Florida State University
College of Social Work DOCTORAL PROGRAM GUIDE CSW.FSU.EDU
FSU? WHY THE ? WHY COLLEGE OF SOCIAL WORK?
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lorida State University (FSU) is a nationally recognized, student-centric institution that takes pride in offering challenging, yet invigorating academic programs, open communication with students, and opportunities to assume leadership roles that help them develop leadership skills. On FSU’s main campus, there are 18 colleges offering more than 282 undergraduate, graduate, professional, and doctorate programs. The FSU College of Social Work recruits one of the most diverse student cohorts on FSU’s campus, giving each student the opportunity to learn from colleagues that bring invaluable professional experiences and life histories to the classrooms and field placements. Professors and students collaborate and embrace the robust conversations and intellectual adventures that cultural and social diversity bring.
College of Social Work University Center, Building C
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Student-Centric More than 42,000 students are enrolled at FSU each year. The FSU College of Social Work is ranked as one of the top graduate programs in social work (No. 33, U.S. News & World Report), FSU offers students a prestigious program with a history of success. Enjoy working and collaborating closely with faculty and staff in a warm, caring environment. Legacy of Excellence FSU has offered classes on social welfare/social work for more than 100 years. The FSU College of Social Work established its social work doctoral program in 1974. An emphasis on classroom theory applied to real world scenarios makes the FSU College of Social Work one of the top programs accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools as well as the Council on Social Work Education. The FSU College of Social Work is a Top 20 Social Work Program at a Public University (No. 18, U.S. News & World Report).
The College of Social Work is committed to preparing the next generation of social work professionals through our BSW, MSW, and PhD programs. We share the moral idea best expressed by one of the profession’s founders, Nobel Laureate Jane Addams: ‘The good we secure for ourselves is precarious and uncertain until it is secured for all of us and incorporated into our common life.” Jim Clark, Ph.D., LCSW Dean and Professor
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Ph.D.
PH.D. PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
Our Program
Funding Opportunities
Since 1974 the Doctoral Program at Florida State University has built its national reputation by guiding scholars toward excellence. Students are challenged with excellent research and teaching opportunities that prepare them for careers as leaders in education and research. The doctoral program emphasizes training in research methods and adult pedagogy. Students participate in experiential learning in systematic methods of inquiry that foster independence in research and scholarship, particularly in quantitative research, qualitative research, statistics, and measurement.
The College of Social Work guarantees funding to doctoral students for the first three years of their education. The College pays for up to twelve (12) credit hours of students’ tuition for fall and spring and up to nine (9) credit hours during the summer. The College also provides an assistantship experience tied to the guaranteed funding. For the first two years of enrollment a Research Assistantship is provided and a Teaching Assistantship is provided in the third year. The hourly rate for the assistantships held in the first three years is $36.00.
Students are guided by our outstanding faculty members who have expertise in a wide variety of substantive and methodological areas. Faculty have rigorous expectations of students and are dedicated to the ethical principles of social work research and practice. Faculty are committed to fostering a transformative experience for our students, guiding them to a future where they enjoy successful careers in academia as accomplished researchers and educators.
After the third year of study, doctoral students often have a number of opportunities for grant-funded work to continue funding their graduate work. Experienced faculty members invite students to work on their funded research projects as Research Assistants, providing invaluable research experience. Students frequently find dissertation topics in these research experiences. Additionally, many doctoral students will continue to receive funding after the third year through teaching independently in the BSW program.
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FACULTY PROFILES Dr. Carrie Pettus-Davis is one of social work’s leading experts in criminal justice and decarceration. Pettus-Davis joined Florida State University as Associate Professor of Social Work in 2018 and subsequently founded the Institute for Justice Research and Development, or IJRD — a premier research center located in the College of Social Work focused on criminal justice systemwide innovations and preparing the social work profession for leadership in smart decarceration approaches.
Dr. Carrie Pettus-Davis Associate Professor
Founding Director, Institute for Justice Research and Development
IJRD advances science, policy, and practice to improve the well-being of individuals, families, and communities impacted by criminal justice system involvement. IJRD uses a solutionsfinding approach and multidisciplinary collaborations to catalyze the rapid translation of research findings into practice to bridge the 17-year implementation gap between scientific discovery and changes to policy and practice.
Pettus-Davis engages a growing base of policymakers, business leaders, funders, advocates, practitioners, formerly incarcerated individuals, and scholars in data-driven policy and practice intervention development. The goal of her work is to reduce the reach of the criminal justice system in ways that are safe, equitable, and sustainable. Dr. Pettus-Davis completed her doctorate in social work from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She holds a Master of Social Work Administration and bachelor’s degrees in social work and psychology, all from the University of Kansas.
Dr. Petscher is an Associate Professor in Social Work at Florida State University, Director of Quantitative Methodology and Innovation at the Florida Center for Reading Research, and an Associate Director at the Florida Center for Reading Research. His research interests are the study of individual differences in reading and language skills, and has over 150 publications in the domains of literacy, psychometrics, and applied research methods; he has been a PI or co-PI on 30 state or federally funded grants and contracts. He has served as a lead developer and psychometrician of four, large scale computer-adaptive tests of reading and language skills, and has worked as the principal methodologist for several multi-site randomized controlled trials. He presently serves on the editorial board for the Journal of Educational Psychology, Reading Research Quarterly, and Annals of Dyslexia and is an associate editor for Elementary School Journal and Journal of Learning Disabilities. His work has been recognized with state, national and international research awards from the International Literacy Association, the American Educational Research Association, the Society for the Scientific Study of Reading, and the Florida Educational Research Association.
Dr. Yaacov Petscher Associate Professor
Associate Director, Florida Center for Reading Research (FCRR) Director, Quantitative Methodology and Innovation Division (FCRR) Deputy Director, National Comprehensive Center to Improve Literacy for Students with Disabilities
More recently, his applied work is focused on technology innovation resulted in multiple co-invented patents and copyrights, with his technologies recognized by awards from the International Society for Technology in Education, Tech and Learning Magazine, and a Florida State University Innovator Award. 4
STUDENT HIGHLIGHTS “Florida State University’s College of Social Work was and remains my first choice for doctoral-level education. The program has allowed me to explore and cultivate new ideas and passions; while providing a strong research foundation. I have consistently felt supported and stimulated by our diverse set of faculty. The program has given me the opportunity to work on and seek out grant-funded research, publish peerreviewed and popular-press articles, and has encouraged and fostered interdisciplinary work. I would strongly recommend the program to any future doctoral students.”
Daniel Dunleavy Doctoral Candidate
“When I was choosing the institution where I would spend my years pursuing doctoral education, Florida State University’s College of Social Work quickly rose to the top of my list. I quickly realized that the faculty were passionate about their work and my own future accomplishments. Now, as a doctoral student, these sentiments remain. I have been given a multitude of opportunities to work with phenomenal faculty across FSU’s campus, cultivating my education and exploring my passions. The faculty I engage with consistently support my endeavors and stimulate my learning. In the few years I have attended, I have already worked with several research teams on grant-funded work, presented at various research conferences, and submitted quality research articles. I would strongly recommend this program to anyone seeking to push themselves in ways they never thought possible.”
Jessica Bagneris Doctoral Student
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ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS For the application and complete details on the Ph.D. admissions requirements, please visit csw.fsu.edu. 1. A master’s degree from a graduate school of social work (MSW) with a Grade Point Average of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale); The school must be accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. a. Foreign applicants must have a CSWE accredited MSW or equivalent degree. If the degree is earned outside of CSWE jurisdiction, the applicant must have his or her degree evaluated and validated by CSWE. The cost of CSWE validation is the responsibility of the applicant. Exceptions may be considered by the Doctoral Program Director on a case by case basis. 2. Transcripts from all previous undergraduate and graduate academic work; “Good standing” status at the last school attended 3. An official Graduate Record Examination (GRE General Test) taken within the previous 5 years. 4. For International Applicants, including those with a graduate degree from a U.S. University, evidence of English language proficiency is required as demonstrated by acceptable scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) Internet Based Test or Paper Based Test, or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). 5. Resume/Curriculum Vitae 6. Statement of Purpose 7. Writing Sample 8. Letters of Recommendation (minimum: 3) 6
CONNECT WITH US! “The FSU College of Social Work doctoral program offers rigorous training in translational research that makes an important impact in the real world. Over 75% of our recent graduates have earned tenuretrack positions at universities across the country, where they make impressive contributions to their communities and the field of social work.”
- Dr. Stephen Tripodi Doctoral Program Director, Associate Professor, Associate Director, Institute for Justice Research and Development stripodi@fsu.edu
Jennifer Farinella Graduate Programs Manager (850) 645-6932 • jfarinella@fsu.edu
College of Social Work (850) 645-4751
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