FAQ - PhD
1. Do I have to take the GRE?
No. The GRE is no longer an admissions requirement for the PhD in Social Work program. Students are required to complete and pass a statistics exam as part of the application. The GRE is optional. Visit our How to Apply page for more information.
2. I've already taken a statistics course, am I still required to take the statistics exam as part of the application?
Yes, to be considered for admission to the PhD in Social Work program, all applicants must complete and pass the required statistics exam with an earned grade of B or better. There are modules that students can use as a refresher prior to taking the exam. The modules and exam are free for students.
3. When should I submit my application?
Applications for the 2023 cohort will open September 1, 2022. To be considered for admission, a complete application - including all necessary materials, transcripts, and the required statistics exam - must be submitted by the deadline on February 1, 2023.
4. When are students admitted to the program?
Final admission decisions are released to eligible applicants via email in late March every other year in odd years (2023, 2025, etc.)
5. How many students are admitted into the program?
Five to seven students will be admitted into the program every other summer in odd years (2023, 2025, etc.).
6. How does the online curriculum work?
The program is designed as a 10-semester curriculum and is taught primarily in an online classroom using synchronous, high-definition videoconferencing technology. At the beginning of the program, admitted students are required to attend a four- to five-day orientation session on the Baylor campus in Waco, Texas prior to the start of their summer semester classes.
Throughout the program, students will attend all of their classes online. Classes meet via videoconference each week on Monday and/or Thursday evenings from 6:00 to 9:00 pm CST. Students must be present to be a part of the class. During synchronous class sessions, students see and talk with each other as well as the instructor in real time. Classes are conducted much as they would be on campus, except that students are able to attend from anywhere in the world.
7. How long will it take to complete the doctoral program?
Students should be able to finish the program in three to four years.
8. Can I work while I am in the program?
Yes. The online curriculum and evening class times provide the flexibility needed to allow students to continue working while enrolled in the program.
9. How much does the program cost?
There are three primary components to the cost of the program: tuition and fees; technology and books; and travel.
1) Students admitted into the PhD program will receive funding to cover the costs of tuition and fees for the full degree - up to 5 years.
2) Students will need an up-to-date computer, video camera (usually built into a laptop computer), a headset, and hard-wired access to the Internet. A wireless connection is seldom reliable enough for sustained participation in the virtual classroom. Most semesters students will be enrolled in two classes that require one or more textbooks.
3) Students are required to be on campus for five days at the start of the first summer semester. Travel and hotel arrangements are the responsibility of the students*. We expect to make arrangements with at least one hotel that will give students a modest Baylor discount.
*Should an admitted international student require a visitor's visa in order to attend the in-person orientation, procuring the required visa will also be the sole responsibility of the student.
10. What kind of financial aid can I anticipate?
Students admitted into the PhD program will receive funding to cover the costs of tuition and fees for the full degree - up to 5 years. Once enrolled in the program, students may also have the opportunity to receive additional stipends for grant funded research positions with Baylor PhD faculty. Students are made aware of the process as opportunities become available.