Social Change
The Hidden Burden: Creating a Social Justice Practice While Avoiding Burnout
Learn tips on how to prioritize your mental health and avoid burnout while working to drive societal change.
Multidisciplinary Approaches to a New Kind of Social Justice
Advance your social work capabilities as a practitioner, educator, and researcher who can illuminate complex social issues with a holistic and interdisciplinary perspective. Guided by the philosophy that neglecting any one dimension compromises the whole, our Integrative Social Work online doctorate program is the nexus of social justice, community healing, individual growth, and policy change. Within the Integrative Social Work online Ph.D. curriculum, you’ll learn community-based approaches to social change, person-centered social work, mind-body-spirit approaches, how governments address public health issues, advocacy in the legal system, how to identify and address the needs of aging populations, and more. You’ll also deepen your commitment to social justice, develop greater self-awareness and cultural humility for oppressed populations, and advocate for policies that promote equity.
Specialized Studies Within Our Integrative Social Work Curriculum
Specialization in Teaching and Advanced Research (STAR)
Prepare for advanced roles in higher education by mastering key skills in teaching and mentorship, curriculum design, and research. Through the STAR program, you’ll build a scholarly portfolio that demonstrates your expertise, showcases your accomplishments, and sets you apart in academia.
Integrative Community Studies Specialization
Explore how communities function and respond to challenges through the study of community psychology, development, and leadership. Examine equity, trauma, and public health issues such as addiction, crises, and disasters, and learn how psychology, sociology, public health, and organizational studies intersect to support community well-being.
Ph.D. in Integrative Social Work Job Outcomes
Upon graduation from the online social work Ph.D., you will have the skill set to work in a variety of roles in community organizations, higher education, nonprofits, government agencies, and beyond, including:
Academic & research roles such as:
- University professor
- Researcher
- Academic program director
Leadership & administration roles such as:
- Nonprofit executive director
- Organizational leader
- Healthcare administrator
- Social impact strategist
Policy & systems change roles such as:
- Policy analyst/advisor
- Government or NGO leadership roles
- Community development leader
Education & school systems roles such as:
- School system administrator
- Higher education faculty
Entrepreneurial & impact work roles such as:
- Nonprofit founder
- Social enterprise leader
It's important to remember that roles are macro-level, leadership, research, and systems-focused, not clinical.
Program Components
Admissions Requirements
Students entering the Ph.D. Integrative Social Work online program must have completed a master’s degree in social work, or other relevant master’s degree, from an institutionally accredited college or university prior to enrollment. It is preferred that applicants have one to two years of professional experience prior to admission. Applicants will be judged on their overall ability to do graduate work, including academic writing.
Applicants for the Ph.D. in Integrative Social Work online degree must submit the following documents:
- An official transcript from an accredited university demonstrating successful completion with a 3.0 GPA or better, though exceptions may be made
- A personal statement
- Professional resume or CV
- An academic writing sample
- All applicants will be interviewed by a member of the Social Work faculty
Invest in Your Future
Saybrook University remains committed to keeping higher education affordable and accessible. Our Financial Aid Department is ready to offer guidance and support in determining suitable financial assistance tailored to your needs, including potential scholarship opportunities, grants, and more.
Cost
Saybrook wants you to have the information you need to make an informed decision about your academic and career aspirations. Our cost calculator provides an estimated cost of attending Saybrook to earn your Ph.D. in Integrative Social Work.
Sample Courses
Foundations of Integrative Social Work
This three-credit course presents foundational models and concepts for integrative social work through complementary paradigms, including integrative healthcare and integrative mental health care, interprofessionalism and multidisciplinary care, patient-centered and person-centered social work, a holistic, mind-body-spirit approach, lifestyle medicine, and the mindfulness and compassion-based approach. This course also examines the difference the various models make for the professional practice of social work, including clinical, administrative, and consultation work, and teaching in social work education.
Public and Community Health
This three-credit doctoral-level course will familiarize social work students with the concepts and skills needed in public health and community health. This course requires a shift to a community, national, and global perspective on health and disease, as cultural expectations, community practices, and widespread environmental factors shape individual behavior and health. Students in this class will gain understanding and develop skills in diagnosing community-based health concerns and understanding the complexities of community, national, and global trends that impact on health.
Public Policy and Social Work
This three-credit course addresses how public policy, the public health system, and the broader health care system function to promote health and treat illness, as well as how governments function to address public health issues. Major topics addressed will include the structure and function of federal and state level public policies, the public health care system in the United States, how those functions are provided for by law and financed by governments, the structure of the health care delivery system, and how it relates to the public health system.
Catalog
Please refer to our academic catalog for more information on the Ph.D. in Integrative Social Work program.
FAQs
Is it required to choose a specialization to complete the Integrative Social Work Ph.D. program?
Yes. A specialization is required to complete the degree program. Our online social work specialization for the Ph.D. program is Integrative Community Studies, with more specialization paths coming soon.
Is the integrative social work program 100% online?
Yes, the Saybrook University social work doctorate is 100% online.
What’s the benefit of getting a doctoral degree in social work?
A Ph.D. in Social Work can be the right option for those with a master’s degree who want to advance their career. Saybrook’s online social work Ph.D. helps to address complex social issues through policy change, research, and community work. This doctoral program is excellent for professionals looking to move into policy-making, government positions, higher education, and other advanced careers.
What can you do with a Ph.D. in Social Work?
Graduates of Saybrook’s online Ph.D. in social work program go on to lead fascinating careers in policy change, executive director and program director roles, healthcare administration, community outreach, governmental or public sector influence, leadership in social work education, and academia.
What is the difference between a Master of Social Work (MSW) and a Ph.D. in Social Work?
The difference between the two degrees lies in the career path you would like to take. We’ve outlined the differences below.
A Master of Social Work (MSW):
Purpose: prepares students for direct practice and clinical roles.
Focus:
- Clinical skills
- Case management
- Therapy and counseling
- Fieldwork/practicum
Typical Careers:
- Therapist
- Clinical social worker
- School social worker
- Case manager
Licensure: an LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) is required for clinical practice
Ph.D. in Integrative Social Work (Saybrook):
Purpose: Prepares students for roles in leadership, research, policy, and systems change.
Focus:
- Research and theory
- Community-based application
- Interdisciplinary integration
- Holistic and humanistic approaches
Typical Careers:
- Professor
- Policy leader
- Nonprofit executive
- Researcher
- Healthcare or organizational leader
Licensure: Does NOT lead to clinical licensure
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University Learning Experience
Our Ph.D. in Integrative Social Work program is a 100% online program. While the core of this program is completed asynchronously, there are some synchronous, online features designed to deepen your educational experience. We call this a Virtual Learning Experience (VLE). In addition to the VLEs, you will begin your studies with a virtual Welcome Week. Welcome Week activities, including a program orientation, are held online during the week before the start of Fall and Spring semesters. In-person Community Learning Experiences (CLE) are also available for you to explore. CLEs are held every odd-numbered year. They are optional and not required to complete the program.
Integrative Social Work Faculty
Saybrook’s Integrative Social Work faculty are practitioner-scholars dedicated to advancing their field through continued practice and comprehensive instruction. Meet one of our faculty members below.
Core faculty, Ph.D. in Integrative Social Work program
- Extensive experience in social policy development, student retention, diversity, social justice, student equity, and more
- Conference presenter/panelist on issues such as African American male achievement, student athlete success, and graduation/retention
UNBOUND: Integrative Social Work
Advocate and lead with a person-centered, evidence-informed approach to social work and community well-being, where traditional principles meet holistic insights by earning your doctorate in social work or completing a social work certificate.
Profile, Students
Saybrook University Student Profile: Derek Kee-Haynes
For Derek Kee-Haynes, Saybrook’s humanistic approach makes space for decolonizing social work, because one size of social work doesn’t fit all.
Career Resources
Master’s vs. Ph.D. in social work: What’s the difference?
Ready to pursue a graduate degree in social work? Discover the differences between a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in social work here.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Submit an inquiry and one of our admissions specialists will connect with you to answer your questions and guide you through next steps.