University of Maryland School of Social Work to Launch a New Doctor of Social Work Program
Contact: Charles Schelle
Ph: 443.717.2591 (mobile)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 27, 2025
BALTIMORE, Md. — 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.
The new DSW is an advanced practice doctorate designed to prepare Master of Social Work (MSW) graduates, who have at least two years of post-graduate 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 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, 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 the School of Social Work.
UMB’s campus includes the Schools of Social Work, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Dentistry, 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 (CSWE) 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 the University of Maryland School of Social Work 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 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 ten largest schools of social work in the nation, and it is ranked 24th in the nation by US News & World Report.
To learn more about the DSW program, visit https://ssw.umaryland.edu/dsw or email Program Coordinator Tay Johnson at dsw@ssw.umaryland.edu.
About the University of Maryland School of Social Work
The University of Maryland School of Social Work (UMSSW) is one of six University of Maryland, Baltimore professional schools and an interdisciplinary School of Graduate Studies dedicated to improving the human condition and serving the public good of Maryland and beyond. Nationally recognized by U.S. News and World Report, UMSSW is one of the largest and most respected schools of social work in the country. UMSSW educates the majority of social workers in Maryland with over 80 full-time faculty members and a strong focus on social justice, principles. In addition to the school’s academic side, UMSSW excels in translating research to practice through partnerships with state and local government agencies and organizations. The School’s Center for Restorative Change, Family Connections, and The Institute for Innovation and Implementation are all very active in helping with the social work needs in Baltimore and beyond.
About the University of Maryland, Baltimore
The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) was founded in 1807 as the Maryland College of Medicine, which now stands as the nation’s oldest public medical school. In response to growing social and cultural needs, UMB’s mission has evolved and grown tremendously. Widely recognized as a preeminent institution, UMB serves as the academic health, law, and social work university of the University System of Maryland, and is guided by a mission of excellence in education, research, clinical care, and public service.
UMB is a thriving academic health center combining cutting-edge biomedical research, exceptional patient care, and nationally ranked academic programs. With extramural funding totaling $682 million in Fiscal Year 2021, each tenured/tenure-track faculty member generates an average of $1.5 million in research grants each year. The 3,123 faculty members conduct leading-edge research and develop solutions and technologies that impact human health locally and around the world. World-class facilities and cores, as well as interprofessional centers and institutes, allow faculty to investigate pressing questions in a highly collaborative fashion. As a result, the more than 7,200 students, postdocs, and trainees directly benefit from working and learning alongside leading experts as they push the boundaries of their fields. For a listing of the organized research centers and institutes, visit: https://www.umaryland.edu/research/umb- research-profile/research-centers-and-institutions/
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