Doctoral Program

The social work profession has strong historical roots in the concept of social justice—roots that are acknowledged and promoted within our professional associations and educational standards. For me, the concept of social justice has always been an important cornerstone of the work that I do in the field of maternal-child health. Within this field, my work focuses on understanding the who and what that define access to important resources that help promote healthy families and healthy child development.

This past July, I attended and presented at the 35th International Congress on Law and Mental Health. Leading experts from around the world in psychiatry, nursing, social work, psychology, law and other helping professions, convened from July 9-14th at Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic to share their ideas about today’s most pressing issues at the intersection of mental health and law.

Arriving at Florida State University as an undergraduate with an interest in film and creative writing, Danielle, or Dani, Groton thought a major in marketing and advertising was a practical use of her skills. But something was missing, and she wasn’t quite satisfied with the trajectory of such a career. A visit to the FSU Career Center introduced Dani to the possibilities social work had to offer.

Growing up in South Korea, FSU College of Social Work doctoral student Jungup Lee witnessed a time of rapid economic growth, but she also noticed the severe competition, inequality and social discrimination that accompanied it. “I was curious why there were gaps in social status, gender, race, or political group,” Jungup reflected.

May 5, 2017, the College of Social Work celebrated its most recent class of social work graduates in the Oglesby Union Ballrooms. More than 700 people attended the annual event to witness the graduation of 38 BSWs, 54 MSWs, and one doctoral student, Stephanie Grace Prost.

Jane McPherson is a second-year doctoral student focusing on the intersection between human rights and social work practice, with a particular interest in the needs of women who have survived state violence.

A Florida State University graduate student who is pursuing a doctoral degree in social work has been awarded a competitive fellowship to pursue research on the needs of military veterans who have suffered from a traumatic brain injury.

David Albright was one of 24 students to be selected for participation in the RAND Graduate Student Summer Associate Program from a field of more than 500 applicants. He is conducting his research at RAND’s Santa Monica, Calif., headquarters and will receive a stipend of about $14,000.

Doctoral Candidate Judith Hefren has set herself apart with her dedication to teaching.  For the 2012-2013 academic year, Judy was nominated and selected to act as a representative of pedagogical excellence to the greater University as a Program for Instructional Excellence (PIE) Teaching Associate.

Florida has the highest percentage of aging persons in the United States. As a part of the FSU College of Social Work’s Health and Aging Initiative, the Gerontological Society of America and the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education awarded a grant to Amy L.

Doctoral candidate Jane McPherson’s research examines the area where social work and human rights intersect. Upon entering the doctoral program at the FSU College of Social Work, she was awarded FSU’s Presidential Scholarship, providing her four years of support from the University.  In 2013, the Graduate School honored her with the Graduate Research & Creativity Award and the Graduate Leadership Award.