Doctorate of Social Work

The mission of the DSW program is to advance the profession of social work by preparing experienced professionals to become visionary leaders, educators, researchers, and administrators who drive social change and promote social justice. Rooted in the values and ethics of the social work profession, our program is dedicated to excellence, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and lifelong learning.

Vision

The vision of the DSW is to be a national leader in social work education, research, and administration, fostering excellence, community, and belonging. We aspire to educate ethical and inclusive leaders who drive positive change, promoting equity and social justice through innovative practice, research, and policy advocacy. With a commitment to community collaboration, mentorship, and lifelong learning, we aim to shape the future of the social work profession and empower the next generation of leaders to make a lasting impact on individuals and communities.

REGIONAL ACCREDITATION

All programs at the University of New England are accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).

SPECIALIZED ACCREDITATION

N/A

The DSW with an emphasis in Interprofessional Leadership is a forty-five (45)-credit hour program that provides a comprehensive and advanced curriculum designed to equip social work professionals with the specialized skills needed for leadership and practice in interdisciplinary settings. The program emphasizes an IP approach to address complex social issues through the integration of social work principles alongside insights from diverse fields. Students engage in coursework and simulation experience covering advanced social work practice, interprofessional collaboration, organizational leadership, education, and research methodologies. The curriculum is structured to foster critical thinking, ethical decision-making, and effective communication across disciplines.

Program Goals

• Equip graduates with advanced leadership skills to effectively guide organizations, communities, and systems in addressing complex social issues and promoting social change.
• Prepare graduates to excel as educators in higher education, employing innovative teaching methodologies and fostering inclusive environments.
• Develop graduates' capacity to conduct rigorous, practice-informed research that contributes to the evidence base of social work and informs policies and practices.
• Instill a commitment to ethical decision-making and interprofessional collaboration, ensuring that graduates lead with integrity and foster partnerships across diverse disciplines and sectors.

LO 1: Synthesize knowledge and skills across advanced clinical social work practice, interprofessional leadership, social work administration, and research to effectively address complex social and health challenges.

LO 2: Demonstrate the ability to lead and innovate in interprofessional settings, applying advanced social work clinical and administrative skills to effect positive change in complex social systems and organizations.

LO 3: Demonstrate the ability to practice effectively as a peer colleague in an interprofessional setting.

LO 4: Evaluate and apply ethical considerations in interprofessional leadership, using the ethical principles that guide social work practice and analyzing their implications for collaborative decision-making and conflict resolution within a diverse professional context.

LO 5: Analyze, develop, and advocate for policies that promote social justice and equity, utilizing advanced research skills to inform evidence-based practice and policy decisions in social work and related fields.

UNE'S DSW Academic Standards

The Doctorate in Social Work is a CSWE aligned program. The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) uses a competency-based education framework in its Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS) to ensure students can demonstrate essential competencies in practice. This approach emphasizes integrating knowledge, values, skills, and cognitive and affective processes to address practice situations in a culturally responsive, intentional, and professional manner, promoting human and community well-being. Competence is viewed as holistic, multidimensional, and developmental, evolving through continuous learning and adaptation to changing social contexts. The EPAS outlines nine interrelated competencies with component behaviors that guide curriculum design, teaching strategies, and learning activities. Outcome-oriented assessment plays a crucial role, providing evidence of student readiness for professional practice and informing ongoing program improvement. Given the complexity of social work practice, assessment methods may vary but remain essential for evaluating student competence and program effectiveness (CSWE, 2022).

UNE's social work faculty is committed to fostering relationships with its students that encourage personal and professional growth. Its policies and procedures attempt to reflect this commitment to proactive and supportive communication. At the same time, students must recognize that the primary responsibility for a successful SSW education, both in and out of the classroom, rests with the student.

All students, including students with disabilities, must have the capacity to manage their lives and anticipate their own needs. Situations can arise in which a student's behavior and attitudes resulting from a disability or other personal circumstances present a problem which impairs the student's ability to meet the standards set forth, even after reasonable accommodations have been considered and, if appropriate, made by the program, all students must still meet the requirements set forth by the program.

All applicants, regardless of disability, will be held to the same admission standards. All enrolled students, regardless of disability, will be held to the same academic standards, understanding that all properly submitted requests for reasonable accommodation will be considered.

Academic Program Standards

All students must complete all Social Work program requirements and receive a passing grade in all courses and practicums to be eligible for graduation. DSW students must have a cumulative grade point average of a 3.0 or better to graduate. 

Academic Policy

MINIMUM GRADE POINT AVERAGE

Matriculated graduate students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 (B) or better. Failure to do so will result in academic probation and possible termination from the program. Any student receiving a grade below B- on any individual course has failed that course must re-enroll and repeat the course to achieve a grade of B- or better. Any student who receives a grade of F in two (2) or more courses is dismissed from the program.

GRADUATION

Candidates must fulfill all program requirements and are required to earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 to be eligible to graduate. All students must file an Application to Graduate with the registrar’s office via UNE Compass. Please see the Graduation FAQ for complete instructions and the answers to frequently asked questions.

ATTENDANCE POLICY

Students taking online graduate courses through the College of Professional Studies will be administratively dropped for non-participation if a graded assignment/discussion post is not submitted before Sunday at 11:59 p.m. ET of the first week of the A term and B term, and Friday at 11:59 pm ET of the second week of the AB term. Reinstatement is at the purview of the Dean’s Office.

UNIVERSITY WITHDRAWAL

Matriculated students intending to withdraw from the University must complete the University Withdrawal and LOA Request form available online or at the University Registrar’s Office. The form requires signatures from designated academic and administrative personnel.

RE-ADMISSION

Students who have been withdrawn from the program for any reason must reapply if they wish to continue their studies. The application procedures, academic policies, and program requirements that are in effect at the time of readmission will apply. Students who re-enroll following withdrawal, their previous coursework will be evaluated for applicability to the existing academic requirements. Coursework that is more than five (5) years old may not be accepted for credit in the program.

Students who have been administratively withdrawn from the program may petition for readmission. The petition letter must provide a justification for re-admission that addresses how past issues have been resolved and will not recur. The letter should be attached in the application portal.

LEAVE OF ABSENCE (ACADEMIC STOP OUT)

Students may stop out of their program for up to two (2) semesters. Students need to coordinate stop-outs in advance with their assigned enrollment and retention counselor, and stop-out time is considered part of the time allotted to complete the academic program. Application for readmission is not necessary if the student returns as planned.

However, the student who does not return at the specified time or who exceeds two (2) semesters of stop out will be administratively withdrawn and will be subject to readmission procedures. Readmitted students are subject to the re-admittance term’s catalog (this may mean that policies and/or program requirements have been changed or updated since previous admission, and should be reviewed for potential impact on degree requirements, time to complete the degree, and degree planning).

Note: It is the responsibility of the student to contact the Enrollment and Retention Counselor and Student Financial Services to indicate a change of plans; stop out time can affect financial aid eligibility and repayment.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY POLICY

The University of New England values academic integrity in all aspects of the educational experience. Academic dishonesty in any form undermines this standard and devalues the original contributions of others. It is the responsibility of all members of the University community to actively uphold the integrity of the academy. Failure to act, for any reason, is not
acceptable.

Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to the following:

1. Cheating, copying, or the offering or receiving of unauthorized assistance or information.
2. Fabrication or falsification of data, results, or sources for papers or reports.
3. Action that destroys or alters the work of another student.
4. Multiple submissions of the same paper or report for assignments in more than one (1) course without permission of each instructor.
5. Plagiarism, is the appropriation of records, research, materials, ideas, or the language of other persons or writers and the submission of them as one's own.

Charges of academic dishonesty will be reviewed by the Program Director. Penalties for students found responsible for violations may depend upon the seriousness and circumstances of the violation, the degree of premeditation involved, and/or the student’s previous record of violations. The appeal of a decision may be made to the dean, whose decision will be final. Student appeals will take place through the grievance process outlined in The College of Professional Studies Student Handbook.

STUDENT ACCESS CENTER

The Student Access Center works to ensure that the University promotes respect for individual differences and that no person who meets the academic and technical standards needed for admission and continued enrollment at UNE is denied benefits or subjected to discrimination due to a disability. Toward this end, and in conjunction with federal and state laws, the University provides reasonable accommodations for qualified students.

Upon acceptance, students may apply to transfer up to three (3) courses (maximum of nine (9) credits) into the Doctor of Clinical Nutrition program. To request consideration for transfer credit, a student must provide an official transcript and a course syllabus for each course. Transfer credit is awarded at the discretion of The College of Professional Studies based on specific program details listed below. Requests for approval of transfer credit should be submitted to and will be granted at the discretion of the Program Director.

Transfer courses must:

• Be classified as graduate level.
• Have been taken within five (5) years of application. Be worth (3) credits.
• Have been completed with a grade of B or better.
• Be equivalent to one of the required program courses or an elective course that meets the goals of the student’s education.

EXPERIENTIAL CREDIT

The DSW program does not grant academic credit for life experiences or previous work experience.

See Online Admissions for more information.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition and fees for subsequent years may vary. Other expenses include course textbooks. For more information regarding tuition and fees, please consult the Financial Information section of this catalog.