PhD Admissions

You must submit official transcripts from all colleges, universities, and other post-secondary institutions you have previously attended. All applicants should have their university registrar send official transcripts electronically to etrans@usc.edu. If your university does not offer electronic transcript delivery, please mail your transcripts to the address listed on the Graduate Admissions Transcript Requirements page.

If you already have official copies of your transcripts, you may scan and upload them to the “Academic History” section of your online application to help expedite the review process. Please note that uploaded transcripts are for preliminary review only; official transcripts must still be sent directly by your university.

Your CV should provide a comprehensive overview of your academic, professional, and relevant extracurricular experiences, helping the admissions committee understand what has shaped your interest in the program. Include clear descriptions of your roles and responsibilities within each position or organization, and highlight any notable achievements, research, publications, presentations, or honors where applicable.

Your Personal Statement should address the following areas in no more than five pages, double-spaced. Rather than responding to each question separately, your statement should integrate the following topics into a clear narrative:

1. Your immediate and long-term career goals and how PhD studies will help you reach these goals.
2. The reasons you have decided to apply to a PhD program at this point in time and why you think USC’s program is the right one for you.
3. The areas of academic interest you intend to pursue in the PhD program, including the major questions or issues of primary interest to you. Describe how these interests developed and why they are critical for knowledge development in social work or social welfare.
4. Your academic strengths and weaknesses.
5. Your scholarly contributions to date and your activities of a scholarly nature (e.g., workshop leadership, conference presentations, program evaluation reports, publications, etc.).
6. Any community or professional leadership roles or responsibilities that you have held in recent years.
7. Your level of understanding of the social work field

You are required to submit four letters of recommendation. One recommendation letter should originate from your current supervisor or superior, and three from academic instructors and/or professionals who can evaluate your academic aptitude and personal attributes for PhD studies. We ask that each recommender address the following questions in their letter:
1. How would you evaluate the applicant’s professional qualifications and personal readiness for PhD studies? 
2. How competent is the applicant in analyzing and communicating complex ideas? 
3. Does the applicant show promise of leadership in the profession? 
4. Do you think the applicant has the potential to make a significant contribution to the knowledge base of the profession through research and other scholarly endeavors?

Please note: Letters of recommendation must be submitted through the online application system. We will not accept letters of recommendation through postal mail.

Submit one scholarly writing sample that demonstrates your ability to engage with complex ideas, construct and support arguments, analyze evidence, and communicate effectively in writing. The sample should reflect your readiness for PhD-level study and research.

Examples of appropriate submissions include a research paper, thesis or dissertation chapter, program evaluation report, or other substantial academic work. Applicants are encouraged to submit work that best represents their research capacity, analytical abilities, and writing skills.

If the submitted work was completed collaboratively or has multiple authors, please include a brief statement describing your specific contributions to the project and identifying the portions of the document for which you were primarily responsible. 

No, an MSW is not required for admission. Applicants may hold a master's degree in social work or a related field, but all applicants should demonstrate a strong understanding of the social welfare field and the profession's priorities. Of note, earning an MSW and gaining practice experience post-MSW may be beneficial, as these credentials are often required to teach practice courses in CSWE-accredited social work programs.

No, GRE scores are not required as part of the PhD application and will not be considered in the admissions review process.

No, due to the structure and requirements of the curriculum, the PhD program is offered only on a full-time, on-campus basis. A part-time option is not available.

Yes, application fee waivers are available through USC Graduate Admission for prospective students who meet the eligibility requirements. For information about eligibility and how to request a fee waiver, please visit the USC Graduate Admission Fee Waivers page: https://gradadm.usc.edu/tools-resources/fee-waivers/

The USC Graduate School is committed to providing detailed information on the inputs, outcomes, and overall characteristics of its PhD programs, for the purposes of full transparency and to support informed decision-making. It can be viewed at their website: https://graduateschool.usc.edu/about-us/phd-program-characteristics/. Select program: Social Work

Yes, you are welcome to reach out directly to PhD faculty members to learn more about their research interests and current projects. A list of PhD faculty members can be found at the bottom of the PhD Program webpage. Simply visit the webpage and scroll down to view faculty profiles: https://dworakpeck.usc.edu/academic-programs/doctor-of-philosophy 

Strong applicants typically demonstrate exceptional academic and professional promise. Indicators of a competitive application may include strong performance in undergraduate and graduate studies, research experience and publications, meaningful professional contributions to the social work field, competitive English-Language Proficiency test scores (for international applicants only), and a strong grade point average.