PhD in Social Welfare in Los Angeles United States | University of California, Los Angeles

The UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs offers one of the nation's premier doctoral programs in social welfare. Annually, we carefully admit a select cohort of scholars from varied academic backgrounds to participate in an intensive, customized curriculum featuring individualized mentorship and hands-on research opportunities. Doctoral candidates benefit from close guidance by distinguished faculty throughout their studies, with alumni securing faculty positions at leading global research institutions. While at UCLA, students leverage the extensive academic resources available through the Social Welfare Department and other Luskin School divisions. A key strength of our program lies in its integration with UCLA's broader academic community—students may enroll in relevant courses across disciplines such as medicine, nursing, public health, psychology, and sociology. This cross-disciplinary model equips students with both substantive expertise and methodological skills aligned with innovative research in their chosen specialization.