PhD in Social Work

Mission of the Program

The mission of this PhD program in social work is to prepare students for leadership positions in the profession as educators and researchers to address social problems, promote social and economic justice and enhance human wellbeing. Its mission is consistent with the mission of the University of Gondar: contributing to the sustainable socioeconomic development of the country through societal needs tailed curricula, problem-solving research and community engagement and technology transfer. Building upon the University’s robust commitment to quality education and expansion of graduate education, this PhD program intends to provide rigorous training in  the classic and contemporary theories, research methods, indigenous knowledge and practices of social work profession necessary to solve pressing human and societal problems and to ensure sustainable social development of the country.

Goal of the Program

The goal of doctoral education in social work at the University of Gondar is to prepare students to be researchers, educators and scholars who function as “stewards of the discipline.” Golde and Walker (2006) articulated that a steward of the discipline is one who imaginatively generates and critically evaluates new knowledge, conserve valuable ideas and findings that are the legacy of the discipline, and responsibly transform those understandings through writing, teaching and application for the betterment of the society. Thus, the PhD-trained social work scholars improve the art and science of social work by generating, disseminating, and conserving the knowledge that informs and transforms professional practice and that promotes social development in the country. Besides, doctoral prepared social workers are largely responsible for educating the next generation of social workers and are therefore essential to the sustainability of the profession.

Objectives of the Program

General Objective

The general objective of the PhD program in social work is to prepare doctoral students for careers as researchers, scholars and educators by advancing their knowledge and increasing their skills in theory building, research methods and the critical evaluation of social work policies and practice.

Specific Objectives

More specifically, the program is designed to prepare graduates:

• To master the existing knowledge in the field with a special emphasis on research methodology, policy and practice;
• To understand the social, political, and philosophical issues affecting social work, social welfare and social development;
• To contribute for the development of indigenous social work theory and practice;
• To undertake leadership roles in social work education and research.

Accordingly, the PhD program in social work prepares graduates to demonstrate the ability to think conceptually and critically about social work issues; apply theoretical and practical reasoning to social work practices and social policy; and conduct research that contributes to the social work knowledge base through a successful completion of all required course work, passing the comprehensive examination that testifies the knowledge required by all social work PhD students and completion of original research in a given topic and a dissertation reflecting that research.

Admission into the PhD Program in Social Work requires the approval of Graduate Program

Office of the University and is effected according to the rules and regulations set forth by the

Senate Legislation of University of Gondar. The minimum requirements for admission to the

Doctoral program in social work at the University of Gondar are as follow:

A graduate degree in social work (MSW) or MA degree in psychology, public health,

sociology, anthropology, gender studies, special needs, nursing, psychiatry and law from

an accredited university;

 A grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and “Good” and above in

MSW/MA thesis (priority will be given for applicant who have post-MSW/MA publication and

research experience);

A concept paper (not more than five pages) which states their academic interest in the

program and intended area of research and presentation;

The applicant must adequately pass an entrance examination to be administered by the

department graduate committee;

Applicants must submit a minimum of two years’ work experiences in teaching or social

service organizations;

 Applicant should submit two letters of recommendations from immediate supervisor and

former academic advisor;

Applicants should submit letter of sponsorship or proof of bank statement that justifies

financial capacity to cover expenses needed in the program;

 Applicant must leave from any job and commit to full-time study; and

This PhD program requires language proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL, IELTS, GRE) for international students whose primary language is not English.

However, meeting these requirements does not necessarily ensure acceptance into a doctoral program in social work. Applicants must receive departmental recommendation for admission after the application files are fully scrutinized. Admission is also contingent on fulfilling other requirements requested by the postgraduate office of the university and will be decided on the availability of appropriate faculty members in the department or elsewhere to serve in teaching and supervision, enough space and necessary resources in the department. The Departmental

Graduate Committee (DGC) will select the applicants for the program on the basis of a sound undergraduate and postgraduate academic record, and a convincing statement of purpose which clearly describes their academic interest in the program and intended area of research. Finally, the whole process will be approved by the DGC and the admission letter will be given to the applicants by the registrar office.

Note that nonsocial work graduate applicants who are successful to pass the entrance exam are required to take four graduate foundation courses (social policy analysis, human behavior and social environment, integrated social work methods I and II) from the MSW program before pursuing their PhD program. Besides, applicants who did not take research course in their graduate study should take social work research methods course. Students are required to score a minimum of “B” grade in the courses mentioned above to proceed to the PhD program. This can help the candidates from various disciplines to have basic knowledge related to the program.