Dual Degree Programs

Master of Social Work/Master of Public Health (MSW/MPH)

Reviewed 11/08

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 Work has been actively involved in the development of the Master’s in Public Health degree at Penn since its inception in 2002 and remains a partner through advisory committee participation, shared faculty, and shared students.

The faculty of the Penn School of Social Work approved the MSW/MPH joint degree at its meeting on October 29, 2004. The MSW/MPH is a three-year program. Predicated on the approval of the Public Health faculty, the following template may be used as a guide for the construction of individual student schedules. Course descriptions for social work can be found a www.sp2.upenn.edu. Course descriptions for public health can be found at www.publichealth.med.upenn.edu.

MSW/MPH General Program of Study

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 FALL SPRING SUMMER
1

SW601: History/Philos. Soc. Work & Soc. Welfare

SW 602: Human Behavior in the Social Environment I

SW 603: American Racism

SW 604+Field: Foundation of S.W. Practice

SW 611: Contemporary Social Policy

SW 612: Human Behavior in the Social Environment II

SW 613: Understanding Social Change: Issues of Race & Gender

SW 614+Field: Social Work Practice		 715 Intro to Research
2

PubH500: Intro to PH

PubH501: Intro to Biostats (= SW Research Option)

PubH504: Behavioral and Social Sciences in PubH

*MPH Elective 1 (= SW course)

PubH502: Intro to Princ/ Methods of Epidemiology 1.0 cu (could be SW practice elective: clinical or macro)

PubH503: Environ/Occup Health (1.0 cu)

*PubH 508a: Capstone (0.5cu)

MPH Elective 2 (= SW course)

2 units MPH

PubH 508b & c: Capstone (0.5 cu) each.
3

SW704+Field: Advanced Clinical

SW Practice I

OR

SW 708+Field: Advanced Macro

SW Practice I

PubH505: PH Administration and Policy (1.0 cu)

PubH507: PH Ethics, Policy & Law (0.5 cu)

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

SW714+Field: Advanced

Clinical SW Practice II

OR

SW 718+Field: Advanced

Macro SW Practice II

PubH508d: Capstone (0.5 cu)

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

*PubH506: Methods for PH Practice (1.5cu) (= SW

Practice Elective: Clinical or Macro)

  

Although the MPH is not a clinical degree, the MSW/MPH is open to social work students in both advanced clinical and advanced macro social work practice tracks, as both tracks also address how research and policy are implicated in practice needs and implementation/intervention strategies.

*The MPH curriculum consists of 10 required courses and 6 electives. Six social work courses will be applied as electives toward the MPH degree. Social Work courses eligible for application will be identified by the MPH faculty during its deliberation of the dual degree program, but will likely include SW611, SW 603, SW 602, SW 757, SW 742, SW 704/708, SW 714/718, SW 706, SW 774, SW 781, SW722, as well as other health-related and population-based courses in the social work curriculum.

*Four MPH courses will be applied toward the MSW degree: for example, PubH 506 (could count as a SW practice elective—clinical or macro); PubH 502 (could count as a SW practice elective—clinical or macro); PubH 501 (could count as a SW Research Option); and virtually any two other public health courses could count as SW Free Electives. The Bridging the Gaps Clinical Internship may qualify as a MPH elective. Social work students should discuss this option with their MPH program advisor in advance.

** The MPH Capstone Project involves 108 hours of field experience in a public health (i.e. population-focused) setting. Students in the dual degree program will consult with their Capstone Mentor and the Social Work Field Director when planning the advanced social work field internship such that the hours required by the Capstone Project can be included in the social work internship. This planning process will generally take place in year 2 of the three-year dual degree program.

Questions about application to the MPH program or the MPH requirements should be directed to Jackie McLaughlin, Associate Director and Program Advisor for the MPH Program. jmclaugh@mail.med.upenn.edu.