Academic mentorship is a vital step in preparing the next generation, yet little information exists on what successful mentorship looks like--particularly the process by which one ascertains a mentor, builds and maintains mentoring relationships, and achieves success in doctoral programs. Systems thinking is applied here to conceptualize academic…

To promote social justice, doctoral programs can implement policies that support underrepresented students' success. Drawing on critical multicultural theory, we surveyed early-career social work faculty (N = 127) about experiences within their doctoral programs, and analyzed how perceptions differ based on their social identities, part-time…

Objective: This study aims to fill the research gap pertaining to the unique mentoring needs of international doctoral students. Method: Based on data from a survey conducted by GADE, this study examined doctoral students' perspectives on academic and non-academic needs and stress as well as diversity and inclusion issues. Findings: International…

Currently, Doctorate in Social Work (DSW) programs are proliferating, but with limited empirical data to direct planning efforts. To fill this gap in knowledge, this article reports on the findings of an evaluation undertaken on the first DSW of its kind. This evaluation had three components: (1) an environmental scan of DSW programs; (2) a survey…

The 2020 GADE Director Survey aimed to understand program and student characteristics, support for students, curriculum focus and design, and students' job search support and outcomes in PhD and DSW programs. In general, PhD programs focus on building students' research capacities, including interdisciplinary research and leadership in higher…

Social work doctoral students must identify how to prioritize their time and how to gain the many qualifications required by the academic job market. Mentoring has long been recognized as an effective strategy for promoting academic success and degree completion in doctoral studies. This article describes three student-led initiatives in a social…

Online/hybrid education is an increasing pedagogical trend in social work. While previous literature has begun to explore the extent to which online/hybrid education course structures are effective strategies for meeting BSW and MSW program goals and objectives, additional research and discussion is needed to understand how online/hybrid education…

Many schools of social work offer courses on program evaluation. However, one component of program evaluation--theories of evaluation--may all too often be left out of the curriculum. This Teaching Note defines and describes evaluation theory and the benefits of including it in a program evaluation curriculum in schools of social work. Specific…

Many MSW-level social workers make the decision to earn a doctoral degree in social work or a related field. A large number of so-called predatory doctoral programs lack rigor or much academic substance and are ultimately of little value in advancing one's career. This article describes the characteristics of legitimate social work doctoral…

While the academic job market continues to be strong for social work doctoral graduates relative to graduates of other fields, there has been relatively little guidance for students and their mentors on how to prepare for and obtain these positions. Research in doctoral education across disciplines shows that students need help transitioning from…

A wide range of opinions exist regarding the science of social work, yielding a challenging discourse to navigate in its entirety. Yet understanding the diverse perspectives and contributions is critical for doctoral students of social work. This teaching note describes the use of concept mapping as a pedagogical method employed by a class of…

Research evaluating holistic admission practices in social work doctoral programs is nascent. This systematic literature review aims to answer two questions: What holistic admissions practices exist in U.S. graduate education? and Are these practices effective in increasing racial and ethnic diversity? In September 2019 we conducted searches of…

Social work doctoral education can prepare students to become research scholars whose work has impact by providing and promoting the development of an appropriately sophisticated and diverse research methods tool kit. Students can cultivate their tool kits through course work, mentored research experience, and specialized workshops. The tool kit…

To understand recent changes in the social work academic job market, we gathered information on both open social work tenure-track positions and doctoral candidates' experiences on the academic job market to provide an approximation of the overall 2017-2018 academic market in social work. About two-thirds of both PhD and DSW candidates on the job…

PhD social work education programs train students to become effective researchers. Less recognized are the potential opportunities for PhD students to develop in their role as educators and the possible benefits of honing doctoral students' knowledge of research through their role as educators. This study explored these opportunities for social…