<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000796299
<NAME> PHOENIX STRATEGIC EQUITY SERIES FUND
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 023
<NAME> PHOENIX SENECA STRATEGIC THEME FUND - CLASS C
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> APR-30-2001
<PERIOD-END> OCT-31-2000
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<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 1726
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 1726
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 513145
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 358
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 238
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> (4196)
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 122644
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 110086
<NET-ASSETS> 741679
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 477
<INTEREST-INCOME> 921
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (5594)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> (4196)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 61556
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (97364)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> (40004)
<EQUALIZATION> 0
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<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 152
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (32)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 2
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 61088
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 2964
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 5594
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 784070
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 21.71
<PER-SHARE-NII> (.18)
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<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
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<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 20.55
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 2.01
</TABLE>