Are you a graduate student in public health, education, psychology, or a related field? The School of Social Work invites you to enrich your academic journey by enrolling in select PhD-level courses that will deepen your understanding of social systems, strengthen your qualitative and quantitative research skills, and offer valuable tools to help you grow as a scholar and practitioner.
Below is a list of the courses being offered Spring 2026. Those that are interested in enrolling can email the instructor of the course directly to express interest and request a permission number. Faculty contact information can be found by clicking on the instructor’s name in the descriptions below.
SSW 6413. Research IV: Multivariate Statistics II. (4 Credits)
In-person on Thursdays from 8:45 to 11:45 am with Nathanael Okpych
Building upon SSW 6412, focuses on the selection and application of appropriate statistical procedures to answer research questions or test hypotheses in social work research. Data reduction methods and analyses of discrete or categorical data and involves the extensive use of available statistical packages. While the course emphasizes the understanding of statistical testing, interpretation and written presentation of statistical results, knowledge of the mathematical formulae and assumptions underlying each statistical procedure may be required, and these are discussed in class.
SSW 6414. Research V: Qualitative Research Methods. (3 Credits)
In-person on Thursdays from 3:30 to 6:00 pm with Gio Iacono
Philosophical underpinnings, history, techniques and relevance to social work research of qualitative inquiry traditions such as biography, phenomenology, grounded theory, ethnography and case study methods. Although many of these techniques are also useful in social work practice, this course will focus on the use of qualitative methods for the purpose of expansion of the knowledge base of the profession. As such the course will emphasize techniques, standards of quality, verification, and other indicators of rigor as well as value an ethical issues. After completing this course students will be able to describe various approaches, set up research protocols, utilize qualitative data analysis software (e.g. NVivo), describe quality control techniques and specify standards for report writing.
SSW 6425. Social Welfare Policy Seminar. (3 Credits)
In-person on Thursdays from 11:30 am to 2:00 pm with Scott Harding
Focuses on the concepts, methods, and practices of analysis of social welfare policies designed to address social problems in the United States. Students are expected to apply social science research training and critical thinking skills to study the ideological and socioeconomic contextual backgrounds of social problems, social policies, and policy analyses and evaluate various alternatives to problem definitions, policy strategies, and types of policy analysis. Helps students develop advanced skills in analyzing and critiquing social welfare policies and programs, making recommendations for change, and effectively communicating the results of their work.
SSW 6415. Topics in Advanced Social Work Research: Community Based Participatory Research. (3 Credits)
In-person on Thursdays from 8:45 to 11:45 am with Caitlin Elsaesser
Explore how research can be a tool for justice. This highly interactive graduate level course introduces Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR), an approach that brings researchers and communities together to create real-world change. Through experiential learning and contemplative practices, students will explore how to conduct anti-oppressive and transformative research grounded in partnership.
For more information, contact: Natalie O'Connor Maddox at natalie.oconnor@uconn.edu