Apply for the PhD in Social Work
We’re glad you’re ready to take the next step towards joining the Brown School community!
The Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis admits one class each year for the fall semester. Please note the following dates and deadlines for PhD admissions:
- Application Opens – September 1
- Application Deadline – December 1
- Decisions Released– March
Read more about the admissions timeline.
Admissions Criteria
Our highly competitive doctoral program in social work provides the nation and the world with some of the profession’s best scholars, teachers, and researchers. We review all applications holistically, assessing an individual’s overall preparation for rigorous doctoral study.
Students entering the PhD program must hold a master’s degree or equivalent in social work or a related discipline from an accredited college or university.
Application Requirements
Please review the following instructions carefully prior to beginning your application. The Brown School promotes a self-managed application process; it is your responsibility to monitor the status of your application and ensure the timely submission of all required materials.
Your application will be considered complete and ready for review once all application requirements have been received. Please plan accordingly to ensure that all components – including letters of recommendation – are submitted by the application deadline.
Click on each application requirement to learn more.
Transcripts
You must demonstrate successful completion of a master’s degree (or degree in progress*) in social work or a related discipline from a regionally accredited college or university.
Submitting Unofficial Transcripts:
Unofficial electronic or scanned student-issued copies of transcripts must be submitted with the application. Record your academic institution(s) and upload your unofficial transcript(s) in the Academic History section. You must report all institutions where six (6) or more credit hours have been completed towards your undergraduate and graduate degrees.
Unofficial transcripts must include the institution name, applicant name, dates of attendance, grades received for each course taken in all terms attended, degree information, and transcript key or interpretation guide.
*If your prerequisite degree is still in progress at the time of application, upload unofficial transcripts reflecting all coursework completed to date. Any offer of admission will be contingent upon the successful completion of your degree.
Official Transcripts:
Admitted students are required to provide final official transcripts from the institution(s) that conferred their undergraduate and graduate degrees. The Brown School reserves the right to revoke an offer of admission if discrepancies are found between the uploaded unofficial documents and official educational records.
Foreign Transcript Evaluation:
Applicants who have earned (or will earn) their prerequisite degree outside the U.S. or English-speaking Canada must provide a certified foreign credential evaluation.
Evaluations must be completed by a NACES© member organization. Brown School applicants are eligible for a discounted rate and expedited review through our recommended partner, The Evaluation Company.
Additional information about the foreign credential evaluation requirement can be found on the International Applicant page.
Personal Statement
Provide a personal statement discussing your interest in social work and significant factors influencing your decision to pursue your doctorate education at the Brown School, including proposed research topics, career goals, and how you feel faculty members, research centers, or other opportunities at the Brown School will be conducive to meeting your short- and long-term goals. Your essay should be approximately 2-3 pages, single-spaced (1500 words maximum), and specifically tailored to your application for the Brown School.
Upload to the Application Materials section of the application.
Resume or CV
In addition to completing the Experience and Awards and Honors sections of the application, you must submit a comprehensive resume or curriculum vitae highlighting your experiences, skills, awards, and accomplishments.
Upload to the Application Materials section of the application.
Letters of Recommendation
Three (3) letters of recommendation from professional and/or academic references are required.
You will be asked to provide contact information for your recommenders in the Recommenders section of the application. Once entered, each recommender will receive an email with instructions for completing the recommendation form and uploading a letter through our online system.
All recommendations must be submitted through the online system. Please monitor the status of your recommendations to ensure they are received by the application deadline.
$50 Non-Refundable Application Fee
A non-refundable application fee of $50 is required at the time of submission and must be paid online.
Automatic fee waivers are granted to current Washington University students, U.S. military service members, and members of federally or state-recognized Native American tribal nations.
Additional fee waivers are limited and considered on a case-by-case basis upon request. Supporting documentation may be required. Applicants who believe they may be eligible should contact the Brown School’s Doctoral Program Office at phdsw@wustl.edu.
Standardized Testing
The Brown School does not require a graduate entrance exam, such as the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), for admission to the PhD program.
International applicants are required to provide official English language proficiency test scores. Additional information about the language proficiency requirement can be found on the International Applicant page.