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UNO Launches Doctor of Social Work Program

The newly approved doctoral program will prepare experienced social workers to lead clinical practice, organizations, and higher education, without leaving Nebraska.

CPACS building exterior on UNO's campus.

The College of Public Affairs and Community Service (CPACS) building at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO). (Ryan Soderlin/UNO)

For decades, Nebraska social workers seeking a doctoral degree had one option: leave the state. Now they don't.

The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) has received approval to launch a new Doctor of Social Work (DSW) program, becoming the first institution in Nebraska to offer a professional practice doctorate in social work. The fully online program prepares experienced social workers to become advanced practitioners, organizational leaders, educators, and changemakers while continuing to live and work in their communities.

What's new: Housed in the Grace Abbott School of Social Work within the College of Public Affairs and Community Service (CPACS), the DSW expands UNO's graduate offerings and creates a new educational pathway for social workers seeking the profession's highest practice-focused credential.

Why it matters: Demand for highly trained behavioral health professionals continues to grow across Nebraska and the nation. State workforce assessments have identified shortages of behavioral health faculty and advanced practitioners, while many graduate-level programs lack doctoral pathways within Nebraska.

  • The new DSW program helps address those challenges by preparing leaders who can strengthen clinical practice, nonprofit organizations, public agencies, and higher education.
  • The program also fills a longstanding gap in Nebraska's higher education landscape. While UNO has offered bachelor's and master's degrees in social work for more than 50 years, Nebraska has not previously offered either a Doctor of Social Work or Ph.D. in Social Work, requiring students to relocate or pay out-of-state tuition to continue their education.

Zoom in: Designed for working professionals, the fully online DSW emphasizes leadership, implementation science, evidence-informed practice, and applied research. Students will complete coursework focused on:

  • Advanced clinical practice
  • Organizational leadership and administration
  • Program development and evaluation
  • Research methods and implementation science
  • Technology and innovation in social work
  • A practice-focused dissertation project addressing real-world challenges

The three-year curriculum allows students to continue working while completing their degree and culminates in an applied dissertation project designed to improve practice rather than produce traditional academic research.

Applicants must hold a Master of Social Work from a CSWE-accredited institution and have at least two years of post-MSW professional experience.

The numbers:

  • First Doctor of Social Work program in Nebraska
  • Fully online program designed for working professionals
  • Three-year pathway to degree completion
  • Cohorts of up to 20 students annually
  • More than 200 community agency partnerships supporting the Grace Abbott School of Social Work's statewide impact

The big picture: The Doctor of Social Work program advances UNO's commitment to workforce development, community engagement, and innovative graduate education. By preparing practitioner-scholars who can lead organizations, improve services, mentor future professionals, and strengthen communities, the program supports Nebraska's growing need for behavioral health leadership while expanding educational access for working professionals across the region.

What's next: The Grace Abbott School of Social Work is preparing to welcome its inaugural DSW cohort. Additional information about admissions, curriculum, and application timelines will be available on the school's website as recruitment begins.

About the University of Nebraska at Omaha

The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) is Nebraska’s premier metropolitan university, committed to innovating for the public good, advancing social mobility, powering workforce development, and serving as a hub for community engagement. Nearly 15,000 Mavericks choose UNO for its hands-on education experiences, nationally ranked online and graduate programs, military-connected student support, and innovative approaches to supporting lifelong learning. UNO holds the Carnegie Research Activity “R2” designation, securing more than $40 million annually in external research funding and counts its faculty among the world’s most cited scholars. Sixteen Omaha Athletics programs compete in NCAA Division I as members of the Summit League and National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC). 

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