University of Tennessee, Knoxville DSW and PhD in Social Work Programs
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
CSWE-accredited DSWDSWPhDPublicCollege of Social Work
What Social Work Doctorates Does University of Tennessee, Knoxville Offer?
University of Tennessee, Knoxville in Knoxville, Tennessee offers 2 social work doctorates: Doctor of Social Work (DSW) Degree in Clinical Practice and Leadership and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Social Work, with the DSW online. CSWE lists the practice doctorate as accredited. The PhD is funded, with tuition covered and a stipend or assistantship.
One-week on-campus residency in Knoxville during each of the first two summers, plus a three-day new student orientation in June before the first fall semester
Credits
48 credit hours
Length
Three years
Final project
Practice-focused, applied project (not a traditional academic dissertation)
Degree you need
Master's degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program
Practice experience
A minimum of three years of post-MSSW/MSW clinical practice experience
Start terms
Fall
CSWE status
AccreditedCSWE practice doctorate directory, September 30, 2026.
34 credit hours of research design, statistics, advanced critical thinking and teaching methods, plus 9 credit hours of electives
Length
Four funded years, with the dissertation phase extending into year five
Final project
Three-paper dissertation of publishable research manuscripts
Degree you need
Master's degree from an accredited school of social work
Practice experience
Post-master's social work/social welfare practice experience required
Funding
A $35,000 annual stipend, full tuition waiver and health insurance for four years, with students working 20 hours per week as graduate research assistants
From University of Tennessee, Knoxville's own program, admissions and tuition pages, reviewed October 10, 2026. Tuition changes each year; confirm fees with the school.
University of Tennessee, Knoxville's Doctorates Side by Side
Blank cells: the school's pages don't give that figure.
How University of Tennessee, Knoxville Compares
Doctor of Social Work (DSW) Degree in Clinical Practice and Leadership requires 48 credits; the median practice doctorate on this site requires 48.
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Social Work requires 34 credits; the median social work PhD on this site requires 51.
Doctor of Social Work (DSW) Degree in Clinical Practice and Leadership asks for 3 years of post-master's practice, against a median of 2 among DSWs that state a figure.
University of Tennessee, Knoxville states that its PhD students are funded, like 46 of the 77 social work PhDs on this site.
Is University of Tennessee, Knoxville's DSW CSWE-Accredited?
CSWE lists University of Tennessee, Knoxville's practice doctorate as accredited in its directory (captured September 30, 2026). Of the 38 DSW programs on this site, 4 hold full CSWE accreditation.
CSWE doesn't accredit research doctorates, so the PhD carries no CSWE status; PhD programs are covered by the university's institutional accreditation.
Social Work Doctorates Awarded at University of Tennessee, Knoxville
research doctorates (PhD) awarded, 2022-23
25
Federal completions data (IPEDS, CIP 44.0701) count 25 social work doctorates awarded by University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 2022-23. By research doctorates, that places it 6th of 80 schools on this site that awarded any. These are awards conferred, not graduates or outcomes, and newer programs show none yet.
More Social Work Doctorates in Tennessee and Bordering States
University of Tennessee, Knoxville DSW and PhD: Common Questions
Is University of Tennessee, Knoxville's DSW CSWE-Accredited?
CSWE lists University of Tennessee, Knoxville's practice doctorate as accredited in its directory (captured September 30, 2026). Of the 38 DSW programs on this site, 4 hold full CSWE accreditation.
Can You Earn University of Tennessee, Knoxville's DSW Online?
Yes. Doctor of Social Work (DSW) Degree in Clinical Practice and Leadership (online; one-week on-campus residency in Knoxville during each of the first two summers, plus a three-day new student orientation in June before the first fall semester).
Is University of Tennessee, Knoxville's PhD in Social Work Funded?
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Social Work: A $35,000 annual stipend, full tuition waiver and health insurance for four years, with students working 20 hours per week as graduate research assistants.
What Do You Need to Apply to University of Tennessee, Knoxville's DSW and PhD?
Doctor of Social Work (DSW) Degree in Clinical Practice and Leadership: Master's degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program. A minimum of three years of post-MSSW/MSW clinical practice experience. Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Social Work: Master's degree from an accredited school of social work. Post-master's social work/social welfare practice experience required.
How Long Does University of Tennessee, Knoxville's DSW and PhD Take?
Doctor of Social Work (DSW) Degree in Clinical Practice and Leadership: Three years (48 credit hours). Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Social Work: Four funded years, with the dissertation phase extending into year five (34 credit hours of research design, statistics, advanced critical thinking and teaching methods, plus 9 credit hours of electives).
Every program on this site was checked on the school's own website in October 2026. CSWE status for practice doctorates comes only from the Council on Social Work Education's own directory, and program size from U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS) doctoral completions. Sponsored listings are labeled as ads and never change which programs we list or how we rank them. How we verify programs