University of Kansas · KU School of Social Welfare
Online Doctor of Social Work (DSW)
Professional doctorateDSWDoctor of Social Work
Overview
A 42-credit online Doctor of Social Work focused on leadership, implementation of evidence-based practice and teaching, ending with a capstone project. Classes meet live online every other Saturday; students start in the fall and can finish in two years full-time or three to four years part-time.
- Official program name
- Online Doctor of Social Work (DSW)
- Awarded degree
- Doctor of Social WorkSource: socwel.ku.edu · verified October 10, 2026
- Degree level
- Doctoral — professional doctorate
- University
- Source: online.ku.edu · verified October 10, 2026
- Administering location
- Lawrence, KSWhere the university or its administering campus is located. Study is online; this is not a residency requirement and does not decide whether you may enroll from your state.
- Subject
- Required credits
- 42 credit hoursSource: socwel.ku.edu · verified October 10, 2026
- Duration
- Two years full-time; three or four years part-timeSource: socwel.ku.edu · verified October 10, 2026
- Start terms
- FallSource: socwel.ku.edu · verified October 10, 2026
- Teaching language
- English (not separately stated)
Why this program is listed
Practice doctorate described as completely online.
Source: socwel.ku.edu · verified October 10, 2026We list online bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees from institutionally accredited US universities. Eligibility rules
Online format and attendance
“Online” is not one format. Delivery, campus visits, practical placements and class schedule are shown separately, each only as the university states it.
- Academic delivery
- Fully onlineAll coursework is online and the institution states no required on-site activity for this program.All coursework is online and the institution states no required on-site activity for this program.Source: socwel.ku.edu · verified October 10, 2026
- Campus visits
- No mandatory campus visitsSource: socwel.ku.edu · verified October 10, 2026
- Practical placement
- Placement requirement: not verified
- Class schedule
- Mixed (live + self-paced)Source: online.ku.edu · verified October 10, 2026
- Study intensity
- Full-time, Part-timeSource: socwel.ku.edu · verified October 10, 2026
In-person and practical requirements as published
Other in-person requirement Required
Live online classes every other Saturday
Every other Saturday · Online
Source: socwel.ku.edu · verified October 10, 2026
Curriculum
Capstone
- Required capstone project (practice-centered, not original empirical research)Source: socwel.ku.edu · verified October 10, 2026
Curriculum
- All courses required; no electivesSource: socwel.ku.edu · verified October 10, 2026
Admissions
Required, optional, waived and not-required items are shown exactly as the university states them. Anything not listed is not verified — not “not required”.
- Prior degree
- RequiredMaster's degree in social work from a CSWE- or CASWE-accredited programSource: socwel.ku.edu · verified October 10, 2026
- Professional license
- RecommendedSocial work licensure preferred but not requiredSource: socwel.ku.edu · verified October 10, 2026
- Minimum GPA
- RecommendedMinimum 3.5 — MSW GPA of 3.5 or above on a 4.0 scale preferred (undergraduate 3.2 preferred)Source: socwel.ku.edu · verified October 10, 2026
- Work experience
- RequiredMinimum three years of clinical or macro practice experience after the MSWSource: socwel.ku.edu · verified October 10, 2026
- Statement / essay
- RequiredStatement of purposeSource: socwel.ku.edu · verified October 10, 2026
- Recommendation letters
- Required2 letters — Contact information for two former instructors or colleaguesSource: socwel.ku.edu · verified October 10, 2026
- Résumé / CV
- RequiredProfessional resumeSource: socwel.ku.edu · verified October 10, 2026
- Writing sample
- RequiredScholarly writing sampleSource: socwel.ku.edu · verified October 10, 2026
Tests
- TOEFL iBT
- RequiredInternational candidates: TOEFL or the Applied English CenterSource: socwel.ku.edu · verified October 10, 2026
We do not publish acceptance rates or estimate admission chances.
Start dates and deadlines
Dates are shown with the term the university printed. A past date is marked passed and is never carried into a new cycle.
- Year not printed
Application deadline
Feb. 3 (2027 application dates; application opens Oct. 1, 2026) · for Fall 2027
The university does not print a year with this date.
Source: socwel.ku.edu · verified October 10, 2026
Tuition and fees
Each amount keeps its student category, academic year and basis. Per-credit, per-term and whole-program figures are not comparable with each other, and tuition is not the full cost of attendance.
| Category | Amount | Basis and year |
|---|---|---|
| All online students — Flat rate per credit hour, includes fees | $995 | per creditIncludes feesEstimated tuition$41,790 = 42 credits × $995 per credit. Excludes mandatory fees, books, travel for any required visits or placements, transfer credit reductions and rate changes. Not the full cost of attendance.Source: socwel.ku.edu · verified October 10, 2026 |
Scholarships and financial aid
Awards published by the university for this program or for online students at this level. Loans must be repaid and are not scholarships; financial aid availability does not make a program “fully funded”. Scholarships & funding guide
GTA/GRA positions and scholarships Assistantship
Not currently available to DSW students
Source: online.ku.edu · verified October 10, 2026
Accreditation, authorization and licensure
Three separate questions: is the university accredited, can it enroll students from your state online, and does the program meet licensure requirements where you live?
Institutional accreditation
- Higher Learning Commission (HLC) — accreditedSource: ope.ed.gov · verified October 10, 2026
Programmatic accreditation
No programmatic accreditation verified for this program. Institutional accreditation does not imply it.
State authorization
- KU has participated in NC-SARA since Jan. 16, 2015 and may enroll residents of SARA member states and territories in all online programs; California residents may also enroll. Official pageSource: online.ku.edu · verified October 10, 2026
Professional licensure
- Students must seek guidance from their home state licensing agency BEFORE enrolling in the academic program to ensure that a license can be obtained. State-by-state disclosureSource: online.ku.edu · verified October 10, 2026
Accreditation and state authorization do not establish that a program meets licensure requirements in your state.
International applicants
- Non-native English speakers applying to an online graduate degree or certificate program must achieve Full English proficiency.Source: socwel.ku.edu · verified October 10, 2026
Sources and verification
Every fact on this page comes from the official pages below. Last verified October 10, 2026.
- online.ku.edu/graduate-programs/online-doctor-social-work-dsw — Official program page, verified October 10, 2026
- online.ku.edu/ku-onlines-sara-membership — Official disclosure page, verified October 10, 2026
- online.ku.edu/professional-licensure-information — Official disclosure page, verified October 10, 2026
- DAPIP — HLC institutional accreditation record (data files downloaded 2026-10-10) — U.S. Department of Education dataset (IPEDS / DAPIP), verified October 10, 2026
- socwel.ku.edu/academics/dsw — Official program page, verified October 10, 2026
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Online Universities is independent and not affiliated with University of Kansas. Information is collected from official pages and can change; confirm requirements, costs and deadlines with the university.