Admissions Requirements

Admission standards for Graduate Studies at California Baptist University can be found in the Admissions section of the University Catalog. Specific application requirements for the Doctor of Social Work program are:

1. A minimum of 3.0 GPA

2. Prerequisites (completed with a “C” or better;  prerequisites can be completed concurrently
   • Research methods
   • Human behavior theory
   • Social work practice, clinical practice, counseling, or equivalent practice course
   • Diversity, cultural competence, marginalization, or equivalent social justice course
3. Completion of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and/or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation
4. Completion of a master’s degree in social work (MSW) from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and/or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or related master’s degree (e.g. Master of Public Administration, Master of Public Health, Master of Public Policy, Master of Science in Clinical Psychology, Master of Marriage and Family Therapy, Master of Forensic Psychology, Master of Industrial and Organizational Psychology)
5. Students may transfer up to six (6) units of doctoral coursework from another institution towards the CBU doctor of social work degree. Coursework must have been completed with a grade of “B” or better in the last five years, given that much of the scientific literature tends to evolve and change every year

Transferable doctoral coursework may only count towards the following designated content areas:

• Direct practice, clinical practice, or psychotherapy (equivalent to one course)
• Leadership and management (equivalent to one course)
• Research methods, statistics, and data analysis (equivalent to one course)

6. Two years of professional experience in social work, social welfare, or other human services related profession is required. Experience can be obtained before or after receiving a master’s degree. Applicants should demonstrate that their professional experiences have equipped them to engage in scholarship, serve as a leader in various practice settings, and address a specific social problem.

7. Three professional recommendations (academic, supervisor, and professional peer), dated within the last year

8. Professional essay, 3-4 pages in length, answering the following specific items:
   • Describe your decision to pursue a doctoral degree in social work, including the reasons for this pursuit, important life experiences that have led you to the field, and why you believe you would be a good fit for the CBU DSW Program
   • Identify some of the challenges you anticipate facing in the DSW program, including how you expect to overcome these challenges. The expectation is that students will spend about 28 hours a week engaged in doctoral content/work. How will you adjust your current work, family, and other personal/professional obligations to accommodate doctoral coursework?
   • Identify your interest in addressing a social problem that requires additional scholarship, clinical expertise, and/or leadership to meet the needs of one or more marginalized populations. You should also include the reason for your interest in this topic as a potential project and how doctoral education is necessary for you to address this problem.
   • Describe your views on faith and how you can integrate Christian ethics and values as a doctoral level social work leader
   • Discuss how you will integrate your doctoral education into your future personal and professional goals
9. Current resume documenting all related professional and extracurricular experiences
10. Writing sample: a sole-authored essay from a graduate course; publication in a peer-reviewed journal or other professional periodical; or other professional report (e.g. grant application, policy analysis, program manual, etc.) 

11. Successful interview with the Doctor of Social Work Program Director

Program Requirements (48 Units)

• SWK 701 - Direct Practice with Cultural Humility
• SWK 705 - Community Engagement and Social Innovation
• SWK 710 - Historical and Contemporary Social Action
• SWK 715 - Community-Based Participatory Research Methods
• SWK 720 - Project Development and Implementation
• SWK 725 - Effective Leadership in the 21st Century
• SWK 730 - Research Dissemination and Scholarship
• SWK 735 - Answering the Call to Teach
• SWK 740 - Social Work Entrepreneurship
• SWK 745 - Justice-Focused Engagement around the Globe
• SWK 796 - Comprehensive I
• SWK 797 - Comprehensive II