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Graduate College of Social Work

To be considered for admission to the Ph.D. Program applicants must:

1. Hold a master's degree in social work (M.S.W.) from a CSWE-accredited program. Applicants holding graduate degrees in related fields may be considered, but if admitted, non-M.S.W.s must complete (with grades of B or above) six (6) credit hours of a M.S.W. independent study which will include the 7-week M.S.W. foundation modules of HBSE, Policy, and Practice. This can be done prior to (or concurrent with) doctoral course enrollment. You must submit two copies of official academic transcripts showing degrees awarded, and dates(s) conferred.
2. Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended previously are required.
3. Complete the on-line Apply Texas application.
4. Have achieved a grade point average of 3.5 or better (A=4.0) in all previous undergraduate and graduate work. Applicants who do not meet the minimum 3.5 GPA requirement but who demonstrate excellence in other areas of the application may be considered. We will calculate your GPA based on your transcripts.
5. Submit Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores. You must have official test scores sent directly to the school. Test scores should not be more than five years old. The University of Houston's institutional code for the GRE is 6870, and the social work code is 5001. For information about the GRE, call the Educational Testing Service at 1-800-537-3160 or check the UH Learning and Assessment Services Web site (http://las.uh.edu/uts/).
6. Submit a minimum of three, but not more than five, letters of recommendation from persons who are familiar with your potential for doctoral education. At least two letters must be from academics (i.e., former professors, graduate advisor, etc).
7. Submit a current vita and a written narrative statement that describes your academic and employment histories, and your interest in the Ph.D. program. Identify the faculty you wish to work with in order to develop your research interest.
8. Submit samples of publications, papers, or other materials reflecting your academic and research excellence.
9. Demonstrate competence in Statistics. This is a required statistics prerequisite for accepted students. If you are accepted to the doctoral program, the statistics requirement must be completed prior to doctoral course enrollment. You may meet this requirement in the following ways:
   • If, within three years prior to application, you have taken and passed (with a grade of B or above) a graduate level statistics course. The course and grade must be included on an official transcript.
   • You may take a graduate level statistics course which must be approved by our doctoral faculty during the summer prior to enrollment. You must receive a grade of B or above.

An admissions interview (in-person or by phone) may be requested at the discretion of the Doctoral Committee.

Note: Proficiency in English. Any student, prior to admission or during their course of study, may be required to demonstrate English proficiency through submission of a satisfactory score on a test designated by the Associate Dean of the college. Students whose written or spoken English skills appear to be marginal (i.e., they may impede academic success and/or reflect communication problems) may be required to seek instruction outside the college.