benchmark 1 from CSWE Accreditation Staff to move forward for a candidacy review within 1-year.

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