The Group for the Advancement of Doctoral Education (GADE) is an organization whose membership is comprised of directors of established social work/social welfare doctoral programs located in accredited universities. It was founded nearly 25 years ago to provide a forum for sharing ideas and strategies, and for strengthening member’s efforts at enhancing doctoral education.

In 2006-2007 there are 81 members in GADE, including seven programs outside the U.S. (six in Canada and one in Israel).

The purposes of the organization are to:

1. promote the interests and concerns of social work/social welfare doctoral programs;
2. provide a structure for the exchange of specialized information on curriculum development,
3. educational administration, research and related matters;
4. stimulate the development of more effective educational and research efforts;
5. provide resources for new and developing doctoral programs, faculty who are new to teaching at the doctoral level, and program directors who are new to the job;
6. identify and publicize existing or potential funding resources for doctoral education;
7. represent the interests of doctoral education with constituent groups and funding sources.