Four Questions To Ask Yourself Before Pursuing a Doctor of Social Work (DSW) Degree

by Melissa Hagan-Nelson, MSSW, Quentin Powell, MSW, LCSW, LCASA, and Amee Ramsey, MSW, LCSW

     Pursuing an advanced degree can be extremely aspirational. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2022), the median annual wage for social workers was $50,390 in May 2021. The Bureau of Labor Statistics provides additional insight that the lowest 10 percent of social workers earned less than $36,520 while the upper 10 percent earned more than $82.840. Pursuing a doctoral level degree in social work can increase a person’s income even further.

     Having more income is great, but is that a true reason to pursue an advanced degree? For social workers, it is just as important to understand the why when considering furthering your education, as well as other aspects that this article will offer in the form of questions. The four questions were developed based on our experiences and are derived from the concepts of purpose, type of education, feasibility, and affordability. We believe they are worth considering before pursuing a post-graduate degree, specifically with a DSW in mind.

Question 1: Why Do I Want a DSW?

     What is your why for pursuing a DSW degree? Some people who pursue their DSW think about working in higher education, with the goal of either tenure or non-tenure track positions. Some people think about working for their local government or directing nonprofit organizations. No matter what a person’s career path is, having a purpose for pursuing your DSW can make a difference in how successful you feel as you make your way through a DSW program.

     Looking at the purpose of a DSW program is important, too. Will the program support your purpose of making mental health accessible to all people, determining best practices for children in vulnerable communities, or exploring the impact of casinos on communities? It does make a difference what type of education you receive if you know why you are pursuing a DSW degree.

Question 2: Is a DSW Right for Me?

     Your personal and professional goals will help you decide whether you should pursue a DSW or a PhD in social work. Although both a PhD and a DSW program will lead to a doctoral degree, the path you choose will determine what future careers you will be able to pursue after graduation (Middleton, 2022).

     If you want to shape the future of social work via instruction and designing and conducting research, a PhD may be the best choice for you. A DSW degree, on the other hand, is more practical in nature. Rather than emphasizing philosophy, ideology, and research, a DSW degree is focused on enhancing your clinical and/or social work leadership abilities. Professionals with a DSW may pursue careers such as advanced practice social workers; nonprofit directors; and social work administrators in health care facilities, institutions, clinical settings, and social or community service organizations. A DSW will enable you to take your Master of Social Work (MSW) education and skills to the next level.

     Depending on your chosen track, clinical or leadership and administration, DSW coursework is tailored to fulfill your personal and professional goals (The Dissertation Success Coaching Team, 2022). At the end of your program, you will be required to demonstrate the expertise acquired from your studies. The university that you attend will determine the final demonstration of knowledge.

     Examples of final projects may include a dissertation or a capstone project. A dissertation is a lengthy piece of scholarly writing based on an identified research question that the student develops, implements, and evaluates. Abbreviated material from the dissertation may be submitted to journals for publication.

     A capstone project is a research assignment that is similar to a dissertation, but the goal is to use or extend the research to provide a solution to a real-world problem. As you explore universities and programs, take note of which culminating project you will be required to complete, as one may be more feasible for you. Remember that your blood, sweat, and tears will go into this project, so be sure you are in a program that is best suited for you.

Question 3: Do I Have the Time To Go Back to School for a DSW?

     It is now time to consider the commitments involved with obtaining a DSW degree. You will offer your time, talent, and treasure for the entirety of the program. Let’s start with time and talent. Social workers who consider a DSW program will most likely have employment obligations. Social workers also have obligations to important relationships and their communities. These obligations are an investment of time. A DSW program is going to add obligations and take time.

     Remember all the requirements you experienced in an MSW program—they will increase. There will be reading, writing, researching topics, attending class, participating on discussion boards, social justice advocacy, and other requirements the school of social work determines to ensure rigor in academic and professional pursuits. Did we mention reading? There is a lot of reading. We also commit to offering our talents to our DSW programs.

     Social work is a demanding discipline. Most social workers strive to set healthy boundaries around work. A DSW program is about expanding our practice of social work, so our practice will be in more environments lending to feeling stretched.

     A final consideration, regarding feasibility, is the delivery of the program. Will the program be online only, in-person only, or a hybrid model? Is there an in-person residency requirement? Depending on life circumstances, one of these may be a better fit for you. We must make sure we are ready to offer our time and talents to a DSW program. A critical reason to make sure we are ready is that there is a commitment of our treasures.

Question 4: Can I Afford a DSW?

     Social workers who have obtained an MSW are aware that higher education has costs, in many ways. There is a financial burden to returning to school. A prospective student can expect total tuition to range from $38,000 to $90,000 (Middleton, 2022). If we are attempting to pay off previous student loans, the thought of additional educational costs can seem overwhelming. Social workers must decide if the cost-benefit analysis works in their favor. It is helpful to implement critical thinking skills when determining the benefits of a DSW. 

     There are avenues for financial support. Higher education institutions may offer school-based scholarships, teaching fellowships, and/or graduate assistantships to help reduce the cost of tuition. We encourage you to explore tuition reimbursement from your employer. Another consideration is the varied costs between online-only programs, in-person, and hybrid programs. As you set forth to offer your time, talent, and treasure, it is imperative to find the program that is right for you. Being mindful of the cost is especially important because you will be extending yourself and it will deplete you.

     Self-care is vital for social workers. It is so essential that the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) added self-care to the Code of Ethics (2021). The NASW determined that self-care is a part of ethical practice and necessary to support the values of social work.

Take-Aways

     A recap of the considerations we hope you take away from this article are:

• In a profession where we often focus more on giving than the money we receive, your purpose for pursuing this degree must always remain top-of-mind.
• Choose a program that will align with your needs and will advance your professional goals.
• You will be adding responsibilities and commitments. It is imperative that you know what you can add to your already full plate.
• Education is an investment. You must weigh the cost and benefits before committing yourself to this endeavor.

     We hope the four questions presented in this article convey the importance of deciding whether pursuing a DSW is the right choice for you. Committing to a DSW program requires sacrifices and perseverance, with the potential to advance your career. The potential does not mean that a DSW is right for everyone. However, if you use these four questions for self-reflection, you love to learn, and you want to improve social work policies and practices, then you may be on the right track. Who knows, this article may prompt you to begin your journey to becoming a Doctor of Social Work.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. (2022). Occupational Outlook Handbook, Social Workers. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/social-workers.htm

Middleton, A. (2022, July 21). PhD in social work and doctor of social work (DSW) degrees: A complete guide. https://mastersinsocialworkonline.org/degrees/phd-in-social-work/

National Association of Social Workers. (2021). Code of ethics. https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Ethics/Code-of-Ethics/Code-of-Ethics-English

The Dissertation Success Coaching Team. (2022, March 22). Capstone vs Dissertation? 5 things to consider before making a decision. https://dissertationsuccess.com/blog/capstone-vs-dissertation/

Melissa Hagan-Nelson, MSSW, is a Doctor of Social Work student at Spalding University, School of Social Work. She earned her Master of Science in Social Work from the Kent School at the University of Louisville, where she focused on systemic changes to organizations, legislation, and structures rooted in inequities negatively impacting children and families.

Quentin Aaron Powell, MSW, LCSWA, LCASA, works for Lifestance Health as a mental health therapist, Caromont Health as a clinical social worker, and the social work department at Mars Hill University as adjunct faculty. Quentin is a Doctor of Social Work student at Spalding University.

Amee R. Ramsey, MSW, LCSW, is a Doctor of Social Work student at Spalding University School of Social Work. She made the decision to return to school after six years of social work practice. The decision to return was rooted in the desire to create radical change in practice and policy.