PhD Enrollment Guide
2023 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 Dr. Jen Greenfield.
Quick Links
If you have questions about the COVID-19 pandemic in relation to your future MSW journey, visit DU's Public Health website.
Housing & Transportation
Housing
The on-campus graduate housing application for academic year 2023-2024 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.
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.
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.
Meet our Student and Career Services Team
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
PioneerWeb
Check your PioneerWeb portal for important documents, registration info and other student essentials.
Canvas
Access our online learning-management system to find syllabi, assignments, deadlines and more.
Portfolio
Find electronic profiles of students, faculty, staff, alumni and organizations across campus.
Office 365
Access your email account, Microsoft Word, OneDrive and other resources that can help you complete your schoolwork.
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. For other restaurants and hot spots throughout the city, check out the Crimson & Gold Trail passport, which offers discounts and deals for DU alumni-owned businesses throughout the city.
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.
Storytelling for Social Justice
In the recent Truth to Power workshop — part of GSSW’s Catalyst Series for Social Justice — participants learned to use personal storytelling for critical self-reflection and social justice advocacy.
Paying it Forward
GSSW staff member and alumnus Salvador Armendariz, MSW ’11, is helping to fund education for youth in India through his work as a photographer.
