DSW Guide to Policy Assignments

First, understand your degree’s philosophy. A PhD in Social Work is a research degree creating new, original theory for academia. A DSW (Doctor of Social Work) is a professional doctorate. Its goal is to train “practitioner-scholars” to apply existing theory to solve real-world problems. Your DSW policy assignments focus on application and advocacy. A 2025 article on social work doctoral education frames it as a degree for leadership.

Your DSW coursework is built around a “Problem of Practice.” This is a specific, actionable challenge in your field. For policy students, this PoP is at the macro level.

A Strong Policy-Based PoP

A PoP is a gap between the current reality and a desired state, supported by evidence.

• Weak PoP: “Foster care is broken.”
• Strong PoP: “Despite federal mandates, youth aging out of foster care in [Your County] have a 40% higher rate of homelessness than the national average, indicating a failure in local support policies.”
• Weak PoP: “Mental health access is a problem.”
• Strong PoP: “The current Medicaid reimbursement rate for tele-mental health in rural counties is 20% lower than for in-person visits, creating a ‘care desert’ and worsening patient outcomes.”

A strong PoP is the foundation for a compelling argumentative essay or policy analysis.

Your core task is formal policy analysis. You must use an established framework, like Bardach’s Eightfold Path.

Bardach’s Eightfold Path

This model, discussed in a 2024 article on environmental policy analysis, turns a complex problem into a solvable one.

1. Define the Problem: Use data to state the problem clearly.
2. Assemble Evidence: Gather data on the problem’s scope and causes.
3. Construct Alternatives: Brainstorm 3-4 realistic policy solutions.
4. Select Criteria: Choose criteria to judge your solutions (e.g., cost, effectiveness, equity, political feasibility).
5. Project Outcomes: Predict the likely results of each alternative.
6. Confront Trade-offs: Compare the alternatives. No solution is perfect.
7. Decide: Choose the best alternative and justify it.
8. Tell Your Story: Write your analysis in a clear, persuasive format (e.g., policy memo).

A DSW doesn’t just analyze problems; they solve them. Your assignments push you toward advocacy: using research to influence policy change.

The NASW Code & Macro Ethics

Your ethical mandate extends beyond individual clients. The NASW Code of Ethics, Section 6, calls on social workers to “engage in social and political action” and “promote social justice.”

Your policy assignments are ethical practice. You’ll analyze how policies create injustice. For example, a paper might analyze how a neutral housing policy disparately impacts marginalized communities. Macro-level social work directly challenges these systemic inequities.

Your DSW capstone is a “Dissertation-in-Practice,” not a traditional PhD dissertation. It’s a high-level action research project on your Problem of Practice.

For a policy-focused student, this could be:

• A Program Evaluation: Rigorously evaluating a new policy’s effectiveness.
• An Implementation Plan: Designing a plan to roll out a new statewide policy.
• A Policy Analysis & Advocacy Campaign: Writing a white paper on a problem and a strategic plan to get it before legislators.

This is the ultimate test of your DSW skills. For support, see our dissertation and thesis help page.