Our Doctorate of Social Work (DSW) program was developed with practitioners in mind. This high-quality, rigorous program prepares practitioners to navigate the complexities of a contemporary practice landscape by providing education and experiences congruent with advanced practice proficiency among specialized populations.
Our DSW program utilizes an innovative Core Plus model that offers students a flexible, affordable, and efficient way to earn their degree. Courses are taught online through asynchronous models with the exception of residency week during the summer which is taught synchronously. An asynchronous option is offered for those who cannot be in attendance. The Core Plus approach offers flexibility, allowing learners to progress through the program at their own pace, while the cohort model and residency week foster support via concentrated time with classmates and faculty. Beyond the core curriculum, students will select one of four concentrations: Administrative Leadership, Clinical Social Work, Social Work Education, or Military Behavioral Health.
Social workers with DSW degrees are often leaders in the profession in areas of practice, policy, and scholarship and are well-qualified to serve in higher-level administrative positions. Many also assume academic positions and make substantive contributions to the knowledge base of the profession. Graduates from our DSW program are uniquely poised to excel and advance in a competitive job market and make the most of forecasted growth within the social work profession.
From start to end, students can complete the DSW degree full-time in two years, or part-time in three years. The preparation will contribute to fostering the development of a cadre of practitioners adeptly trained to address social challenges in the Commonwealth and beyond.
Courses are taught online through asynchronous models with the exception of residency week during the summer which is taught synchronously. An asynchronous option is offered for those who cannot be in attendance.
CoSW is home to several unique research centers and labs, including the Training Resource Center, Interdisciplinary Research Center on Children and Families, Kentucky Kinship Resource Center, Self-Care Lab, Suicide Prevention and Exposure Lab, and Military Behavior Health Lab. DSW students can leverage these entities for unique learning and research opportunities.
The work for this project is embedded in the course work and is conducted under the supervision of a Capstone Mentor.
Using an innovative Core Plus Model, our DSW program affords students an efficient and affordable way to earn their degree. From start to finish, students can complete the DSW degree in two to three years, depending on full-time or part-time status.
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Our Doctorate of Social Work (DSW) program was developed with practitioners in mind.
ASK-VIP Support Groups are expressly designed to meet the needs of foster and adoptive parents in an inclusive, safe, and compassionate environment. They are led by seasoned facilitators who have
Description This group will focus on the components of building healthy relationships with birth parents and extended family members. This can be a difficult area of relative and fictive kin
ASK-VIP Support Groups are expressly designed to meet the needs of foster and adoptive parents in an inclusive, safe, and compassionate environment. They are led by seasoned facilitators who have
Understanding and Coping with Sensory Processing Challenges provides parents with tools to engage and work with children who display sensory processing challenges. Parents will learn what Sensory Processing Disorder is and
Healthy Boundaries: Strategies for Answering Tough Questions helps foster and adoptive parents understand the importance of setting boundaries in their lives. It explains the different types of boundaries (Physical and
This virtual 2-part series, offered during Child Abuse and Autism Awareness Month, is designed to give parents the skills needed to manage behaviors in the home environment with children that
ASK-VIP Medically Complex Foster/Adoptive Parent Support Groups are expressly designed to meet the needs of foster and adoptive parents caring for children with medical complexities. They offer an opportunity to
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) come in many forms, from physical and mental abuse to neglect and household dysfunction. This training examines data from the ACE study, how early adversity as
Description This group will focus on the components of building healthy relationships with birth parents and extended family members. This can be a difficult area of relative and fictive kin
Strategies for Parenting Teens will provide an overview of adolescent development and common questions and challenges presented by youth who are in foster care or were adopted. This training will equip participants with parenting strategies to address specific issues common
Stress Management for Caregivers will equip foster/adoptive parents with tools to understand what stress and caregiver burnout is, and how to cope with the unique stressors of being foster/adoptive families. The
ASK-VIP Support Groups are expressly designed to meet the needs of foster and adoptive parents in an inclusive, safe, and compassionate environment. They are led by seasoned facilitators who have
A reception will be held for all spring and summer CoSW graduates on Friday, May 6 from 3 to 5 p.m. EST in the Harris Ballroom at the Gatton Student
UK College of Social Work Graduation with UK Alumni Association Grad Gathering to follow. Rupp Arena Floor Map for graduates Saturday, May 7th 9 AM EDT Floor Map College of
UK ALUMNI ASSOCIATION GRAD GATHERING! Immediately following the Graduation Ceremony Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center, 430 West Vine Street, 2nd Floor Meeting Rooms The UK Alumni Association and the
Understanding the Brain and Fear Responses in Traumatized Children provides an overview of brain development and how fight/flight/freeze fear responses may manifest in children who have experienced trauma. In addition, strategies for caregivers to manage fear based behavior is discussed.  After completing
Teaching Growth Mindset to Children introduces parents to the two types of mindsets and how beneficial it is for parents to help their children develop a growth mindset. This training will
Helping Your Child Make Healthy & Positive Choices: Talking to Teens & Preteens will teach foster and adoptive parents the importance of open and ongoing dialogue with their preteen or teen about the tough issues they
Explore ways to tackle and alleviate stress during the next installment of our Nurturing Parenting series. This training will be hosted via Zoom on Tuesday, May 10 from 10:00 a.m.
Description This group will focus on the day to day issues involving relative and fictive kin care and will be a place where each member can find support, resources, ideas,
The 5 Love Languages introduces parents to the different love languages and discusses ways to use this information to strengthen partner/spouse relationships as well as relationships with children and teenagers. Parents
ASK-VIP LGBTQ+ Foster/Adoptive Parent Support Groups are specifically designed for foster/adoptive parents who identify as LGBTQ+ as well as foster/adoptive parents who are caring for children or teens who identify
The DCBS / UK Quarterly Meeting will be next Wednesday, May 11 from 9am – 4pm. We will meet in Lexington at the UK College of Social Work Training Resource
Attachment & Bonding with your Foster & Adopted Child equips parents to enhance their relationship with foster/adopted children by teaching them the basics about bonding and attachment. This training also provides
Description This group will focus on the components of building healthy relationships with birth parents and extended family members. This can be a difficult area of relative and fictive kin
Strategies to Remain Positive When Adopting describes common behaviors that the child(ren) may exhibit as well as feelings adoptive parents may have during the adoption process, including grief and post-adoption depression. This training also provides strategies on
Description This group is an opportunity for kinship caregivers to come together to find support, community, and resources in the care of relative and fictive children. This group will focus
Providing supervision for a therapist who is pursuing his or her LCSW can be both rewarding and challenging. At the end of this course, the participant will have increased knowledge
Preventing Child Abuse: Types, Signs & Symptoms will inform parents of the definition of child abuse and ways it can be prevented. It provides descriptions and statistics of different types of abuse and
Adoption: Understanding Your Commitment explores adoption dissolution. It addresses the impact on a child and family when adoption dissolution occurs and offers strategies and resources to prevent it.  After completing this training, participants will be able to: Interpret information about adoption dissolution and reasons why it occurs. Â
Description ASK-VIP Medically Complex Join Hands Together Virtual Trainings are expressly designed to meet the needs of foster and adoptive parents caring for children with medical complexities. The Join Hands Together
A Child’s Education: Rights & Responsibilities will inform parents of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The training informs foster and adoptive parents of the processes used to determine eligibility requirements for children with
ASK-VIP Support Groups are expressly designed to meet the needs of foster and adoptive parents in an inclusive, safe, and compassionate environment. They are led by seasoned facilitators who have
Positive Discipline for Teenagers will provide foster/Adoptive Parents with effective tools that will guide them to positive discipline and communication with teenagers that are in their care/home. It discusses the importance of using partnership based approach to
Description This group will focus on the day to day issues involving relative and fictive kin care and will be shaped by the identified needs of group participants. Members of
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) come in many forms, from physical and mental abuse to neglect and household dysfunction. This training examines data from the ACE study, how early adversity as
Recognizing the Signs of Adoption Disruption & Dissolution will teach foster/adoptive parents about adoption disruption and dissolution by equipping them with information regarding factors that contribute to disruption/dissolution, statistics on disruption/dissolution rates, and warning
ASK-VIP Transracial Foster/Adoptive Parent Support Groups are specifically designed for those who share the unique experience of transracial parenting. They offer an opportunity to share experiences, questions, resources, and concerns
ASK-VIP Transracial Foster/Adoptive Parent Support Groups are specifically designed for those who share the unique experience of transracial parenting. They offer an opportunity to share experiences, questions, resources, and concerns in
Compulsive Lying explores why a child may lie compulsively. It identifies strategies and offers resources designed to assist children and their families dealing with this issue.   After completing this training, participants will be able to: Recognize causes of compulsive
Ten Things Every Pediatrician Should Know About Children in Care will equip foster and adoptive parents to better understand the unique medical factors children in care face. This training will also offer
Caring for Teens in Kinship is a new KIN VIP Support Group offering for caregivers who are caring for teenagers in kinship care. This group will focus on caring for
Cyberbullying is a training that explores what cyberbullying entails, warning signs that a child may be a victim of it, and its harmful effects. Statistics on cyberbullying are examined and reasons for cyberbullying behavior in children and youth are discussed. Strategies designed to protect
Description Centers and Labs Monthly Staff Meeting.  Held the 3rd Wednesday of Each Month.
Learn more about our Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW) program during an online information session on Wednesday, May 18 at 4 p.m. EST. In this session, we’ll be answering
ARC Meetings & IEPs: The Basics will help foster and adoptive parents understand the process of an ARC Meeting and gain a better perspective of what an IEP will look like. It offers strategies
ASK-VIP Support Groups are expressly designed to meet the needs of foster and adoptive parents in an inclusive, safe, and compassionate environment. They are led by seasoned facilitators who have
Description This group will focus on the components of building healthy relationships with birth parents and extended family members. This can be a difficult area of relative and fictive kin
Blended Families: Parenting Children When They Don’t Get Along assists caregivers with identifying issues that children may experience that are unique to blended families. It offers strategies to create a peaceful
Helping Your Child to Succeed in School will increase the ability of foster/adoptive parents to understand educational challenges faced by foster/adopted children. It will give resource parents the tools for creating a positive
A Guide to Coping with Allegations explores the prevalence of false allegations of abuse and neglect amongst foster homes and reasons such allegations may arise. Strategies for preventing false allegations are
Openly Talking with Children About Adoption equips adoptive parents with the skills necessary to talk honestly and positively with children about their adoption experiences. Participants will explore how to begin the conversation with their adopted child
ASK-VIP Support Groups are expressly designed to meet the needs of foster and adoptive parents in an inclusive, safe, and compassionate environment. They are led by seasoned facilitators who have
Praise can be a compliment, gesture, facial expression, or form of gentle touch, like hugs or high fives that promote feelings of self-pride, worth and accomplishment in others. Praise is
Building Positive Relationships with Case Workers & Community Partners provides foster parents the information and tools needed to establish a positive working relationship with their caseworker and child’s caseworker, with the goal of
Description This group will focus on the day to day issues involving relative and fictive kin care and will be a place where each member can find support, resources, ideas,
Caring for Teens in Kinship is a new KIN VIP Support Group offering for caregivers who are caring for teenagers in kinship care. This group will focus on caring for
ASK-VIP LGBTQ+ Foster/Adoptive Parent Support Groups are specifically designed for foster/adoptive parents who identify as LGBTQ+ as well as foster/adoptive parents who are caring for children or teens who identify as LGBTQ+. The
Join us through Zoom to learn more about UK College of Social Work’s Master of Social Work program. Topics will include: Curriculum Costs What Makes UK Unique Application Process Register
Child Development 0-5Â explores the typical milestones, or skills, that children develop from birth through age 5. It offers resources that caregivers can utilize to determine if a developmental screening may
University of Kentucky employees are invited to attend the 2022 UK Appreciation Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, May 26 at the Gatton Student Center (GSC). This year’s event will take place outside, weather
The Internet Safety training explores questions caregivers often have related to internet safety. It examines recommended guidelines for internet access and usage among children. It provides resources related to parental controls designed to monitor internet usage and offers strategies for discussing internet safety with children and youth. After completing this training,
ASK-VIP Support Groups are expressly designed to meet the needs of foster and adoptive parents in an inclusive, safe, and compassionate environment. They are led by seasoned facilitators who have
Teaching Growth Mindset to Children introduces parents to the two types of mindsets and how beneficial it is for parents to help their children develop a growth mindset. This training will
Understanding and Coping with Sensory Processing Challenges provides parents with tools to engage and work with children who display sensory processing challenges. Parents will learn what Sensory Processing Disorder is and
Caring for Teens in Kinship is a new KIN VIP Support Group offering for caregivers who are caring for teenagers in kinship care. This group will focus on caring for
Twenty Things Adopted Kids Wish Their Adoptive Parents Knew will equip foster and adoptive parents to understand the thoughts and feelings children who are adopted may experience. It offers strategies and ideas to help parents
This training will take place via virtual live Zoom meeting. Participants will be required to have a laptop or tablet with reliable internet connection to participate in the live, interactive
Healthy Boundaries in Teenage Relationships explores healthy and unhealthy dating behaviors. It is designed to assist caregivers in identifying warning signs that a teen may be involved in an abusive dating relationship and provides suggestions for talking to teens and/or their friends
Cyberbullying is a training that explores what cyberbullying entails, warning signs that a child may be a victim of it, and its harmful effects. Statistics on cyberbullying are examined and reasons for cyberbullying behavior in children and youth are discussed. Strategies designed to protect
ASK-VIP Support Groups are expressly designed to meet the needs of foster and adoptive parents in an inclusive, safe, and compassionate environment. They are led by seasoned facilitators who have
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) come in many forms, from physical and mental abuse to neglect and household dysfunction. This training examines data from the ACE study, how early adversity as