Program Overview
The Doctor of Social Innovation (DSI) program at the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work is an interdisciplinary, applied doctorate that prepares experienced professionals from around the globe to lead innovation and create meaningful social impact across organizations, industries, communities and societies. The DSI is uniquely situated within a school with a longstanding commitment to improving individual and community well-being, strengthening organizations and systems, and cultivating leadership for social change. As part of USC's health sciences community, the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work brings a human-centered, systems-oriented perspective to innovation—one grounded in understanding people, communities and the complex environments in which change occurs.
Designed for master's-prepared professionals from any discipline, the DSI provides advanced training in innovative thinking, human-centered design, systems and change leadership, and ethical leadership. Students learn to develop and advance innovative solutions, evaluate and refine their potential for impact, and lead the adoption and implementation of new approaches. The program also prepares students to responsibly leverage data, artificial intelligence and emerging technologies to advance innovation across diverse cultural and global contexts.
The DSI is designed primarily to build on the professional expertise and experience students already bring to the program. Rather than preparing graduates for a single profession or prescribed career path, it equips them with advanced capabilities they can apply within their current fields, across sectors, or as their careers evolve. DSI students also learn alongside experienced social work leaders in select courses shared with USC's established Doctor of Social Work (DSW) program. This interdisciplinary learning environment brings together professionals with different areas of expertise and perspectives while drawing on the School's experience in applied doctoral education focused on leadership, innovation and complex social challenges.
As a student in our online Doctor of Social Innovation program, you will develop as both a practitioner-leader and scholar-practitioner. Through rigorous inquiry and applied learning, you will strengthen your ability to navigate complexity; lead organizational transformation; collaborate across disciplines, sectors and cultures; and translate innovative ideas into action and measurable impact.