Social service practitioners face an increasingly diverse clientele, as delivery systems and client populations become more multicultural and include a broader range of complex issues. The PhD in Human and Social Services program prepares students to excel within a diverse service-delivery system by equipping them with action-oriented research skills and context-sensitive knowledge for application within unique practice environments.
The PhD in Human and Social Services program, including its specializations, is not designed to lead to professional licensure including licensure as a professional therapist, counselor, social worker, or psychologist.
At the end of the program, students will be able to:
These courses are dependent upon the particular specialization. Please see the course list on each specialization page. For the elective courses, students choose from any PhD in Human Services specialization courses.
Courses composing the Foundation Research Sequence are conducted online and require weekly readings, participation in discussions, and assignment completion. Course instructors guide discussions and evaluate discussion and application assignments. RSCH 8110 must be completed prior to Residency 2 of the academic residencies. RSCH 8210 and RSCH 8310 must be completed prior to beginning the dissertation or attending Residency 3.
PhD students are required to complete one advanced-level research course that mirrors the methodology of their intended dissertations. The university offers three advanced courses. Students should refer to their specific programs of study to determine program-specific requirements.
One of the following three courses is required:
Students take this course for a minimum of three quarters and are continuously enrolled until completion of their dissertation with final chief academic officer (CAO) approval. In general, students are continuously registered in the dissertation course until they complete their capstone project and it is approved. This usually takes longer than the minimum required terms in the dissertation course shell.
To complete a doctoral dissertation, students must obtain the academic approval of several independent evaluators including their committee, the University Research Reviewer, and the Institutional Review Board; pass the Form and Style Review; gain approval at the oral defense stage; and gain final approval by the chief academic officer. Students must also publish their dissertation on ProQuest before their degree is conferred. Learn more about the dissertation process in the Dissertation Guidebook.
Students undertake courses in the following sequence.
Quarter | Course | Credits |
---|---|---|
Quarter 1 |
HUMN 8001 - Keys to Doctoral Studies Success
|
3 credits |
HUMN 8785 - Social Change in Action: Prevention, Consultation, and Advocacy
|
5 credits | |
Complete residency 1 in term 1; required in order to advance into RSCH 8110. | 0 credits | |
Quarter 2 |
RSCH 8110 - Research Theory, Design, and Methods
|
5 credits |
HUMN 8208 - Teaching in Human Services
|
5 credits | |
HUMN 9001A - Communities of Practice and Research 1
|
1 credits | |
Complete residency 2 between terms 2 and 5; required in order to advance into HUMN 8550. | 0 credits | |
Quarter 3 |
RSCH 8210 - Quantitative Reasoning and Analysis
|
5 credits |
Elective/Specialization Course | 5 credits | |
HUMN 9002A - Communities of Practice and Research 2
|
1 credits | |
Quarter 4 |
HUMN 8207 - Grant Writing
|
5 credits |
RSCH 8310 - Qualitative Reasoning and Analysis
|
5 credits | |
HUMN 9003A - Communities of Practice and Research 3
|
1 credits | |
Quarter 5 | Elective/Specialization Course | 5 credits |
HUMN 8209 - Human Services Theory
|
5 credits | |
HUMN 9004A - Communities of Practice and Research 4
|
1 credits | |
Quarter 6 |
HUMN 9005A - Communities of Practice and Research 5
|
1 credits |
Elective/Specialization Course | 5 credits | |
HUMN 8550 - Preparing for Dissertation
|
5 credits | |
Complete residency 3 between terms 6 and 7; required in order to advance into HUMN 9000/9001. | 0 credits | |
Quarter 7 |
RSCH 8260 - Advanced Quantitative Reasoning and Analysis
OR
RSCH 8360 - Advanced Qualitative Reasoning and Analysis
OR
RSCH 8460 - Advanced Mixed-Methods Reasoning and Analysis
|
5 credits |
Complete residency 4 after your prospectus is approved as:
|
0 credits | |
Quarter 8–10+ |
HUMN 9001 - Dissertation
* |
5 credits per term for a minimum of 3 terms; taken continuously until completion |
Optional: Complete a PhD dissertation intensive (DRWI 8500) during your dissertation. Contact Student Success Advising to register. |
* Students take this course for a minimum of three quarters and are continuously enrolled until completion of their dissertation with final chief academic officer (CAO) approval. In general, students are continuously registered in the dissertation course until they complete their capstone project and it is approved. This usually takes longer than the minimum required terms in the dissertation course shell.
To complete a doctoral dissertation, students must obtain the academic approval of several independent evaluators including their committee, the University Research Reviewer, and the Institutional Review Board; pass the Form and Style Review; gain approval at the oral defense stage; and gain final approval by the chief academic officer. Students must also publish their dissertation on ProQuest before their degree is conferred. Learn more about the dissertation process in the Dissertation Guidebook.
Courses comprising the Foundation Research Sequence are conducted online and require weekly readings, participation in discussions, and assignment completion. Course instructors guide discussions and evaluate discussion and application assignments. RSCH 8110 is a prerequisite for Residency 2 of the academic residencies.
Those enrolled in this specialization are required to complete an advanced research course. The university offers three advanced research courses: quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods. When the prospectus is approved, students will take the advanced research course selected as the methodology approved for the dissertation.
Students are required to complete one of the following courses:
Students take this course for a minimum of three quarters and are continuously enrolled until completion of their dissertation with final chief academic officer (CAO) approval. In general, students are continuously registered in the dissertation course until they complete their capstone project and it is approved. This usually takes longer than the minimum required terms in the dissertation course shell.
To complete a doctoral dissertation, students must obtain the academic approval of several independent evaluators including their committee, the University Research Reviewer, and the Institutional Review Board; pass the Form and Style Review; gain approval at the oral defense stage; and gain final approval by the chief academic officer. Students must also publish their dissertation on ProQuest before their degree is conferred. Learn more about the dissertation process in the Dissertation Guidebook.
Students undertake courses in the following sequence.
Quarter | Course | Credits |
---|---|---|
Quarter 1 |
HUMN 8001 - Keys to Doctoral Studies Success
|
3 credits |
HUMN 8785 - Social Change in Action: Prevention, Consultation, and Advocacy
|
5 credits | |
Complete residency 1 in term 1; required in order to advance into RSCH 8110. | 0 credits | |
Quarter 2 | HUMN 8160 - The Advanced Human Services Practitioner in a Changing World | 5 credits |
HUMN 8162 - Cultural Humility and Diversity | 5 credits | |
HUMN 9001A - Communities of Practice and Research 1
|
1 credits | |
Quarter 3 |
RSCH 8110 - Research Theory, Design, and Methods
|
5 credits |
HUMN 8660 - Social Change, Leadership, and Advocacy for Human Services Professional Practitioners | 5 credits | |
Complete residency 2 between terms 2 and 5; required in order to advance into HUMN 8550. | 0 credits | |
HUMN 9002A - Communities of Practice and Research 2
|
1 credits | |
Quarter 4 | HUMN 8209 - Human Services Theory | 5 credits |
HUMN 8304 - Data as Evidence | 5 credits | |
HUMN 9003A - Communities of Practice and Research 3
|
1 credits | |
Quarter 5 | HUMN 8161 - Assessment and Motivational Interviewing | 5 credits |
HUMN 8208 - Teaching in Human Services | 5 credits | |
Quarter 6 |
RSCH 8210 - Quantitative Reasoning and Analysis
|
5 credits |
HUMN 8207 - Grant Writing | 5 credits | |
Quarter 7 |
RSCH 8310 - Qualitative Reasoning and Analysis
|
5 credits |
Complete residency 3 between terms 6 and 7; required in order to advance into HUMN 9000/9001. | 0 credits | |
Elective/Specialization Course | 5 credits | |
HUMN 9004A - Communities of Practice and Research 4
|
1 credits | |
Quarter 8 | Elective/Specialization Course | 5 credits |
RSCH 8260 - Advanced Quantitative Reasoning and Analysis OR RSCH 8360 - Advanced Qualitative Reasoning and Analysis OR RSCH 8460 - Advanced Mixed-Methods Reasoning and Analysis | 5 credits | |
HUMN 9005A - Communities of Practice and Research 5 | 1 credits | |
Quarter 9 |
HUMN 8550 - Preparing for Dissertation
|
5 credits |
Elective/Specialization Course | 5 credits | |
Quarter 10+ |
Complete residency 4 after your prospectus is approved as:
|
0 credits |
HUMN 9001 - Dissertation*
|
5 credits per term for a minimum of 3 terms; taken continuously until completion | |
Optional: Complete a PhD dissertation intensive (DRWI 8500) during your dissertation. Contact Student Success Advising to register. |
* Students take this course for a minimum of three quarters and are continuously enrolled until completion of their dissertation with final chief academic officer (CAO) approval. In general, students are continuously registered in the dissertation course until they complete their capstone project and it is approved. This usually takes longer than the minimum required terms in the dissertation course shell.
To complete a doctoral dissertation, students must obtain the academic approval of several independent evaluators including their committee, the University Research Reviewer, and the Institutional Review Board; pass the Form and Style Review; gain approval at the oral defense stage; and gain final approval by the chief academic officer. Students must also publish their dissertation on ProQuest before their degree is conferred. Learn more about the dissertation process in the Dissertation Guidebook.
Walden awards the Master of Philosophy (MPhil) degree to recognize PhD students for academic achievement leading up to their dissertation. With an MPhil, students will be able to demonstrate to employers and others that they have an advanced knowledge base in their field of study as well as proficiency in research design and evaluation.
Students who start or readmit to doctoral programs at Walden University in the university catalog for academic year 2017 or later will complete the university’s required doctoral writing assessment. Designed to evaluate incoming doctoral students’ writing skills, this assessment aims to help prepare incoming doctoral students to meet the university’s expectations for writing at the doctoral level.
In general, students are continuously registered in the dissertation/doctoral study course until they complete their capstone project and it is approved. This usually takes longer than the minimum required terms in the dissertation/doctoral study course shell.
Students have up to 8 years to complete their doctoral degree requirements (see Enrollment Requirements in the student handbook). Students may petition to extend the 8-year maximum time frame, but an extension is not guaranteed.
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