Ph.D. in Social Work
- Thread starter michalita
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You could always teach with a PhD in SW; there is program management as well with various organizations. However, I can't imagine that if you stay in the social work field, a PhD will give you more options. I could be wrong though, and if anyone else knows more on PhD in SW, make it clear.
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From my understanding, the PhD in SW is primarily for research and teaching. I'm not sure if the degree effects reimbursement rates, but I'd think it would still be at the SW level?
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All the previous posts are correct- a PhD in social work allows for teaching at the collegiate level and/or researching. There is not really a clinical practice value to having that degree; the MSW is the terminal clinical degree in social work.
That said, if the PhD is up your alley, there are funded programs. I know that the program in my city is fully funded + stipend for living expenses. Pretty sweet deal.
Regarding reimbursement, none of the SW PhDs I know have a private practice, as they're all in academia. They do get other reimbursement for things such as consulting. The one who used to have a practice ran it as cash-only, so she could charge whatever she wanted.
That said, if the PhD is up your alley, there are funded programs. I know that the program in my city is fully funded + stipend for living expenses. Pretty sweet deal.
Regarding reimbursement, none of the SW PhDs I know have a private practice, as they're all in academia. They do get other reimbursement for things such as consulting. The one who used to have a practice ran it as cash-only, so she could charge whatever she wanted.
so many of my profs (w/ clinical phds) are encouraging clinically orieted students to get MSW's, and then if they are interested in pursing research and academia, to go on and get thier SW phd's as opposed to getting a phd in clinical. besides being two very different disciplines, most SW phd programs i've heard about require applicants to already have a msw and to have spent several years working in the field (which, all things being equal, would tack at least three years onto the process of getting a phd, compared to a clinical phd). i've also heard that it is not as difficult to get into SW phd programs, and that there is less competition for academic jobs. still, it seems like that would be more of an alternative for someone interested in counseling psych, for folks who are primarially interested in being clinicians, but who would also like to teach and do clinically oriented research.
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I know clinical PhD are ridicoulously competitive, and most anything is probably comparatively easier, but that doesn't mean it still isn't very competitive. I think it comes down what you want to do with it, since SW and clinical psych are very different areas (though both have academic and research opportunities)
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