The University of Nebraska at Omaha received approval for a fully online DSW aimed at experienced social workers who want clinical, organizational, or educator leadership while remaining in-state and working full time.
UNO’s Grace Abbott School of Social Work will offer Nebraska’s first Doctor of Social Work, a three-year fully online program for working professionals.
Program focuses on advanced clinical practice, organizational leadership, implementation science, applied research, and a practice-focused dissertation.
The program addresses statewide shortages of behavioral health faculty and advanced practitioners and builds on UNO’s long-standing social work programs and community partnerships.
Omaha (UNO) received approval to launch a Doctor of Social Work (DSW) program. It will be the first professional practice doctorate in social work offered by any institution in Nebraska and will be housed in the Grace Abbott School of Social Work within UNO's College of Public Affairs and Community Service (CPACS).
The DSW is designed for experienced social workers who want to advance into roles such as advanced clinical practitioners, organizational leaders, and higher-education faculty without leaving Nebraska. The program is fully online and built for people who are working while they study.
The curriculum spans three years and targets working professionals. Core areas of coursework include:
Instead of a traditional research dissertation, the degree culminates in an applied, practice-focused dissertation project intended to address real-world challenges and improve services or programs.
Why UNO is launching the program now
State workforce assessments point to shortages of behavioral health faculty and advanced practitioners in Nebraska and nationally. Many graduate-level programs in the state lack in-state doctoral pathways, which has forced Nebraskans to relocate or pay out-of-state tuition to pursue a doctorate in social work. By establishing a fully online DSW, UNO aims to expand access to the highest practice-focused credential for social workers across the state and region.
UNO has offered bachelor's and master's degrees in social work for more than 50 years. The new DSW extends that continuum of education and leverages more than 200 community agency partnerships that support the Grace Abbott School of Social Work's statewide engagement.
UNO is preparing to admit its inaugural DSW cohort. Additional details about admissions timelines, curriculum specifics, and application procedures will be posted on the Grace Abbott School of Social Work website as recruitment begins.
The DSW is positioned to support workforce development by preparing practitioner-scholars who can lead organizations, improve client services, mentor future professionals, and step into academic roles. The program aligns with UNO's stated priorities around workforce development, community engagement, and accessible graduate education for working adults.
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