How can you decide if a social work doctorate is worth the investment?

I can very well imagine that it could be a great opportunity, if the study is very closely related to the practice. The topic concerns a high challenge of our time and in a complex, respectively complete environment of society, i.e. with its direct and effective involvement. An example could be the transformation of a company mainly focused on unlimited profit into a company with limited, purely social and environmental purpose. Imagine that this company is the sponsor. Academic work consists of building the theory, the path (strategy), experimentation* as the key step, and finally formalizing the knowledge and disseminating it. * more see 4th section 'Your program options'

It is important to consider what exactly a DSW affords candidates that an MSW may not. A quick search of jobs ranging from Therapy to Basic Social work would leave one to believe that an MSW is most valuable in terms of flexibility. I have personally seen jobs that explicitly state a DSW cannot be used in place of an MSW. However, if your career goals are more academically inclined, or research is your passion a DSW would definitely open doors in that area.

Personally I decided to go back to school for my DSW with the specific goal to get into academia. I wanted to teach in higher education and help build the future of social work from the leadership and course room perspectives. The DSW is an leadership degree, seek it if you are invested in the transformation and building of leadership, policy and service to populations.

When I contemplated pursuing my DSW, I had a clear understanding of the purpose and goals I wanted to achieve with this degree, which made me confident that it was the right choice for me. I view the DSW as a leadership-oriented degree, and my ambition is to utilize it to effect change and shape policy, as well as to contribute to the field of higher education and academia.

It is a question of meaning for yourself and thus the benefit for your environment. If it is your life's purpose, you will be fully committed to it and thus all the things and conditions necessary for you will naturally reveal themselves.

A rich life can be a very good foundation, e.g. in your studies, in your job and outside of your job, as well as in your private life and in your social commitment, and even more so if it is on an international field.

Only the practical testing, common experimentation will ensure the success or sense of a project, because only it will show the fruitful, complete relationship or alignment between thinking (mind), acting (body) and feeling (heart, soul) of a human entity in a given and ever-changing (lively) environment in connection with its external interdependencies.

See 2nd section 'Your personal circumstances' A little more. When you are on the right path, you will work a lot, intensively and creatively, without an unpleasant or negative mental and physical exhaustion. On the contrary, they will feel joy and pleasant tiredness. A kind of regenerating life will appear for you along with your environment.

My passion is research. The problem is getting into a thesis based Master's program so I have the option to do a PhD. Too many part time programs are course based. Finding a supervisor is also difficult because the topics I want to cover aren't mainstream.

Thank you very much for your contact and inquiry. It is always a great pleasure for me to share knowledge and experience collectively.

Considere os seguintes fatores: 1. Objetivos Profissionais: Necessidade para carreira acadêmica ou avanço profissional. 2. Interesses Pessoais: Paixão pela pesquisa e desejo de contribuir para a área. 3. Benefícios Financeiros: Potencial de aumento salarial e oportunidades de emprego. 4. Tempo e Compromisso: Duração do programa e impacto na vida pessoal e profissional. 5. Mercado de Trabalho: Demanda por doutores e oportunidades de emprego na área. 6. Apoio e Recursos: Disponibilidade de bolsas e financiamento. 7. Alternativas: Outras formações ou experiência prática que possam atender aos seus objetivos. 8. Feedback de Profissionais: Consultar mentores e profissionais que já concluíram o doutorado para obter insights.