December 14, 2007
TO:
Mark Schneiderhan, Chair
Senate Committee on Educational Policy
FROM:
Midge Grosch
Director, Programs and Academic Assessment
I am forwarding for review and action by the Senate Committee on Educational Policy
the attached Revision of the Doctor of Philosophy in Social Work.
The proposal was approved by the faculty in the Jane Addams College of Social Work on
November 6, 2007 and by the Graduate College Executive Committee on December 7,
2007.
Attachment
Cc:
F. Bonecutter
C. Mitchell
Revised on 11/28/07
1
Title: Revision of the PhD in Social Work Program
Sponsor:
Jane Addams College of Social Work
Description:
The Jane Addams College of Social Work requests to re-structure the
allocation of credits within the PhD program as follows:
a. increase by three (3) credits the required coursework that students
take within the College with the creation of a second research
methodologies course, SocW 509, to create a two-semester
research sequence;
b. reduce by three (3) credits the additional required coursework that
students take either within the College or in other departments.
The proposed change is a re-allocation of the distribution of credits and
does not affect the minimum degree requirements, which remains 96.
Justification: Currently the program coursework is comprised of credits taken within the
College as well as credits taken in other departments (Table 1). The bold
sections of the table illustrate the areas of proposed change.
Table 1 JACSW Current Degree Requirements for PhD in Social Work
1. MSW credits
32
2. Required JACSW Courses:
SocW 577
Social Welfare History
SocW 590
Analysis of Social Work Practice Approaches
SocW 591
Social Welfare Policy Analysis and Development
SocW 592
Models of Social Work Scholarship & Knowledge Development
SocW 593
Quantitative Methods in Social Work Research
SocW 594
Dissertation Proseminar in Social Work
18
3
3
3
3
3
3
3. Fifteen Required Coursework Credits Outside JACSW
9 credits in one substantive area
6 credits in advanced statistics
15
4. Additional coursework credits (9 required--either in JACSW or outside)
Advanced Methodology (at least 3 credits required)
5. Required Dissertation Credits
Total Credits for Degree
In the current program structure, students take only one research methods course within
the College, SocW 592 Models of Social Work Scholarship and Knowledge Development
(3 credits). After two years of assessment and deliberation by faculty and doctoral
Revised on 11/28/07
2
9
22
96
students, we have determined that students need more coursework on social workspecific research methodologies before they begin courses in other departments. Content
in SocW592 has been expanded and the course has been renumbered to SocW 508.
Additional content has been added in SocW 509, the proposed second course in the
sequence. This coursework expansion will allow students more time to learn the content
in greater depth and to apply the content through additional readings, class assignments,
etc. We further believe that this expansion will enhance student performance on their
Qualifying Examinations and enable them to progress more rapidly through the program.
In order to accommodate the increased coursework, we propose to reduce by three (3)
credits the additional required coursework that students take either within the College or
in other departments. The bold sections of Table 2 illustrate the proposed change. Note
that the proposed change is a re-allocation of the distribution of credits and does not
affect the minimum degree requirements.
Table 2 JACSW Proposed Degree Requirements for PhD in Social Work
1. MSW credits
32
2. Required JACSW Courses:
SocW 577
Social Welfare History
SocW 590
Analysis of Social Work Practice Approaches
SocW 591
Social Welfare Policy Analysis and Development
SocW 508
Models of Social Work Scholarship & Knowledge Development I
SocW 509
Models of Social Work Scholarship & Knowledge Development II
SocW 593
Quantitative Methods in Social Work Research
SocW 594
Dissertation Proseminar in Social Work
21
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3. Fifteen Required Coursework Credits Outside JACSW
9 credits in one substantive area
6 credits in advanced statistics
15
4. Additional coursework credits (6 required--either in JACSW or outside)
Advanced Methodology (at least 3 credits required)
5. Required Dissertation Credits
Total Credits for Degree
Catalog Statement:
1) Restructure the allocation of credits within the PhD program.
JACSW CURRENT Degree
PROPOSED Degree Requirements
Requirements for PhD in Social Work
In addition to the Graduate College
minimum requirements, students must
Same
Revised on 11/28/07
3
6
22
96
meet the following program requirements:
Doctor of Philosophy






Minimum Semester Hours
Required 96 from the
baccalaureate.
Course Work At least 9 semester
hours must be earned at UIC in
each of two consecutive terms.
Students are expected to complete
the residence requirement during
the first or second year of their
study. Students without a Master
of Social Work may apply for
admission if they have advanced
training in other human service
professions or in related social
sciences. If offered admission,
such students must complete all
requirements for the Master of
Social Work degree before
beginning doctoral courses.
Required Courses: SOCW 577,
590, 591, 592, 593, and 594.
Electives: At least 15 hours must
be in courses outside of the Jane
Addams College of Social Work.
Six hours of the outside credit
must be in an advanced statistics
course supportive of the
dissertation research. At least 9
credits of outside course work
should constitute a single
substantive emphasis. At least 9
additional course work credits are
required (either at Jane Addams
College or outside the college), at
least 3 of which must be in
advanced research methodology
supporting the dissertation.
Examinations Qualifying
Examination: Required.
Preliminary Examination:
Required.





Minimum Semester Hours
Required
Same
Course Work Same
Required Courses: SOCW 508, 509,
577, 590, 591, 593, and 594.
Electives: At least 15 hours must be
in courses outside of the Jane
Addams College of Social Work. Six
hours of the outside credit must be in
an advanced statistics course
supportive of the dissertation
research. At least 9 credits of outside
course work should constitute a
single substantive emphasis. At least
6 additional course work credits are
required (either at Jane Addams
College or outside the college), at
least 3 of which must be in advanced
research methodology supporting the
dissertation.
Same
Revised on 11/28/07
4

Dissertation Required.
Minority Impact Statement: None of the proposed changes would have any negative
impact on minority students.
Budgetary and Staff Implications:
current staff.
The proposed changes can be implemented with the
Library Resource Implications:
implications for library resources.
None of the proposed changes would have
Space Implications: The proposed addition of the second research course, SocW509
Models of Social Work Scholarship & Knowledge Development II would require the use
of one additional classroom each academic year.
Unit Approval Date: October 16, 2007 -- Educational Policy Committee of the College
approval.
November 6, 2007 -- Jane Addams College of Social Work Faculty
approval.
Contact Person:
Faith Johnson Bonecutter, Interim Associate Dean
faithjb@uic.edu or
Christopher Mitchell, PhD Program Director
cgm@uic.edu
Proposed effective date:
Fall 2008
Course Descriptions Social Work (SocW)
508 Models of Social Work Scholarship and Knowledge Development I
3 hours. Functions of scholarship in social work, contributions of scholarship to social
and economic justice, research methodologies and knowledge building processes for
practice and policy analysis. Extensive computer use required. Prerequisite(s):
Admission to the Ph.D. in Social Work program or consent of the instructor. (renumbered
from SocW 592)
509 Models of Social Work Scholarship and Knowledge Development II
3 hours. Functions and processes of research in social work, knowledge-building
methodologies, and the contributions of multiple research models to the
growth of knowledge for the profession. Prerequisite(s): SocW508. (new course)
Revised on 11/28/07
5