New Doctor of Social Work Program Coming to UMB
The University of Maryland School of Social Work (UMSSW) will launch a new Doctor of Social Work (DSW) program in fall 2026, with applications opening on Oct. 28, 2025.
Ed Pecukonis and Samantha Fuld
The DSW is an advanced practice doctorate designed to prepare Master of Social Work (MSW) graduates, who have at least two years of postgraduate practice experience, for leadership roles in academic, agency, and private practice settings. The DSW program builds on UMSSW’s long-established PhD in Social Work and focuses on conducting innovative research for the profession.
“This program will enhance participants’ clinical skills while promoting expertise in classroom teaching and supervising social work students and practitioners,” said Ed Pecukonis, PhD, MSW, LCSW-C, professor of social work and director of the DSW program.
“Earning my DSW transformed how I practice and teach, making me a more effective social worker and a more inclusive educator,” said Samantha Fuld, DSW, MSW, clinical associate professor and associate director of the DSW. “I’m deeply committed to expanding access to doctoral education, and I’m thrilled that our program is built on the principles of universal design, ensuring it’s both cutting-edge and accessible to all.”
“The University of Maryland School of Social Work is thrilled to offer a DSW program that will produce scholar-practitioners who will train the next generations of leaders in social work practice,” said Judy L. Postmus, PhD, ACSW, dean of UMSSW.
UMB’s campus includes the Schools of Social Work, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Dentistry, and Law, and an interdisciplinary School of Graduate Studies that has cultivated a rich and diverse academic community supporting professional school education and research.
The DSW program will support UMB’s commitment to serving Marylanders’ behavioral health needs. More than half of the U.S. population lives in an area that lacks mental health professionals to meet the needs of the region, according to the National Center for Health Workforce Analysis. In Maryland, 1.17 million residents, representing 29 percent of the state’s population, face similar shortages.
“Licensed clinical social workers provide the majority of behavioral health services nationally and are in high demand within the professional workforce,” Pecukonis said. “Addressing this urgent challenge demands bold action: We must not only grow the pipeline of social work graduates, but also cultivate a new generation of visionary, highly skilled educators and supervisors who will shape the future of the profession.”
The three-year, 50-credit academic program is designed for working professionals. Courses are delivered in-person at UMSSW’s Baltimore campus, with classes held one weekend per month, from Friday through Sunday. This schedule allows students to maintain their professional and personal commitments while pursuing a doctorate.
The launch of UMSSW’s DSW program aligns with the Council on Social Work Education’s inaugural standards for DSW program accreditation that were published this year. UMSSW’s DSW is seeking candidacy for accreditation.
Students interested in pursuing a career in social work now have a complete pipeline through UMSSW from bachelor’s to master’s to PhD and now the DSW degree.
UMSSW delivers the Bachelor’s in Social Work (BSW) program through a partnership at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. The MSW program offers options for hybrid and a fully online MSW degree offered at UMB in Baltimore and the Universities at Shady Grove in Montgomery County. The PhD program prepares graduates to build knowledge for the profession through rigorous research. The PhD program also develops strengths in research and data analysis methods, as well as in opportunities for applied research and for dissemination.
Founded in 1961, the School of Social Work was the first in Maryland to offer the MSW, and it awards over 350 MSW degrees a year. It is one of the 10 largest schools of social work in the nation and is ranked 24th in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.
To learn more about the DSW program, visit ssw.umaryland.edu/dsw or email program coordinator Tay Johnson at dsw@ssw.umaryland.edu.
