Applicants must have a Master of Social Work degree from a CSWE accredited school/program of social work prior to beginning the PhD program.At minimum, the applicant needs to demonstrate above average academic performance (B average, usually a 3.0 on a 1.0-4.0 scale) for undergraduate course work and for any post-baccalaureate or graduate course work.

Applicants are expected to show capacity for advanced academic work and potential for scholarship. The ability to work independently and develop competence to design and carry out rigorous research studies relevant for social work is a critical expectation of the PhD program. Applicants are expected to demonstrate excellent writing skills, and evidence of analytic skills, research interest and capabilities, as part of the admissions application.
Work experience. Applicants with at least two years of experience working with a multicultural population will be preferred.
A minimum TOEFL score of 500/61 (paper/internet) or IELTS overall band test result of 6.00 is required.