Dual Degree Programs - Master of Social Work/Master of Public Health (MSW/MPH)

The dual degree program, Master’s of Social Work/Master’s in Public Health, is a “natural.” Both disciplines are vitally concerned about human and social well-being, whether at micro (clinical practice) or macro (societal and policy) levels. The urban dilemmas of substance use and abuse, mental and behavioral health policy and practice, violence incidence and interventions, and access to health care are particularly vital areas of mutual focus. Research-based strategies in both disciplines address differential access and treatment in these and other health domains stemming from such categories as race, ethnicity, socioeconomic position, and gender. The Penn School of Social Policy & Practice has been actively involved in the development of the Master of Public Health degree at Penn since its inception in 2002 and remains a partner through advisory committee participation, shared faculty, and shared students.
 
The MSW/MPH is a three-year program, including the two intervening summers. The advanced MSW field internship is arranged in conjunction with the Public Health Capstone Project in order to extend and deepen theoretical, analytical, and practice knowledge in both social work and public health disciplines.  Course descriptions for Public Health can be found at www.publichealth.med.upenn.edu.

MSW/MPH General Program of Study
updated 6/15/05

This represents a sample course grid. Each student will meet with the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs to create an individually designed course schedule.

Year 1 at SP2

 

Fall

SW 601

SW 602

SW 603

SW 604 + Field

Spring

SW 611

SW 612

SW 613

SW 614 + Field

 

Summer

SW 715

 

Year 2 - Public Health

 

Fall

PubH500: Intro to PH

PubH501: Intro to Biostats (Counts as SW Research Option)

PubH504: Behavioral and Social Sciences in PubH

*MPH Elective 1 (= SW Free Elective)

Spring

PubH502: Intro to Princ/ Methods of Epidemiology (could be SW practice elective: clinical or macro)

PubH503: Environ/Occup Health

*PubH 508a: Capstone 0.5cu

MPH Elective 2 (= SW Free Elective)

 

Summer

2 units MPH

PubH 508b & c: Capstone 0.5 cu each. (Students can take up to 2 units or 1 cu)

 

Year 3 – SP2 + Public Health

 

Fall

SW704 or 708 + Field

PubH505: Health Services System

*PubH506: Methods for PH Practice (1.5cu) (Counts as SW Practice Elective: Clinical or Macro)

PubH507: PH Ethics, Policy & Law

Spring

SW714 or 718 +Field

PubH508d: Capstone 0.5 cu

SW 7xx: Practice Elective (e.g. Substance Abuse; At-Risk Youth; Health Settings; Aging; Loss) (Counts as MPH elective)

SW 7xx: Free Elective (e.g. Intimate Violence; Policies for Ch & Families) (Counts as MPH elective)

MSW completed in May of Year 3

MPH completed in May of Year 3

Note: Students applying to dual degree programs must make separate applications to both schools.