Interdisciplinary Opportunities

Dear Prospective Student,

Do you want to study within a small school community yet have the unique advantages of interdisciplinary opportunities at a vibrant Ivy League university? Penn’s School of Social Policy & Practice (SP2) offers both masters and doctoral students a myriad of interdisciplinary opportunities. SP2 offers ten dual degree programs for MSW students and all masters level candidates have the opportunity to enroll in elective courses throughout the university. PhD students are strongly encouraged to take advantage of course offerings across the University for their required six elective courses. I welcome you to explore the exciting interdisciplinary opportunities available at Penn SP2.

 

 

MSW Student Opportunities

SP2 students are permitted to take up to two free electives in other Penn schools and departments. Courses taken in other schools or departments may not be counted as practice electives. Courses must be approved by the student’s educational advisor as relevant to the student’s educational plan.

The School of Social Policy & Practice (SP2) offers the following 12 exciting dual degree programs in collaboration with other schools of the University of Pennsylvania:

 

Penn's Master Program in Nonprofit/NGO Leadership

The Nonprofit / NGO Leadership (NPL) program is a collaboration between the School of Social Policy & Practice, the Wharton School, and the School of Arts & Sciences. The interdisciplinary curriculum includes courses taught at the School of Social Policy & Practice and courses taught in other Penn departments.

An NPL student may take elective courses in any approved graduate program at Penn, so long as the course fits with the goals of the NPL program, is consistent with the student’s ISP, she or he has completed all prerequisites, and the relevant instructor and school agrees.  If necessary, the NPL advisor will help the student to gain entry to a course. It must be understood, however, that in general that where the number students seeking a course exceeds the available space, priority is given to those enrolled in the host school.

NPL Prorgam Elective Courses

 

PhD Student Opportunities

PhD students are strongly encouraged to take courses throughout the university. Out of 16 credits two are taken in sociology (statistics as required) and six additional are electives most of which are taken in other departments.

Currently, five of our doctoral students are working on research in other schools and their chairpersons are from these departments. One student is in the School of Medicine, two are in the School of Nursing, one is in the School of Arts and
Sciences, and the last student is in the School of Graduate Education.  In our doctoral colloquium last year, we invited six faculty members from other schools to introduce them to our students and to encourage cross-school collaboration. In
the PhD gradate group more than half of the members are from other schools. One required course (statistics) is taken in the School of Arts and Sciences and most of the six elective courses are taken in other schools rather than in the
School of Social Policy and Practice.

 

Interdisciplinary Research and Special Projects

The Field Center for Children's Policy, Practice & Research is a collaborative effort among SP2, Law, and Medicine.

The Masters Program in Nonprofit/NGO Leadership is a collaborative effort among SP2, the Wharton Business School, and the School of Arts and Sciences.

The Cartographic Modeling Lab is a collaborative effort between SP2 and Design.

Through a collaboration with the Graduate School of Eduction, SP2 supports the Sadie Alexander School in West Philadelphia by providing a school social worker and social work interns. Sayre School Community Health Project, a collaborative endeavor among Penn Dental, Penn Medicine, Penn Nursing and SP2, is scheduled to begin providing health services to the West Philadelphia community in Spring 2006.