Joint Doctoral Program in Social Work and Anthropology

The Joint Doctoral Program in Social Work and Anthropology is a PhD program for students interested in examining social issues using anthropological theories and methods. Founded in 1957, the Joint Doctoral Program in Social Work and Social Science is the only doctoral program in the nation that allows students to gain social work research training and experience that is rooted in multiple social science disciplines.

Within the Joint Program in Social Work and Anthropology, students can elect any of four subfields (i.e. Archeological, Biological, Linguistic, and Sociocultural). As such, the Joint Doctoral Program admits students who are equally committed to Social Work research and to disciplinary expertise in Anthropology.

The Joint Program is individualized and students take varied paths in completing their requirements. Each Joint student will work with mentors/advisors in both Social Work and Anthropology in determining their academic trajectory; while completing coursework and prelim examinations in both areas along with a research internship, teaching experience, and a dissertation that combines the two areas.

If you are accepted into the Joint PhD Program as a Pre-MSW student, you will earn your MSW degree by fulfilling coursework and field placement credits in the process of completing your PhD.

Click here to view our current students

Please note that the application deadline for this program may differ from the Anthropology graduate program; please refer to the School of Social Work website for details.

For more information

Program Liaison: Kriszti Fehervary, associate professor of anthropology  

Joint PhD Program in Social Work and Social Science
University of Michigan
School of Social Work
3704 School of Social Work Building
1080 South University
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1106

Phone: 734-763.5768

Email: ssw.phd.info@umich.edu
Web: https://ssw.umich.edu/programs/phd