Social Work Building

DSW Program

Our New DSW Program is Coming Soon!

The Doctorate of Social Work (DSW) at the University of Maryland School of Social Work will be a three-year, advanced practice doctorate designed for experienced social workers seeking to deepen their expertise and expand their impact. This cohort-based program emphasizes collaborative learning and professional growth in four key areas: clinical practice, supervision, leadership, and teaching.

Students will engage closely with peers and expert faculty to refine advanced clinical skills, explore innovative approaches, and develop new frameworks that contribute to the evolving landscape of social work. Through rigorous coursework and experiential learning, the DSW program will prepare graduates to lead clinical innovation, elevate standards of care, and advance excellence in practice across diverse settings.

Our in-person, intensive learning model will bring students together on our Baltimore campus one weekend per month during the fall and spring semesters. This format fosters a strong sense of community and collaboration while providing the flexibility needed by working professionals.

Curriculum Areas

Advanced Clinical Practice Theory and Methods:

Explore cutting-edge clinical approaches, including psychopharmacology, complementary therapies, and neurobiology. Courses emphasize hands-on, collaborative learning with opportunities for simulation and student-led innovation.

Teaching Pedagogy:

Develop effective teaching strategies grounded in Universal Design for Learning. Our teaching curriculum will include a design lab where students can create and potentially pilot an advanced course or training series in their area of expertise.

Leadership Development:

Build essential leadership skills for organizational success, including adaptive leadership, HR and legal knowledge, budgeting, fundraising, and strategic planning—areas often underrepresented in Master’s-level social work education.

Supervision and Mentorship:

Enhance your capacity to supervise and mentor using best practices in reflective supervision and professional development frameworks.

Applied Research:

Develop practical research and evaluation skills to assess and demonstrate the effectiveness of your practice. Learn to write for publication, secure grant funding, and communicate outcomes in ways that elevate client and community voices while fostering meaningful collaboration and partnerships.

Timeline:

Information sessions for the DSW program will begin in the early fall of 2025.

Applications for the fall of 2026 will open in late October 2025 and will be due in March 2026.

Sign Up to Receive Updates About the DSW Program:

Questions? Contact: DSW@ssw.umaryland.edu 

 

 

Please leave us your name and email address and we will be in touch with more about upcoming information sessions and exciting program updates.

DSW Program Contacts

Ed Pecukonis
Dr. Ed Pecukonis
DSW Program Director

Samantha Fuld Headshot
Samantha Fuld
DSW Program Associate Director

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