La Trobe University

Doctor of Social Work (Professional Doctorate)

If you are an experienced practitioner in social work and human services, this degree gives you an opportunity to enrich and extend your professional practice and undertake research in professional or community settings. Areas of study include: social work practice, social policy, program evaluation, disability, intellectual disability, ageing, youth and family welfare, and mental health. The degree offers an integrated program of research with supporting coursework in the first year. Through a combination of core and elective subjects, you will gain knowledge and skills in designing and conducting research, literature review techniques, critical analysis and writing for publication, as well as opportunities to apply these skills in clinically-based professional projects. You will pursue an independent and sustained investigation into a research problem that will culminate in the submission of a thesis for examination of 60,000 words.