How to Apply | Online Doctorate of Social Work

Online Application Form	Apply Now
Application Deadlines	Submissions for the Summer 2025 application have reached capacity and are now closed. Applications for Spring 2026 continue to be accepted and reviewed. We are now accepting applications for Summer 2026. Reviews for Summer 2026 applications will begin mid-August, with admission decisions starting September 1. Summer 2025: Closed Spring 2026 Semester: Priority Deadline: October 1 Final Deadline: November 1 Summer 2026 Semester: Priority Deadline: March 1, 2026 Final Deadline: April 15, 2026
Degree and Minimum GPA	Applicants should hold a master of social work degree from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) with a minimum cumulative graduate GPA of 3.0. A 3.5 GPA is strongly encouraged.
Transcripts	Unofficial transcript from the institute where you completed your MSW degree (conferred).
Official GRE Score	No GRE is required
Personal Résumé	Employment history (resume or vita) A minimum of two years post-MSW experience is required at the time of application.
Letters of Recommendation	Contact information for two references who will be sent a request for recommendation at the time of application. Please exclude personal, pastoral and relative references. If you have graduated within the past 5 years, you must provide at least one academic reference.
Personal statement (4 – 5 pages)	Your personal statement serves as a writing sample and should demonstrate critical thinking, graduate level writing, and be formatted in APA style (7th edition), including a title page and reference section (not included in the 5-page limit). All prompts listed in the three paragraphs below are to be addressed in your statement. Why are you interested in pursuing a DSW at this stage in your career? Two pieces to address are: how your practice experience informs the concentration area you are interested in (i.e., administration and leadership, clinical social work, military behavioral health, or social work education) and what impact do you expect a DSW education to have on your career? Contemporary social work calls for practice informed research and research informed practice. Identify a social work practice domain of your interest and practice that has been overlooked or lacks adequate research and attention in academia. How does the contemporary literature influence your understanding of your identified issue and how does it impact your identified population? Articulate how you might tackle this concern. Your discussion should demonstrate critical thinking about social work practice, application of current literature, a basic understanding of the practice problem or challenge identified and reflect an interest in improving practice.
Additional Requirements	Students should have sufficient information technology skills to be successful in an online doctoral program.

Request more information or a consultation

You’re likely to have questions as you make your decision about pursuing an online degree. From program information to application process details, we’re here to help you find the answers you need.

International Students

International students applying to the online DSW program need to meet certain additional requirements. International students are not eligible for an I-20 for F-1 status or DS-2019 for J-1 students status based on enrollment in the online DSW program.

Application Fee	$75 Application Processing Fee
Transcripts	Official transcripts in English
English Proficiency	Students from non-English speaking countries must take an English proficiency test directly from the testing center: TOEFL: 79 iBT IELTS: 6.5

Transfer Credit

The University of Kentucky’s online DSW program accepts up to 9 transfer credits with program director review and approval.

When to Apply

Submissions for the Summer 2025 application have reached capacity and are now closed.

Applications for Spring 2026 continue to be accepted and reviewed.

We are now accepting applications for Summer 2026. Reviews for Summer 2026 applications will begin mid-August, with admission decisions starting September 1.

Summer 2025 SEmester Start:

Closed

SPring 2026 SEmester Start:

Priority Deadline: October 1
Deadline: November 15

Summer 2026 SEmester:

Priority Deadline: March 1, 2026
Deadline: April 15, 2026

Applications submitted must be complete by the deadline to be considered.

Contact Admissions at (833) 358-1721 to learn more.