What Is a DSW Degree?

Social workers help people and communities prevent, cope with, and overcome various challenges in areas from health and wellness to financial stability. These professionals work directly with individuals and families, influencing their daily lives through referrals, advocacy, and responses to crises. 

Earning a Doctor of Social Work (DSW) degree provides a strong foundation for social workers who want to take their careers to a higher level and drive positive change through policy, leadership, or education. 

What Is a DSW Degree, and Why Is It Important? 

A DSW program offers advanced training and skill building, allowing graduates to expand their social reach and seek employment in various settings. Students who want to pursue research or academia can also pursue a DSW to study advanced clinical and applied research methods to strengthen their existing knowledge. 

Students who wish to work in fields such as advanced social services, nonprofit leadership, program management, university education, advanced clinical research, and applied research often pursue a DSW degree. These programs typically take two to three years to complete.

DSW Degree Coursework

Part of understanding what a DSW degree is involves looking into the coursework. A DSW program may include courses such as the following:

• Leadership in Social Work and Evidence-Informed Practice
• Social Work Theory, Practice Models, and Methods
• Historical and Current Policy Approaches to Social Welfare
• Quantitative Methods and Measurement for Services Outcome Research
• Program and Clinical Evaluation
• Introduction to Qualitative and Interpretive Approaches to Human Inquiry
• Social Work Pedagogy and Curriculum Development
• Applied Social Statistics
• Nonprofit Management, Fundraising, Board, and Workforce Development
• Community Advocacy and Participatory Research for Applied Practice
• Advanced Practice Project Development Seminar 1: Research Ethics
• Advanced Practice Project Development Seminar 2: Grant Writing

Benefits of Completing a DSW Degree 

Earning a DSW degree offers numerous benefits, from positioning yourself for career advancement opportunities to gaining the insight you need to make real, lasting change. The most important benefits include the following:

• More Job Opportunities: While a bachelor’s or a master’s degree in social work can open the door to numerous opportunities, employers often prefer doctorate graduates for senior-level roles in research, education, and leadership.
• In-Depth, Relevant Education: Earning a doctorate can help you understand the complexities of the social work field and the social issues that impact people and communities, both in the U.S. and around the world. 
• Improving Important Skills: Doctoral programs offer specializations that allow you to hone the skills you desire most, whether you want to work in research, teaching, nonprofit leadership, or other areas. 
• Conducting Research That Matters to You: Doctoral programs can prepare you to complete research projects and publish their findings. 

What Are Some DSW Degree Career Outcomes? 

The possible career outcomes for DSW degree graduates vary based on the area of specialization. Three of the most common professions for DSW graduates are program manager, nonprofit director, and college professor. 

Program Manager

A social work program manager is a professional who identifies challenges within a community, researches potential approaches for addressing these issues, and recommends solutions. These individuals leverage their partnerships and logistical knowledge to secure grants and funding and then use those resources to develop and manage programs that assist families, communities, counties, states, or even nations. 

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the median annual salary of project management specialists, including social work program managers, was $98,580 as of May 2023. The bureau projects employment in the field to grow by 7 percent between 2023 and 2033 as demand for programs that boost socioeconomic, physical, and mental well-being rises. 

Nonprofit Director

Nonprofit directors act as chief executives of mission-driven organizations. Their primary role involves ensuring that their organizations meet certain goals related to fundraising and program outcomes, but they may be also responsible for establishing policies and procedures, directing finances and budgets, negotiating contracts, applying for grants, and appointing others to nonprofit management or leadership positions. 

The median annual salary of top executives was $206,680 as of May 2023, according to the BLS, but salaries may vary significantly based on the size of the nonprofit. Employment of top executives is expected to grow by 6 percent between 2023 and 2033 as the demand for qualified professionals who can help nonprofit organizations reach their goals increases. 

College Professor

Those who are passionate about social work and social justice may go on to work as university or college professors to educate the next generation of social workers. These professors conduct advanced research, publish their findings, develop instructional plans and assignments, give lectures on important topics, advise students, and stay informed about changes in the field of social work. 

According to the BLS, the median annual salary of postsecondary teachers, including college professors, was about $84,380 as of May 2023. The BLS projects employment in the field to grow by about 8 percent between 2022 and 2033 as the number of people seeking postsecondary degrees continues to rise. 

Take Your Career to the Highest Level With a DSW Degree 

Learning more about what a DSW is could be your next step toward an advanced career in social work. Whether you aspire to work in university education, conduct research, become a leader in social reform, or influence policymaking through research and advocacy, earning an Online DSW degree at Tulane University can prepare you for success in various high-level roles within the field. Our faculty includes experienced scholars with strong backgrounds in research, service, and education that can prepare you for success in the varied field of social work.

Discover how we can prepare you to achieve your career goals and make a meaningful difference in the world with Tulsane.