Curriculum & Courses
The Doctor of Social Work (DSW) specializing in organizational administration and leadership offers a rigorous, practice-oriented curriculum for experienced professionals across social work, nonprofit leadership, public service, and related sectors. Rooted in the values of equity, social justice, and ethical practice, the program integrates advanced professional expertise with organizational management, leadership, and policy skills.
Students follow a structured progression of courses, building from foundational leadership and governance knowledge, to advanced financial and organizational strategy, and culminating in a capstone project that addresses a real-world challenge in their professional setting.
Program Highlights
- Total Credits: 48 credit hours
- Structure: 10 core courses + 2 capstone courses
- Course Length: 8 weeks each
- Credits per Course: 4 credits
- Delivery: 100% online (asynchronous + weekly live virtual sessions)
- Pacing: Part-time, designed for working professionals; complete in 3 years
- Capstone Project: Applied initiative with direct impact on your organization or community
Core Courses
SOCW 577: Leadership Foundations & Governance
Examine the history of social welfare leadership, governance structures, and the role of boards in human service organizations. Learn how to navigate power dynamics and lead with clarity and purpose.
SOCW 578: Ethical and Adaptive Leadership (Prerequisite: SOCW 577)
Develop leadership approaches that balance ethical decision-making with adaptability in complex and changing environments.
BADM 509: Managing Organizations
Gain management strategies from a business perspective, including organizational behavior, decision-making, and team leadership.
SOCW 582: Social Service Policy and Regulation(Prerequisites: SOCW 577 & SOCW 578)
Learn to lead external-facing policy work, navigate regulatory environments, and engage in political advocacy for human service organizations.
ACCY 500: Accounting Measurement, Reporting, and Control
Understand fundamental accounting concepts to interpret financial statements and make informed organizational decisions.
BADM 589: Project Management
Master the tools, methods, and strategies to plan, execute, and evaluate projects effectively in human service and nonprofit contexts.
SOCW 583: Financial Planning and Stewardship(Prerequisite: ACCY 500)
Build advanced financial skills for budgeting, forecasting, and ensuring fiscal sustainability in nonprofit and human service organizations.
SOCW 586: Grant Writing and Strategic Fundraising
Learn to secure funding through competitive proposals, donor cultivation, and strategic fundraising campaigns.
SOCW 587: Technology and Innovation for Social Services
Explore emerging technologies and innovative practices to enhance service delivery, improve outcomes, and promote digital equity.
SOCW 588: Data-Informed Leadership Seminar (Prerequisite: SOCW 583)
Develop the skills to collect, interpret, and apply data to drive organizational strategy and program improvement.
Capstone Courses
SOCW 590: Capstone Planning and Design (Prerequisite: completion of all courses)
Plan your culminating project by defining a real-world challenge, mapping a theory of change, and creating a strategic implementation plan.
SOCW 591: DSW Capstone (Prerequisite: SOCW 590)
Implement, analyze, and present your capstone project, demonstrating your ability to apply advanced leadership and management skills for tangible impact.
Sample Course Sequence
Year 1
| Term | First 8 Weeks | Credits | Second 8 Weeks | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | SOCW 577: Leadership Foundations & Governance | 4 | SOCW 578: Ethical and Adaptive Leadership (P: SOCW 577) | 4 |
| Spring | BADM 509: Managing Organizations | 4 | SOCW 582: Social Service Policy and Regulation (P: SOCW 577 & SOCW 578) | 4 |
Year 2
| Term | First 8 Weeks | Credits | Second 8 Weeks | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | ACCY 500: Accounting Measurement, Reporting, and Control | 4 | BADM 589: Project Management | 4 |
| Spring | SOCW 583: Financial Planning and Stewardship (P: ACCYSOCW 583: Financial Planning and Stewardship (P: ACCY 500) | 4 | SOCW 586: Grant Writing and Strategic Fundraising | 4 |
Year 3
| Term | First 8 Weeks | Credits | Second 8 Weeks | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | SOCW 587: Technology and Innovation for Social Services | 4 | SOCW 588: Data- Informed Leadership Seminar (P: SOCW 583) | 4 |
| Spring | SOCW 590: Capstone Planning and Design (P: all courses complete) | 4 | SOCW 591: DSW Capstone (P: SOCW 590 | 4 |
Each semester is divided into two 8-week sessions, with students taking one 4-credit course per session. This pacing allows you to maintain professional commitments while steadily progressing toward your degree.
Capstone Project
The DSW capstone is a practice-oriented, high-impact project that directly advances an initiative in your organization or community. Over the course of your final year, you will:
- Identify a strategic challenge in your organization or community.
- Design and pilot an evidence-informed solution.
- Produce a final report and executive briefing for key stakeholders.
Deliverables include:
- Comprehensive project proposal
- Strategic implementation project
- Evaluation brief
- Professional presentation to stakeholders
Whether you choose to focus on an initiative in your current workplace or a specialized area of interest, your capstone is designed to create measurable impact and drive meaningful change beyond graduation.