PHD IN

SOCIAL WELFARE

Bring your intellect, curiosity, and creativity to tackling complex social challenges.

The Doctor of Philosophy in Social Welfare (PhD) Program will transform you into a scholar well-equipped to identify and solve social problems – both close to home and around the world. Grounded in innovation and academic rigor, the SP2 PhD allows you to explore diverse perspectives and approaches to social work, social welfare research, social policy, social theory, and social justice

The SP2 Difference

A highly selective program

Instruction and mentoring from world-class faculty researchers

Access to Penn’s vast research resources, and access to everything our world-class Ivy League university has to offer

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Financial support in the form of tuition, fees, individual health insurance, and a nine-month research or teaching stipend

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World-Class Faculty

FEATURED ALUMNI

Micheal L. Shier, PhD

“I received a really high level of support and mentorship during my PhD. The faculty demonstrate a genuine concern for the students in the PhD program and prepare them for the next steps that follow once they’ve completed the program.”

Career Success

Our PhD graduates go on to hold prestigious positions in academia, government, nonprofit organizations, think tanks, research firms, and more. Here are just some of the places where our recent graduates have found full-time employment:

  • American Federation of Teachers
  • Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
  • U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of the Inspector General
  • U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorney
  • U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, National Center to End Homelessness
  • Columbia University, School of Nursing
  • Hebrew University of Jerusalem, School of Social Work
  • Hong Kong University, Department of Social Work
  • McGill University, School of Social Work
  • National Institute on Poverty
  • New York University, School of Social Work
  • Rutgers University, School of Social Work
  • Temple University, Graduate School of Social Work
  • University of Massachusetts, School of Public Policy
  • University of Pennsylvania, School of Medicine
  • University of Pennsylvania, School of Social Policy & Practice
  • University of Toronto, School of Social Work
  • Yonsei University

Ready to join the PhD community?

Related News

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SP2’s 2023 Commencement highlights need “to improve the well-being of all people”

Themes of joy, humanity, and justice took center stage at the 2023 Commencement of Penn’s School of Social Policy & Practice (SP2). In an evening ceremony at the Palestra on Saturday, May 13, graduates and their families and friends heard from SP2 Dean Sara S. Bachman and Commencement Speaker Amber Hikes, MSW’08, before cheering on the presentation of graduates across SP2’s five degree programs.

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SP2 celebrates five accomplished changemakers at Alumni Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

Five distinguished alumni of Penn’s School of Social Policy & Practice (SP2) spoke about their aims of creating justice, community, and hope at the 2023 SP2 Alumni Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. The evening event on Thursday, May 11, marked the fifth year that the School has honored alumni through the SP2 Hall of Fame.

Irene Wong

Faculty tribute: SP2 Professor Irene Wong retiring in 2023

Although she will retire as a standing faculty member this spring, Professor Irene Wong is determined to continue her research to reduce the stigma of mental illness in Chinese society and beyond.