University of Louisville DSW and PhD in Social Work Programs
DSWPhDPublicKent School of Social Work & Family Science
What Social Work Doctorates Does University of Louisville Offer?
University of Louisville in Louisville, Kentucky offers 2 social work doctorates: Doctor of Social Work Program (DSW) – online and Doctor of Philosophy in Social Work Program (PhD), with the DSW online. The PhD is funded, with tuition covered and a stipend or assistantship.
Typically an MSW/MSSW from a CSWE-accredited program or international equivalent; applicants with a master's in another discipline are welcome to apply
Practice experience
Two years of post-master's work experience preferred
Funding
Research assistantships, teaching assistantships, and Graduate School scholarships and assistantships are available for incoming full-time students
From University of Louisville's own program, admissions and tuition pages, reviewed October 10, 2026. Tuition changes each year; confirm fees with the school.
University of Louisville's Doctorates Side by Side
Blank cells: the school's pages don't give that figure.
How University of Louisville Compares
Doctor of Social Work Program (DSW) – online requires 41 credits; the median practice doctorate on this site requires 48.
Doctor of Philosophy in Social Work Program (PhD) requires 57 credits; the median social work PhD on this site requires 51.
Doctor of Social Work Program (DSW) – online asks for 2 years of post-master's practice, against a median of 2 among DSWs that state a figure.
University of Louisville states that its PhD students are funded, like 46 of the 77 social work PhDs on this site.
Is University of Louisville's DSW CSWE-Accredited?
University of Louisville's practice doctorate isn't in CSWE's practice doctorate directory (captured September 30, 2026). CSWE began accrediting practice doctorates only recently: of the 38 DSW programs on this site, 4 are accredited and 11 are in candidacy or pre-candidacy. State licensing boards look at your MSW, which is where CSWE accreditation is required.
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 Louisville
research doctorates (PhD) awarded, 2022-23
4
Federal completions data (IPEDS, CIP 44.0701) count 4 social work doctorates awarded by University of Louisville in 2022-23. By research doctorates, that places it 48th 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 Kentucky and Bordering States
University of Louisville DSW and PhD: Common Questions
Is University of Louisville's DSW CSWE-Accredited?
University of Louisville's practice doctorate isn't in CSWE's practice doctorate directory (captured September 30, 2026). CSWE began accrediting practice doctorates only recently: of the 38 DSW programs on this site, 4 are accredited and 11 are in candidacy or pre-candidacy. State licensing boards look at your MSW, which is where CSWE accreditation is required.
Can You Earn University of Louisville's DSW Online?
Yes. Doctor of Social Work Program (DSW) – online (online; no campus residency is required).
Is University of Louisville's PhD in Social Work Funded?
Doctor of Philosophy in Social Work Program (PhD): Research assistantships, teaching assistantships, and Graduate School scholarships and assistantships are available for incoming full-time students.
What Do You Need to Apply to University of Louisville's DSW and PhD?
Doctor of Social Work Program (DSW) – online: MSW from a CSWE-accredited program, with a master's GPA of 3.0. Minimum two years of post-master's social work experience. Doctor of Philosophy in Social Work Program (PhD): Typically an MSW/MSSW from a CSWE-accredited program or international equivalent; applicants with a master's in another discipline are welcome to apply. Two years of post-master's work experience preferred.
How Long Does University of Louisville's DSW Take?
Doctor of Social Work Program (DSW) – online: Most students finish by the spring semester of their third academic year; up to six years allowed (41 credit hours (44 minimum total hours including the candidacy requirement)).
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