Programs
Program Objectives
- PhD Program
Program Aims:
The aims of the PhD Program in Social Work and Social Development are to prepare scholars who can undertake action research through community engagement that addresses the social development challenges Ethiopia faces, builds knowledge to strengthen community life, and stewards the education and profession of social work and social development within the nation. The program will advance scholarship relevant to Ethiopia and expand the corps of Ethiopian scholars who are committed to the social development of the country. The kind of scholar the program identifies is contextually relevant to the Ethiopian experience and to the challenges and needs the country faces whether regionally or at local levels, in accordance with national and international standards.
Under the major program aim, the School of Social work specifically intends to achieve the following core objectives:
- To create an academic program that can address the development challenges the country faces.
- To ensure that doctoral students who graduate from the program remain leaders and key players in the country’s development, which will be achieved through three strategies:
- positioning graduates to build scholarly careers within AAU and other universities within Ethiopia;
- strengthening the international significance of the research projects doctoral students undertake within the program; and
- Creating career pathways for graduates within Ethiopian institutions, whether in major national institutions, universities, or community-based organizations.
- To produce competent social work and social development scholars who are uniquely positioned to contribute to local and global knowledge through engaging in action research and action learning that are critical for knowledge and skill that respond to the development priorities of the country.
PhD Courses
The PhD program in Social Work and Social Development offers seven courses with a total of 21 credit hours or an equivalent of 36 ECTS and a dissertation research of 8 credit hours or an equivalent of 14ECTS. The PhD dissertation projects consist of three phases: (1) Portfolio preparation and sitting for qualifying exam, (2) preparation of dissertation proposal and sit for defense, (3) conducting a dissertation research which requires passing an external assessment by at least two blind reviewers, and sitting for oral defense to be evaluated by board of examiners. For those interested to join the PhD program in Social Work and Social Development without a social work background they are required to take three prerequisite courses from the MSW program (MSW-603 Integrated Social Work Methods I, MSW-663 Culture, Human Behavior and the Social Environment, and MSW-633 Social Policy Analysis).
Core Courses of PhD Program
SWPH -701 Knowledge Building for Social Work and Social Development (3 Credits-5 ECTS)
SWPH-703 Quantitative Methods & Data Analysis (3 Credits-5 ECTS)
SWPH-702 Teaching and Pedagogy in Social Work & Social Development (3 Credits-5 ECTS)
SWPH-704 Qualitative Methods & Data Analysis (3 Credits-5 ECTS)
SWPH -705 Action Research and Models of Social Change (3 credits-5 ECTS)
SWPH-711 Program Evaluation & Policy Analysis (3 Credits-5 ECTS)
SWPH-707 Writing for Publication (3 Credits-5 ECTS)
- Masters Program
The purpose of the MSW program is to prepare competent social work professionals who are prepared to alleviate poverty, oppression, and to promote social justice. To this end, the MSW is based on a body of knowledge, values, behaviours and professional skills that meet international standards in order to address the current and future needs of Ethiopia. The ultimate objective of the MSW program is to produce leaders of organizations charged with the responsibilities of developing and delivering social services; and preparing students to pursue doctoral studies. Finally, the program will maintain close, reciprocal and ongoing relationships with social work practitioners and organizations that promote or influence Social Work and social policies both at national and international levels.
There are three programs in the masters’ level such as regular, extension and distance. In the regular program, there are three concentrations such as health, children and family, and community development. In general, the MSW program of the School of Social Work has the following major aims.
1-To prepare competent social work professionals, who have the mastery of the body of knowledge, values, behaviours and professional skills of the social work profession
2-To prepare social work professionals who will be capable of addressing the current and future needs of Ethiopia in alleviating poverty and oppression as well as promoting social justice in all spheres of the citizens’ life
3- To produce social work professionals who could be leaders of organizations charged with the responsibilities of crafting, developing and delivering social services in Ethiopia in light with social protection as well as social development perspectives
4-To produce graduates that can fit to the international standards of the profession and that can engage in promoting regional as well as global social justice issues
With the above aims, the School of Social work is expected to produce MSW graduates who
- Draw on their knowledge, values, and skills to help people in need and to address social problems;
- Pursue social change particularly with and on behalf of vulnerable individuals and group of people;
- Focus their social change efforts primarily on issues of poverty, unemployment, discrimination, and other forms of social injustice;
- Seek to promote sensitivity to and knowledge about cultural and/or ethnic diversity;
- Strive to ensure access to needed information services and resources, equality of opportunity, and meaningful participation in decision making for all people;
- Strengthen relationships among people in purposeful effort to promote, restore, maintain, and enhance the well being of individuals, families, social groups, organizations, and communities;
- Endeavour to enhance people’s capacity and opportunity to change and address their own needs;
- Engage in social work practice from a sound empirical base to understand, critique, interpret, and apply theory to practical situations and conduct social work research;
- Understand individual and social functions and dysfunctions and utilize this knowledge in designing, implementing, managing, monitoring, and evaluating social services;
- Promote the responsiveness of organizations, communities, and other institutions to individual’s needs and social problems;
- Uphold the mission, values and ethical principles, ethical standards, and practices of the Social Work Profession;
- Demonstrate the abilities of analytical and critical thinking skills within the context of professional Social Work practice, essential to effectiveness of current social work methods.
- On top of that the Children, Youth and Family concentration produces graduates who
- Apply the social work knowledge, skills and values that would promote the welfare and growth of children, youth and families;
- Play a professional role in identifying and analyzing problems of children, youth and families as well as strategizing and designing solutions;
- Play leadership role in formulating policies, designing programs and practice for the well-being of children, youth and families.
Foundation Modules
| Year & Semesters | Module | Number
(Weight) of Modules |
ECTS | No. of
Hours |
Duration | Month of Delivery |
| Year I Semester I | ScSW 601 – Methods of Social Work Practice | 1.5 | 10.5 | 262.5 | 1&1/2 months | 1 October to 15 November |
| ScSW 611 – Human Behaviour and Social Environment | 1 | 7 | 175 | 1 month | 16 Nov to 15 December | |
| ScSW 621 – Social Work Research Methods | 1 | 7 | 175 | 1 month | 16 December to 15 January | |
| Semester Totals | 3.5 | 24.5 | 612.5 | 3& 1/2 Months | ||
| Year & Semesters | Module | Number
(Weight) of Modules |
ECTS | No. of
Hours |
Duration | Month of Delivery |
| Year I Semester II | ScSW 652 – Social Policy Analysis | 0.5 | 3.5 | 87.5 | ½ month | 1 March to 15 March |
| ScSW 631 – Field Education | 1 | 7 | 175 | 1 month | 16 March to 15 April | |
| Semester Totals | 1.5 | 10.5 | 262.5 | 1& 1/2 month | ||
Community Development Concentration Modules
| Community and Social Development Concentration | |||||||
| S. N. | Modules | Code | Number (Weight) of Modules | ECTS | No. of Hours | Duration | Remark |
| 1 | Population Movements and the Environment | ScSW 662 | 1 | 7 | 175 | 1 month | |
| 2 | Social Development and Models of Change | ScSW 672 | 1 | 7 | 175 | 1 month | |
| 3 | Policy Practice for Community and Social Development | ScSW 701 | 0.5 | 3.5 | 87.5 | ½ month | |
| 4 | Models of Community Development and Practice | ScSW 711 | 1 | 7 | 175 | 1 month | |
| 5 | Field Education | ScSW 731 | 1 | 7 | 175 | 3 Months | |
| Total | 4.5 | 31.5 | 787.5 | 6.5 Month | |||
| 6 | Thesis project | ScSW 792 | 1.5 | 30 | 750 | 5 Months | |
Children and Family Concentration Modules
| Children, Youth and Family Concentration | |||||||
| S. N. | Modules | Code | Number (Weight) of Modules | ECTS | No. of Hours | Duration | Remark |
| 1 | Social Work Practice with Family | ScSW 771 | 1 | 7 | 175 | 1 month | |
| 2 | Social Work Practice with Children and Adolescent | ScSW 632 | 1 | 7 | 175 | 1 month | |
| 3 | Social Work Practice with the youth | ScSW 622 | 0.5 | 3.5 | 87.5 | ½ month | |
| 4 | Social Work Practice with Older Adults | ScSW 761 | 0.5 | 3.5 | 87.5 | ½ month | |
| 5 | Policy Practice With Children, Youth and Family | ScSW 781 | 0.5 | 3.5 | 87.5 | ½ month | |
| 6 | Field Education | ScSW 731 | 1 | 20 | 600 | 3 Months | |
| Total | 4.5 | 31.5 | 787.5 | 6.5 Months | |||
| 7 | Thesis project | ScSW 792 | 1.5 | 30 | 750 | 5 Months | |
Health Care in Social Work Concentration
| Health Care in Social Work Concentration | |||||||
| S. N. | Modules | Code | Number (Weight) of Modules | ECTS | No. of Hours | Duration | Remark |
| 1 | Social Work in Health Care system | ScSW 672 | 1 | 7 | 175 | 1 month | |
| 2 | Social Work , HIV/AIDS and Reproductive Health | ScSW 741 | 0.5 | 3.5 | 87.5 | ½ month | |
| 3 | Social Work and Mental Health | ScSW 682 | 1 | 7 | 175 | 1 month | |
| 4 | Social Work and Substance Abuse | ScSW 721 | 0.5 | 3.5 | 87.5 | ½ month | |
| 5 | Policy Practice in Health Social Work | ScSW 751 | 0.5 | 3.5 | 87.5 | ½ month | |
| 6 | Fieldwork Practice | ScSW 731 | 1 | 7 | 175 | 3 Months | |
| Total | 4.5 | 31.5 | 787.5 | 6.5 Months | |||
| 7 | Thesis Project | ScSW 792 | 1.5 | 30 | 750 | 5 Months | |
Summary of Modular Curriculum for Extension Program[1]
Total Requirements (in ECTS) = ______96.5_________
| Module Code | Module Title | ECTS | Pre-requisite Module | |
| I. General Area | ||||
| MSSW-643 | Research Methods | 7 | ||
| II. General Subject Area Modules | 24.5 | |||
| MSSW-603 | Integrated social work methods I | 7 | ||
| MSSW-604 | Integrated social work methods II | 3.5 | ||
| MSSW-623 | Management and leadership | 3.5 | ||
| MSSW-633 | Social policy Analysis | 7 | ||
| MSSW-693 | Field work Practice I | 3.5 | ||
| III. Specialization Area Modules | 35 | |||
| MSSW-613 | Community Health and Social Work in Health | 7 | ||
| MSSW-663 | Culture, Human Behaviour and Counselling field | 7 | ||
| MSSW-653 | Practice with children and Families | 7 | ||
| MSSW-675 | Community Development, capacity Building and Planned change | 7 | ||
| MSSW-694 | Field-work practice II | 7 | ||
| Thesis/PhD proposal/Series of essays | 30 | |||
| MSSW-683 | MSW Thesis Projects | 30 | ||
| Grand total | 96.5 | |||
Admission Requirements
PhD program
Admission into the Program in Social Work and Social Development (PhD) requires the approval of the Council of Graduate Studies (CGS) of the AAU and follows the rules and regulations set forth by the School of Graduate Studies (SGS). Candidates will be eligible to apply for admission if they meet the following criteria.
- Graduate GPA of at least 3.5 on a scale of 4.
- Graduate degree in social work (MSW), or graduates from related fields (Social Work, Sociology, Social Anthropology, Psychology, Public Health, Nursing, Gender Studies, Development Studies, Economic, Education, Psychiatry, Cooperatives, Rural Development, Special Needs ) who will be expected to take pre-requisite course from the MSW program as described in section 7 of this curriculum.
- A cover letter and personal statement with a rationale for doctoral study, research and teaching experiences (5 pages maximum)
- Sponsorship letter or other forms of testimonies to cover costs of training
- Passing of a written examination to be administered by the recruitment and selection committee of the SSW
- Passing of a scholarly presentation of previously research works by the applicant. This may include thesis research but not limited to it.
- A panel of a minimum of three faculty members from the School of Social Work, AAU with a status of assistant professorship or above shall lead the selection process. The set of criteria to evaluate the candidate is described as follows.
- Criteria of evaluation of each applicant during the selection process is stipulated in the PhD Program Manual of SSW, AAU
MSW (Masters in Social Work) Program
- Candidates will be eligible to apply for admission if they have obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Sciences and Health Sciences such as Social Work, Sociology, Psychology, Public Health, Economics, Development studies, management, Law and Political Science.
- The applicants are also expected to meet the requirements set by the SSW.
- Admission into the Master of Social Work (MSW) Program requires the approval of the Council of Graduate Studies and Research of the University and is effected according to the rules and regulations set forth by the School of Graduate Studies.
[1] Courses of the Distance program are the same with Extension program.
No. of Programs
| Programs | ||||
| 1. | Undergraduate | |||
| 2 | Masters Program regular with three concentrations | Children and Family Concentration | Community Development Concentrations | Health Concentration |
| 3 | Masters Program Extension | |||
| 4 | PhD Program | |||
Current No. of Students
| Undergraduate program | Masters Regular program | Masters Extension program | Masters Distance | PhD program | Total | |
| 1st year | 105 | 17 | 41 | |||
| 2nd year | 49 | 19 | 43 | |||
| 3rd year | 51 | 47 | 35 | |||
| Total | 205 | 36 | 131 | 35 | ||
Click the link below for Courses and Program Details
| BACHELOR’S PROGRAM | MASTER’S PROGRAM | PhD PROGRAM |
