Ph.D. in Clinical Social Work
A singular doctoral program, combining psychodynamic training and scholarly research
ICSW stands out among clinical training institutes and graduate schools.
We offer the nation’s only Ph.D. program that combines in-depth psychodynamic clinical training with a research-focused dissertation component.
This unique pairing of scholarly research and clinical development fosters our students’ professional curiosity and enhances critical thinking about theoretical frameworks, clinical intervention, and contemporary academic convesations in their chosen field.
Priority Deadline: February 28, 2025
General Deadline: June 1, 2025
“My experience at ICSW has been invaluable to my growth as a clinical social justice advocate. The Institute has completely enhanced my understanding of human development and suffering. “
Nadeja Wesley, LCSW and Ph.D. Candidate
How Long Does it Take to Become a Clinical Social Worker?
Our clinical doctoral programs give you the freedom (and flexibility) to be trained at your own pace. That’s why we offer both onsite and distance programs: two different Ph.D. programs for those who qualify:
Distance Ph.D.
The students meet with their classmates and instructors in real-time via video conferencing.
Onsite Ph.D.
Students meet at our Chicago campus.
Either of these can be done in either a full-time, three-year program or over the course of six years. The three-year course program meets on alternative weeks, allowing our students to take courses online if they need to. The six-year program meets every Friday afternoon and Saturday morning, giving our students a work-life balance many other clinical social work doctoral programs do not offer.
Program Objectives of the Ph.D in Clinical Social Work
Getting your Ph.D. in clinical social work will deepen and expand your skills as a therapist. Our curriculum is strategically designed to blur the lines between the classroom and practice settings, enabling students to use their own cases as a basis for learning. After completion of coursework, students receive faculty support at every step of their dissertation process. We prepare students to make distinct contributions to the vibrant and rewarding field of clinical social work, and our graduates go on to become leaders in clinical counseling and psychotherapy.
Learn How to Plan, Conduct, Evaluate, and Disseminate Research
Our dissertation component sets us apart among other doctoral programs. Ph.D. students rely on their own clinical work to build their dissertation, uniting the academic and the practical. Students gain the skills and competence to conduct high quality resarch, and almost all of our Ph.D. graduates continue their research work one or two years after graduation.
Preparation for Comprehensive Examinations
While enrolled in our Ph.D. in clinical social work program, you will learn about appropriate intake, assessment, case conceptualization, diagnosis, treatment plan, and documentation. This knowledge will be taught in preparation for the National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination.
Apply Today
Begin your journey to become a psychodynamic clinical social worker in Fall 2025.
If you have any concerns regarding the admissions process, please connect with Andrea Hall, Associate Director of Admissions and Enrollment Management at ahall@icsw.edu.
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For consideration for the PhD program (Onsite and Distance), requirements include:
A master’s degree from an accredited graduate school of social work, counseling psychology, or a master’s degree in a closely related field.
A graduate grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
Personal therapy experience is not required as a prerequisite for admission, though such experience is favorably considered.
At least baseline licensure in the State where you practice (i.e., LSW, LCP, etc.) by the time ICSW classes begin; applicants without baseline licensure may be admitted on the condition that they receive baseline licensure by the start of classes. Once classes begin, we expect students with baseline licensure to be working actively toward receiving terminal licensure (i.e., LCSW, LCPC), following their State’s guidelines regarding clinical supervision.
An active weekly clinical caseload; ICSW doctoral students need to discuss their clinical work regularly, both in class and in consultation with members of the faculty, which will help prepare them for a clinical social work job.
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Applicants who meet the basic requirements are welcome to apply online. During this process, applicants are asked to submit:
Personal Statement (Uploaded with application) (Guidelines to Phd in Clinical Social Work)
Practice Philosophy (Uploaded with application) (Guidelines)
Curriculum Vitae (Uploaded with application)
Transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate colleges or universities attended
Official electronic transcripts preferred if available; they can be sent to Andrea Hall, Associate Director of Admissions and Enrollment Management, at ahall@icsw.edu
Non-refundable $100 application fee (Submitted with application)
Based on the above materials, applicants who appear well qualified for the program will be invited to a minimum of two interviews with ICSW faculty members (onsite or via video conferencing), and will be asked to take an online writing / critical thinking assessment.
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Click here to view our FAQ's.
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Click here for more information about tuition costs, financial aid options, and institutional scholarships.
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We accept, on an individual basis, transfer of credits from any other accredited Master’s or Doctoral Program for courses which are equivalent to courses in the curriculum of ICSW’s Master’s or Doctoral Program pending approval by the Academic Dean.
Guidelines:
Courses from other programs must be evaluated by the Academic Dean.
The evaluation will include a judgment of the general similarity in content and clock hours.
We will accept credits totaling no more than twenty percent of the required coursework in any degree program.
Clinical Practicum and case conference courses may be eligible for transfer of credit consideration.
Courses may be no less than 5 years old to be eligible for transfer credit.
Transcripts and syllabi need to be reviewed for content prior to granting transfer credit approval.
ICSW has always had a “test-out” policy for any course. Students must successfully complete the evaluation of student learning activities to demonstrate knowledge of course content.
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A student is eligible for graduation from the clinical social work PhD program when they have:
Completed all coursework with a grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
Completed all clinical practicum requirements, including presenting a clinical case to a faculty panel
Successfully completed a Qualifying Theory Exam covering concepts from psychodynamic theory courses
Successfully defend a scholarly dissertation
Fulfilled all financial obligations to the Institute
Some credit earned in the counseling master’s program may be transferable to ICSW’s PhD in clinical social work program. For specific information, please contact our Admissions office.