Advance your career as a visionary and inclusive social work leader with the online Doctorate of Social Work (DSW) at Simmons University. Designed for experienced clinical social workers, this cohort-based doctoral program prepares scholar-practitioners to apply advanced clinical knowledge, inclusive leadership, and teaching expertise to drive meaningful systemic change in communities and organizations.

• Complete in less than two years full-time
• Full-time and part-time pathways available
• Cohort-based, live online delivery
• No GRE required
• MSW from a CSWE-accredited program required

About this program

The online Doctorate of Social Work (DSW) from Simmons University’s School of Social Work provides the highest level of clinical training for experienced professionals seeking advanced leadership and practice expertise. Rooted in social justice values and a multicultural perspective, the program prepares graduates to lead, teach, and innovate within diverse social work settings.

As the nation’s first school of clinical social work, Simmons builds upon a longstanding legacy of practice-focused education. The curriculum emphasizes three core areas of development: inclusive leadership, advanced clinical practice, and teaching and education.

Curriculum overview

The DSW curriculum is developed by doctorally prepared clinical social workers and is designed to strengthen advanced social work competencies while keeping clinical practice at the forefront. Students engage in rigorous coursework that integrates leadership theory, emerging practice models, and pedagogical foundations.

Three integrated areas of focus include:

Leadership — Developing inclusive organizational cultures, advancing supervision and mentoring skills, and building socially just systems.

Advanced Clinical Practice — Applying doctoral-level knowledge to complex and diverse client presentations using innovative and inclusive approaches.

Teaching and Education — Strengthening skills in learning theory, evidence-based pedagogy, and inclusive educational practice across academic and professional contexts.

Online learning experience

The program is delivered through live, weekly online classes within a collaborative cohort model. Students engage face-to-face with faculty-practitioners and peers, forming strong professional networks while balancing academic study with professional commitments.

Courses utilize interactive and multimedia tools to support collaboration, applied learning, and continuous feedback.

Capstone project

The program culminates in a doctoral capstone project, allowing students to explore a real-world issue within the field and synthesize learning across leadership, clinical practice, and education. Through capstone seminars and one-to-one faculty mentorship, students refine their professional identity and assert expertise within a chosen area of specialization.

Admissions and career outlook

Applicants must hold a Master of Social Work (MSW) from a CSWE-accredited program and demonstrate at least three years of relevant post-MSW professional experience. GRE scores are not required. Graduates are prepared for diverse career pathways, including clinically enhanced private practice, leadership roles within social service organizations, academic positions, consulting, and subject-matter expertise within the social work field.