Program Overview
The Master of Social Work (MSW) and Master of Public Health (MPH) dual degree program at the University of Georgia provides students with a transdisciplinary education using biopsychosocial and epidemiological perspectives to address critical health issues at the local, state, national, and international levels. Graduates of this program will have the knowledge and skills to combine social work assessment and intervention with the public health goal of prevention to improve health at the individual, family, organizational and community levels. The program’s focus on health disparities underscores the social justice commitment of both professions to enhance human well being.
Currently, the MSW/MPH dual degree program is offered in the following concentrations:
- Master of Social Work concentrations (Full time and Advanced Standing)
- Micro (all three MPH concentrations)
- Macro (all three MPH concentrations)
- Combined (only available to Health Promotion & Behavior students)
- Master of Public Health concentrations
- Health Promotion and Behavior
- Gerontology
- Health Policy and Management
The MSW/MPH dual degree program at UGA is the only program of its kind in the state of Georgia, and one of only five MSW/MPH programs in the Southeast. Students enrolled in the Full time dual degree program complete a 90-hour curriculum of concurrent social work and public health classes. The full time program can be completed in as little as 2 ½ years (7 consecutive semesters) if students enroll in the program in fall of their first year of graduate school. Students enrolled in the Advanced Standing dual degree program complete a 76-hour curriculum of concurrent social work and public health classes. The Advanced Standing program can be completed in as little as 2 years (6 consecutive semesters) if students enroll in the program in summer of their first year of graduate school. The MSW/MPH program is available at the Athens campus at the University of Georgia. Students attend classes at both the main Athens campus and the Health Sciences Campus located about 2 ½ miles west of the main campus. The UGA MSW/MPH program is not available online or at the Gwinnett campus.
Why Pursue Dual MSW and MPH Degrees?
“With the stronger emphasis on prevention, wider recognition of health disparities, and the demand for individuals and communities to connect to health resources, the need for public health social work has never been greater.” (Jackson)
Graduates with dual MSW and MPH degrees demonstrate an ability to complete a rigorous program of study that involves trans-disciplinary methods by combining the “soft” competencies or “people skills” of social work with the “hard” competencies of public health. Dual degrees integrate public health’s focus on prevention and social work’s focus on intervention, which builds a strong foundation to improve the health and well-being of communities.
The fields of Social Work and Public Health complement each other in several ways:
- Enhancing social, economic and environmental justice
- Eliminating disparities between and among various populations
- Focusing on oppressed, vulnerable, and at-risk groups
- Understanding how social systems relate to health status
- Public health: Social epidemiology
- Social work: Ecological approach – person in environment
- Family centered
- Community based
- Culturally competent
- Coordinated care
- Trans- and inter-disciplinary teams
- Cultural Humility
Applicants to the MSW/MPH dual degree program at The University of Georgia (UGA) must apply separately for admission to the School of Social Work and the College of Public Health. Acceptance into one program does not ensure acceptance into the other. Students may apply and be accepted into both programs before starting either, or they can apply to the second program early in the first semester of graduate school (e.g., will apply to the MPH program early in the first semester of the MSW program or will apply to the MSW program early in the first semester of the MPH program).
Completing two rigorous graduate degree programs simultaneously requires that students have a strong academic record. Although the admission requirements for the two programs differ, both reflect the demanding nature of graduate studies.
Application Process
Students must follow the application instructions for the program they are applying to:
Students must also apply again to the UGA Graduate School at the time they apply to the 2nd degree program. When preparing the application with the 2nd degree program, it is recommended that the student contact the respective admissions coordinator (as listed on the application process website) to let them know they are planning an application and to receive any special instructions for the application. Information about the Graduate School application process can be found at these web sites as well.
Admission Requirements
Prospective applicants should carefully review the requirements for each program.
Please see the Frequently Asked Questions section for more detailed information.
- Review the codes of ethics of the two professions. If these principles and values resonate with you, then a MSW/MPH program might be a good fit for you:
- the National Association of Social Worker’s Code of Ethics.
- the American Public Health Association’s Principles of the Ethical Practice of Public Health.
- Look at job announcements that you might be interested in applying to in the future – what degrees or credentials do they ask for?
- Conduct an informational interview with individuals who are currently practicing in positions that look interesting to you – what degrees and credentials do they have; do they see potential value in someone having a MSW and MPH in that position?
- Check out our Reading List, which summarizes what some of the research literature says about MSW/MPH professionals.
- Look at the faculty biographies for the School of Social Work and the College of Public Health – are there any in particular who have research areas that fit with your interest areas?
Unfortunately, part-time students are not eligible for the MSW/MPH dual degree program. Although part-time students are not currently able to participate in the Dual Degree Program of Study (for example, utilize the “double-counted” courses as listed on the Course Requirements document), students could consider completing the degrees consecutively. The MSW/MPH program is also not currently offered to online MSW students.
Although MPH students in these concentrations are not currently able to participate in the Dual Degree Program of Study (for example, utilize the “double-counted” courses as listed on the Course Requirements document), students could consider completing the degrees consecutively.
The UGA MSW/MPH program is able to offer a shorter program of study through careful coordination of concurrent public health and social work courses (meaning that both public health and social work courses are taken in each semester). More commonly, MSW/MPH programs focus coursework in one program the first year, the other program the second year, and both programs the third year.
MSW/MPH students complete the first (foundation) social work field placement in fall and spring of their second year. MSW/MPH students then complete an “integrated” public health and social work field placement (in the same agency) during summer and fall of their final year in the program. Over the summer, students complete a block (40-hour per week) placement in which they complete requirements for their public health internship and social work field placement at the same time. During fall, they spend 2 ½ days per week at the same agency to complete requirements for the social work placement. Within this structure, students gain a clear understanding of the intersection of public health and social work in the field.
The School of Social Work and the College of Public Health work closely with MSW/MPH students to ensure that placements accommodate their learning needs and interests.
At UGA there are many opportunities to focus on international issues, including:
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- Courses that focus on global or international issues in both the School of Social Work and the College of Public Health
- The Graduate Certificate in Global Health offered through the College of Public Health’s Center for Global Health
- The UGA student organization Students for Global Social Work
- Study Away opportunities through the School of Social Work
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MSW/MPH students typically complete study abroad coursework during the summer of their first year.
Note that many of the study abroad programs are very competitive.
Students may also apply to the second program during the first semester of their first program (e.g., apply to the MPH program during fall semester of Year I in the MSW program or apply to the MSW program during fall semester of Year I in the MPH program). However, the program of study may be 3 years (8 consecutive semesters) instead of 2 ½ years (7 consecutive semesters).
Applications for admission to Public Health and Social Work are due in the middle of Fall semester. Contact the admission coordinator of the respective program you are applying to if you have questions. The graduate programs notify applicants about admission decisions before the end of fall semester. Students accepted into the second degree program are admitted effective spring semester and begin taking concurrent courses in the spring semester of their first year of graduate school.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics:
- Social work employment (including public health social workers) is estimated to grow by 12% and employment of health educators is projected to grow by 13% from 2014-2024, faster than the average for all occupations
- Healthcare social worker employment is expected to grow by 19% as the baby boomers age
- An increase in demand is estimated in the next 10 years, ranging from 4-19%
- The median annual wage was $46,890 for social workers and $53,070 for health educators in May 2016
Having dual MSW and MPH degrees provides access to both of these fast-growing fields and increases marketability.
Areas of practice for MSW MPH graduates include:
- Prevention-oriented clinical practice
- Health education and health promotion
- Health program planning, development, and evaluation
- Health policy analysis
- Management at local, state, national, and international levels
- Public health advocacy
- Research
Learn more about what UGA MSW/MPH students and alumni are doing by visiting our blog.
References
1. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2014-2015 Edition. (2014). Social Workers. Available at: http://www.bls.gov
2. Jackson, K. (2016). Public health social work: Now more than ever. Social Work Today, 15(6), 12. Available at: http://www.socialworktoday.com/archive/111715p12.shtml
3. Sable, M.R., Schild, D.S. & Hipp, J.A. (2012). Public Health and Social Work. In S. Gehlert & T. Browne (Eds.), Handbook of Health Social Work (pp. 64-99). Hoboken, NJ: WILEY.
MSW/MPH Program Coordinator
Rebecca Wells
Phone: (706) 542-5171
Email: mswmph@uga.edu
Social Work Admissions Coordinator
Allison Haynes
Allison.Haynes@uga.edu
(706) 542-5429
https://ssw.uga.edu/admissions/msw-admissions/
Public Health Admissions Coordinator
Lindsey Whittaker
mph@uga.edu
(706) 583-0885
http://www.publichealth.uga.edu/academics/apply