The School provides opportunities for concentrated study in direct practice, social policy, and organizational analysis. In consultation with a faculty advisor, each student develops a program of study that includes courses, a qualifying examination, a pre-dissertation research project, a dissertation proposal, and dissertation research. Students also have the opportunity to participate in teaching and research activities at the School as teaching and research assistants. As an integral part of a major research university, the doctoral program at SSA enjoys full access to a rich array of course offerings within the University of Chicago. In addition to taking courses at SSA, students take courses in such departments as Sociology, Human Development, Anthropology, and Political Science, and the professional schools of Business, Medicine, Law, and Public Policy Studies.
Teaching assistants receive additional compensation.
In order to help ensure that incoming students get the in-depth advising they need to develop a customized program of study, the Doctoral Committee selects an advisor for each student during the admissions process, matching theoretical and substantive interests. Students are then free to change advisors as his or her course of study evolves. The assessment is concerned with developing expertise rather than meeting milestones, so that conversations between student and advisor focus on intellectual and skill development. Students hold research assistant positions beginning in their first year in the program to ensure that they are connected with relevant faculty to develop the skills needed to initiate and complete independent research. Students who have completed the qualifying exam can participate in a faculty-sponsored Proposal Workshop, which provides students with the opportunity to present and refine their ideas for their dissertations as well as with a structure for moving through the steps of developing a proposal.