Social Work, DSW

The mission of California Baptist University’s Doctor of Social Work Program is to develop advanced social work practitioners, leaders and world changers who live their purpose through the integration and application of social work values, knowledge, and skills to engage communities and develop innovative strategies to address our world’s most pressing social problems.

The Doctor of Social Work program strives to develop doctoral-level social workers who will advance innovative systemic changes to enhance human well-being while displaying executive leadership, content mastery, scholarship, integrity, and ethics that will distinguish them in the workplace and the world. This program is committed to pursuing Christ-centered justice by equipping graduates to live their purpose and glorify God through community-based social action both locally and globally.

Additional Admissions Requirements

Admission standards for graduate studies at California Baptist University can be found in the admissions section of the University Catalog. In addition, each candidate must meet the following requirements for this program:

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
In place of the written statement of purpose, a 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.
Successful interview with the Doctor of Social Work Program Director

Social Work, DSW

Additional Admissions Requirements

Program Requirements (48 Units)