University of Maryland School of Social Work DSW and PhD in Social Work Programs
University of Maryland, Baltimore
CSWE pre-candidacyPhDDSWPublicUniversity of Maryland School of Social Work
What Social Work Doctorates Does University of Maryland School of Social Work Offer?
University of Maryland School of Social Work in Baltimore, Maryland offers 2 social work doctorates: PhD in Social Work and Doctor of Social Work (DSW), taught on campus. CSWE lists the practice doctorate as in pre-candidacy. Estimated DSW tuition is $58,500 before fees. The PhD is funded, with tuition covered and a stipend or assistantship.
All classes held in person on Thursdays and Fridays during daytime hours at the School of Social Work in Baltimore; no online courses offered
Schedule
Part-time study offered
Credits
53 credits, including 12 hours of doctoral dissertation credits
Length
Full-time students complete coursework in 2-3 years and average 4 to 5 years to complete the program; part-time students complete coursework in an average of 3-4 years
Final project
Dissertation
Degree you need
Master of Social Work (MSW) degree required
Practice experience
Preference given to applicants with at least 2 years of post-MSW practice experience
Funding
Full-time students receive 20-hour graduate research assistantships through graduation with a stipend of $28,605 (10-month) or $34,325 (12-month), tuition remission for fall and spring, and health insurance; part-time students receive tuition remission awards without a stipend
Courses delivered in person one weekend per month, Friday through Sunday, during the fall and spring semesters on the Baltimore campus
Credits
60 credit hours
Length
Three years
Final project
Capstone project
Degree you need
Master of Social Work degree (MSW) from an accredited (CSWE) School of Social Work with a GPA of 3.0 or better
Practice experience
Minimum of 2 years of direct practice experience post MSW
License
Advanced practice licensure, LCSW-C (Maryland), or a comparable license is preferred
Start terms
Fall
Tuition
Estimated $975 per credit hour for in-state residents and $1,330 per credit hour for out-of-state residents, not including student fees (rates subject to University System of Maryland approval by June 2026)Program tuition, per credit, 2026-27. Source: ssw.umaryland.edu, reviewed October 10, 2026.
Estimated tuition
$58,500$975 per credit times 60 credits, before fees.
CSWE status
Pre-CandidacyCSWE practice doctorate directory, September 30, 2026.
From University of Maryland School of Social Work's own program, admissions and tuition pages, reviewed October 10, 2026. Tuition changes each year; confirm fees with the school.
University of Maryland School of Social Work's Doctorates Side by Side
Blank cells: the school's pages don't give that figure.
How University of Maryland School of Social Work Compares
Estimated tuition for Doctor of Social Work (DSW) is $58,500, the 14th lowest of 19 practice doctorates on this site with an estimate (median $45,000).
PhD in Social Work requires 53 credits; the median social work PhD on this site requires 51.
Doctor of Social Work (DSW) requires 60 credits; the median practice doctorate on this site requires 48.
Doctor of Social Work (DSW) asks for 2 years of post-master's practice, against a median of 2 among DSWs that state a figure.
University of Maryland School of Social Work states that its PhD students are funded, like 46 of the 77 social work PhDs on this site.
Is University of Maryland School of Social Work's DSW CSWE-Accredited?
University of Maryland School of Social Work's practice doctorate is in CSWE pre-candidacy (directory captured September 30, 2026), the first stage of the accreditation process.
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 Maryland School of Social Work
research doctorates (PhD) awarded, 2022-23
8
Federal completions data (IPEDS, CIP 44.0701) count 8 social work doctorates awarded by University of Maryland School of Social Work in 2022-23. By research doctorates, that places it 21st 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 Maryland and Bordering States
University of Maryland School of Social Work DSW and PhD: Common Questions
Is University of Maryland School of Social Work's DSW CSWE-Accredited?
University of Maryland School of Social Work's practice doctorate is in CSWE pre-candidacy (directory captured September 30, 2026), the first stage of the accreditation process.
Can You Earn University of Maryland School of Social Work's DSW and PhD Online?
No. PhD in Social Work and Doctor of Social Work (DSW) are taught on campus: all classes held in person on Thursdays and Fridays during daytime hours at the School of Social Work in Baltimore; no online courses offered.
How Much Does University of Maryland School of Social Work's DSW Cost?
Doctor of Social Work (DSW): Estimated $975 per credit hour for in-state residents and $1,330 per credit hour for out-of-state residents, not including student fees (rates subject to University System of Maryland approval by June 2026) (2026-27), about $58,500 for 60 credits before fees.
Is University of Maryland School of Social Work's PhD in Social Work Funded?
PhD in Social Work: Full-time students receive 20-hour graduate research assistantships through graduation with a stipend of $28,605 (10-month) or $34,325 (12-month), tuition remission for fall and spring, and health insurance; part-time students receive tuition remission awards without a stipend.
What Do You Need to Apply to University of Maryland School of Social Work's DSW and PhD?
PhD in Social Work: Master of Social Work (MSW) degree required. Preference given to applicants with at least 2 years of post-MSW practice experience. Doctor of Social Work (DSW): Master of Social Work degree (MSW) from an accredited (CSWE) School of Social Work with a GPA of 3.0 or better. Minimum of 2 years of direct practice experience post MSW. Advanced practice licensure, LCSW-C (Maryland), or a comparable license is preferred.
How Long Does University of Maryland School of Social Work's DSW and PhD Take?
PhD in Social Work: Full-time students complete coursework in 2-3 years and average 4 to 5 years to complete the program; part-time students complete coursework in an average of 3-4 years (53 credits, including 12 hours of doctoral dissertation credits). Doctor of Social Work (DSW): Three years (60 credit hours).
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