2025 PhD Enrollment Guide

PhD in Social Work

At the Graduate School of Social Work (GSSW), we are committed to community—the community within our school and the communities with whom we partner to create individual and collective impact.

We are excited to welcome you and assist in your decision making process! Although we hail from diverse personal and professional backgrounds and have a wide variety of research, scholarship and career interests, our faculty, staff and students all share one thing in common: We are champions for social justice who are leading the charge for social change.

You are embarking on an incredible educational journey. You will graduate with the knowledge, skills and commitment to create a more just and equitable world for all. We look forward to sharing this journey with you.

Questions?

Please read through this page in its entirety, as it will answer many of the questions you have as you make your decision. If you have additional questions, your primary point of contact is Associate Dean for Doctoral Education and Associate Professor Dr. Jen Greenfield.

Quick Links

Tuition, Billing & Financial Aid

The next step in your GSSW educational journey is to accept the offer of admission and submit your tuition deposit, if you haven’t already.

Tuition Deposit Instructions
For the incoming fall 2025 cohort, submit your $300 deposit by April 15, 2025 to hold your spot in the PhD in Social Work Program.
The deposit is non-refundable, but the full amount will be credited to your first tuition payment.
1. Accept Offer of Admission: To accept our offer of admission, visit your application status page. There, scroll to the “Forms” section and click the “Reply to Admission Offer” link to select “I ACCEPT your admission offer.”
2. Submit your Tuition Deposit: Once you have accepted your offer, you will have the opportunity to pay your tuition deposit by clicking the “Enrollment Deposit—Submit Payment” link that appears on your application status page. This link will take you to a webpage where you can pay your deposit with a credit card.
Tuition & Billing

Tuition for each quarter is due the first day of that quarter. More information about tuition, fees and payment are available at the Bursar’s Office.
Financial Aid

All PhD students receive a standard financial aid package as outlined in their offer of admission, which includes a tuition scholarship and graduate research assistantship (GRA) stipend. These are not need-based and do not require a special application.
To apply for state or federal financial assistance that goes beyond what is detailed in the offer of admission, you must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form as soon as possible. This application is required to determine eligibility for grants, loans, and student employment other than the GRA. If you do not wish to apply for additional assistance, the FAFSA is not required.
If you have questions regarding FAFSA, Federal loans or the GradPLUS loan, please email finaid@du.edu.
If you have questions regarding a merit-based scholarship, graduate assistantship, deposit deadline or scholarship disbursement, contact gsswadmission@du.edu or call 303-871-2841.

Academic Planning

During your first two years, you will complete the PhD program core course requirements. In the first year of the program, you will develop an educational plan in consultation with Associate Dean for Doctoral Education Jennifer Greenfield.

In your first year, you will meet with Dr. Jen Greenfield in the PhD Professional Development Seminar. The course covers:

Course planning
How to structure your writing and research time
How to write conference abstracts and journal articles
What to think about when preparing for various PhD-level careers

Incoming students will also meet with their primary mentors during orientation week to begin planning their GRA time, and that mentorship will continue throughout the school year.

Registration

Registration will begin July 31, 2025. Your curriculum plan outlines the courses you will take in your first term. NOTE: Registration dates are subject to change.

Before you register, you must check and resolve any holds on your account. You will be unable to register until all holds are resolved.

New Student Orientation

Required for all incoming PhD in social work students, orientation will introduce community resources, expectations and opportunities as you begin your journey at GSSW. There are four virtual orientation sessions during the summer where you will meet your PhD cohort, meet a few current students, and get tips & tricks on how to prepare to start their PhD training (Note: the first day of classes date may differ from DU's academic calendar)

Start Date	Orientation	First Day of Classes
Fall 2025	September 3-5, 2025	Monday, September 8, 2025

All dates are subject to change.

Academic Calendars

Housing & Transportation

Housing

The on-campus graduate housing application for academic year 2025-2026 is available. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis but housing is limited and provided on a first-come, first-serve basis.
For off-campus housing, please visit the University of Denver's Off-Campus Housing Service; login using your DU credentials to see current listings and access the Roommate Finder.
Transportation

You’ll receive an RTD transit pass, making getting around Denver free and easy. The campus is a hub for light-rail and bus routes connecting you to downtown, the Tech Center, Denver International Airport and the entire metro area.

RTD Denver
Parking on Campus

There are several paid parking options on campus, most of which are walking distance from GSSW’s Craig Hall. Parking passes are available for purchase.

DU Parking

Catalyst Series for Social Justice event

Student Life

Enrolling in graduate school is a big step, and we’ll be there for you, from your first day of orientation through your job search after graduation and your career as an alumnus. We’re dedicated to supporting students in developing and enhancing their academic and professional skills while also ensuring that resources — such as accommodation for learning differences and disabilities, health and counseling — are available and accessible.

Faculty

GSSW is home to a courageous community of faculty members whose work is advancing social justice and social work practice. Their research and scholarship spans areas such as public policy, addiction, child welfare and youth development, homelessness, and issues including ableism, sexism, racism and intersectional lived experiences. Get to know our faculty and their research, and feel free to introduce yourself and ask questions!

Technology Resources

MyDU

Check your MyDU portal for important documents, registration info and other student essentials.

MyDU
Canvas

Access our online learning-management system to find syllabi, assignments, deadlines and more.

Canvas
Office 365

Access your email account, Microsoft Word, OneDrive and other resources that can help you complete your schoolwork.

Office 365

Discover Denver

Arts & Culture

Campus is home to the acclaimed Newman Center for the Performing Arts and Myhren Gallery, and the museum district and other world-class venues—from Museo de las Americas and Su Teatro to the Museum of Contemporary Art and Clyfford Still Museum—are just a short train ride away.

Food

From vegan to locavore to carnivore, Denver’s food scene has it all, including a wide variety of global flavors walking distance from campus. Some of our nearby favorites are Jeruselem Restaurant, Kaladi Coffee Roasters, Deiter’s Chocolates and Illegal Pete’s. You can often find faculty, staff and students sharing a meal and conversation in Craig Hall or eating or studying al fresco during one of Denver’s 300+ sunny days a year.

Sports & Recreation

You don’t have to leave campus to find one of Denver’s best sports and recreation complexes: The Ritchie Center for Sports and Wellness and Coors Fitness Center. Hop a train to downtown for a pro sports matchup, or explore Denver’s more than 80 miles of urban trails and bikeways. There’s even a ski and snowboard terrain park—The Ruby Hill Rail Yard—minutes from campus.

Recent GSSW News

Exploring Queer & Trans Joy

GSSW’s revamped Social Work Practice with LGBTQIA Communities course centers joy, resistance and intersectionality.

Improving End-of-Life Care

PhD graduate Pilar Ingle is working to address root causes of homelessness and health inequities and improve palliative and end-of-life care for people experiencing homelessness.

Serving the Community

For 2023 PhD graduate Miguel Trujillo, a doctorate was a way to help his community by creating systemic change.