• Ph.D Admission
• Ph.D Requirements

The Pre-Doc Exploratory Option allows prospective doctoral students to test their interest in and commitment to doctoral education. The program provides students with the time to gain the information and experience needed to make an informed decision about formal application to the program. This option permits qualified students to enroll in up to three of the school’s regular Ph.D. foundation courses and to complete up to 9 credit hours of doctoral course work before deciding to apply formally to the program. If a student later applies and is accepted to the regular Ph.D. program, credits earned during the pre-doc phase will automatically apply toward the Ph.D. degree.

Participation in the Pre-Doc Exploratory Option does not guarantee acceptance into the PhD program. It does, however, provide a unique opportunity for students to explore that possibility. Courses counted toward the PhD degree must be completed within seven years of passing the required qualification examination.

Applicants to the Pre-Doc Exploratory Option should have earned master’s degree in social work or a related field. Admission to the PreDoc Option is based on evaluation of:

1. An online application
2. A professional resume
3. Official copies of all baccalaureate-and master’s-level transcripts. A graduate grade point average of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale is preferred.
4. At least one letter of reference
5. A sample of scholarly writing
6. A 500-word written statement that outlines the applicant’s reasons for seeking enrollment in the Pre-Doc Exploratory Option    

Applications for the Fall semester should be submitted by April 1st. PhD Students enrolled in the Pre-Doc Exploratory Option are strongly encouraged to complete S 718 and S 721 as part of their program of studies. The following is a list of other S 700 level courses:

• S710 Social Work Theories of Human and Social Behavior (3 cr.)
• S712 International Social Development in a Global Context (3 cr.)
• S718 Intermediate Statistics for Social Work (3 cr.)
• S720 Philosophy of Science and Social Work (3 cr.)
• S724 Theory, Practice, and Assessment of Social Work Teaching (3 cr.)
• S726 Advanced Social Work Research: Qualitative Methods (3 cr.)
• S727 Advanced Social Work Research: Quantitative Methods (3 cr.)
• S728 Advanced Statistics for Social Work
• S730 Proseminar on Social Work Policy Analysis (3 cr.)

For additional information contact:

Margaret Adamek, PhD Program Director
Education/Social Work Building 4138
Indiana University
School of Social Work
902 W. New York Street
Indianapolis, IN 46202-5154
Telephone: (317) 274-6730
E-mail: madamek@iupui.edu Margaret Adamek