Integrative Social Work, Ph.D

Return to: College of Integrative Medicine and Health Sciences

Core Degree and Requirements

Integrative social work (ISW) is an approach to social work that considers the entire person, mind, body, and spirit, within a community and societal perspective. ISW is holistic, person-centered, and mindful. ISW also adopts the de-colonizing and global perspectives, embracing social justice and social equity for all elements in society. Saybrook’s PhD in integrative social work is evidence-based, informed by a scientific understanding of self-in-society. Students will access research, critically evaluate the credibility of research, conduct independent research, and translate research findings for application in their professional work.

The ISW doctoral degree program is attuned to the traditions of social work, and to the social justice, social equity, and social transformation that are at the core of the mission of Saybrook University. This curriculum is designed to appeal to applicants with MSW degrees, with an interest in administration, consulting, teaching, research, and policy-making. By the end of the program, students will be prepared to work as administrators, teachers, consultants, and practitioners in academic, community, corporate, and clinical settings.

Specializations

The PhD in Integrative Social Work offers two doctoral level specializations to prepare graduates to pursue advanced professional careers in areas of increasing social need today. The specializations available within the PhD in Integrative Social Work include:

• Integrative Community Studies Specialization:  Disaster, Trauma, and Addictions 
• Integrative Gerontology Studies Specialization:  Gerontology, Chronic Illness, and End of Life Care

Graduates from the integrative community studies specialization will make positive changes in social services and healthcare as organizational consultants and administrators in nonprofit and for-profit organizations. They may seek research and academic positions-enhancing approaches to community health-or advance along their existing path in such careers in healthcare administration, program development, grant writing, and social work.

Graduates in the integrative gerontology studies specialization will pursue careers in a variety of fields as administrators, policy-makers, academics, and consultants. The type of work these graduates will be doing includes developing new public health programs addressing the community needs of aging populations, serving as consultants to healthcare organizations to better meet the needs of the chronically ill and those with terminal conditions, leading and supervising research with/in community-based programs serving older populations, and teaching at the university level.

Values, Mission, and Learning Outcomes

Department Core Values: The Department of Integrative Social Work has adopted a set of professional and personal values to be demonstrated by all students and faculty.  These qualities are linked to the mission and core values of the College of Integrative Medicine and Health Sciences and of Saybrook University. All members of the Saybrook social work community are expected to embody these qualities inside and outside courses to the greatest extent possible. The qualities include:

Mind-Body-Community-Spirit Approach: The Department approaches the profession of social work from a holistic and systemic perspective.  Human beings, health, and well-being include physical, emotional, community, and spiritual dimensions; neglecting any one dimension undermines the whole.

Mindfulness and Compassion-Based Leadership: Saybrook University social workers create relationships and communities built on compassion, respect, authentic voice, deep listening, and reflective awareness, leading to responsible presence and action.

Person-Centered: The Department of Integrative Social Work embraces a person-centered approach to health and well-being, understanding the person as “person in community.”  Person-centered care attends to each human being’s wellbeing, resilience, and coping in community and over the course of the lifespan.

Community-focused: Community-focused social work emphasizes that conditions in the community and society support or undermine individual well-being. Students, faculty, and alumni of this program strive to achieve social justice and health equity.

Academic Rigor: The Department of Integrative Social Work is committed to rigor in academic and training experiences, with emphasis on a scholar-practitioner model.  The graduate education in Integrative Social Work is founded on a research-informed curriculum and educational experiences.

Integrity: The Department challenges its students, faculty, and alumni to conduct their lives, work, and relationships with integrity and authenticity, so they will be a credit to Saybrook University and a credit to the field of social work.  

Transformation: Saybrook University social workers are scholar-practitioners and change-agents who seek and apply knowledge to solve problems and foster personal, relational, and community transformation.

Department Mission Statement:

The Department of Integrative Social Work is committed to preparing outstanding social work professionals who will serve as inspirational leaders, change agents, and teachers in public health, healthcare, the corporate world, and academia. The Saybrook education prepares doctoral level social workers to initiate transformational change in organizations and communities toward a just, humane, and sustainable world.

Program Learning Outcomes:

Students completing the PhD Degree in Integrative Social Work will be able to:

1. Examine and analyze the traditional community and societal values of the social work profession and their application to the changing landscape of the 21^st century.
2. Explain the influence of social policy, public health programs, and advocacy on general health and well-being and the implications for individuals, organizations, and/or communities.
3. Apply multicultural competencies and diversity awareness, and support health equity and social justice in healthcare, society, and law.
4. Engage, assess, and intervene with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
5. Critically evaluate methodologies, apply published research, and conduct independent research to investigate contemporary issues with community and society. 
6. Assess and synthesize evidence, theories, and informed practices/interventions in integrative social work.

Admission Requirements

Students entering the PhD program in Integrative Social Work doctoral degree must have completed a master’s degree in social work, or other relevant master’s degree, from a regionally accredited college or university prior to enrollment.  It is preferred that applicants have one to two years of professional experience prior to admission. Applicants will be judged on their overall ability to do graduate work, including academic writing.

Applicants must submit:

• An official transcript(s) of accredited degrees,
• A personal statement,
• A resume/CV, and
• An academic writing sample.

All applicants will be interviewed by a member of the Social Work faculty. The minimum expected grade point average (GPA) requirement is 3.0 from the last degree-granting institution, though exceptions may be made. Students showing weaknesses in academic writing skills must take Graduate Academic Writing, a 3-credit course.

Transfer Credit

Saybrook may accept up to nine doctoral credits as transfer credit toward the PhD degree in Integrative Social Work, from other regionally accredited colleges and universities. Transfer credits must be from doctoral courses in social work. Transfer credits will be applied to reduce the required number of elective or required courses for degree completion.

If a student has taken more than nine credits of past doctoral courses matching required courses, or can demonstrate learning equivalent to a required course, the required course(s) may be waived without credit, and students will take additional elective(s) in their place. For further details regarding transfer credit policies, consult the Institutional Transfer Credit Guidelines section of the University Catalog.

Degree Requirements

Students in the PhD degree program in Integrative Social Work will complete an 18-credit sequence of core courses in Integrative Social Work, 12 credits in specialization courses, and 9 credits of elective courses. Students in the PhD in Integrative Social Work also complete a 21-credit sequence of research courses, culminating in a doctoral dissertation and oral defense of the dissertation.

Total Degree Credits (Years 1-4) 60 credits

• Core Requirements - 18 credits
• General Electives - 9 credits
• Specialization courses - 12 credits
• Research courses - 21 credits