Social Work/Public Health (MSW/MPH)
The MSW/MPH dual degree program provides a multidisciplinary education covering both client-centered and population-based health perspectives to train those who will work to address the health and social needs of vulnerable populations. The dual degree program is designed to prepare social work and public health leaders who understand and respond to social and health issues in order to promote the well-being of communities at local and global levels. The program will have an emphasis on eliminating social and health inequities through transformative education, rigorous research, and active community engagement.
Related Programs
Master's
Certificate
Combined
Curriculum
MSW/Master of Public Health
The MSW/MPH program blends coursework from the School of Social Work and the Master of Public Health (MPH) program.
Students in the dual degree will select the Micro Practice Specialization with Advanced Clinical Practice Track. Within the MPH program, students complete the Public Health Policy and Management track.
The focus of the MSW Program is to prepare students to become practicing social workers in a variety of settings. The curriculum of the MSW program is designed to prepare students to have the knowledge and skills necessary for them to effectively intervene with and on behalf of the client systems that they serve.
The MPH Program provides students with the theoretical, methodological, and practical experience relevant to addressing contemporary public health issues. The MPH curriculum consists of required course work in all five areas of concentration in public health (Health Services Administration, Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Environmental Health, and Social/Behavioral Health), track-specific and elective courses, and a practicum training experience, and a capstone project.
The dual degree has been carefully crafted to fulfill both program requirements while maximizing opportunities for curriculum integration through shared content. The resulting curriculum requires 75 credit hours which can be completed within three years on a full-time basis.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MPH Requirements | ||
| MPH Foundational Courses | ||
| MPBH 400 | Determinants of Population Health | 3 |
| MPBH 402 | Public Health Practice and Management | 3 |
| MPBH 403 | Introduction to Epidemiology | 3 |
| MPBH 404 | Biostatistics for Health and Biological Science | 3 |
| MPBH 407 | Public Health Policy: Concepts and Practice | 3 |
| MPBH 499 | Public Health in Action | 3 |
| Public Health Policy and Management Track Courses | ||
| MPBH 416 | Health Services Research Methods | 3 |
| MPBH 425 | Policy Analysis | 3 |
| Management-oriented Courses | ||
| CMAN 533 | Fiscal Management in Health Care Organizations | 3 |
| MPBH 422 | Population Health Planning & Management | 3 |
| Bioethics (BEHL) 400-Level Elective | 3 | |
| Choose one of the following: | ||
| Justice & Health Care | ||
| Biomedical Ethics and Law | ||
| Social Determinants of Health and Bioethics | ||
| Systems Ethics Frameworks | ||
| Organizational Ethics I: Business, Professionalism, and Justice | ||
| Advancing Health Equity Practice | ||
| Global Bioethics | ||
| MPH 400-Level Elective | 6 | |
| MPBH 411 | MPH Capstone | 1-3 |
| MSW Requirements | ||
| Generalist MSW Courses | ||
| SOWK 500 | Life Span Development, Human Behavior, Trauma, & Theory | 3 |
| SOWK 501 | Assessment of Client Concerns in Context | 3 |
| SOWK 502 | Power, Oppression, Privilege, and Social Justice | 3 |
| SOWK 503 | Practice Skills with Individuals and Families | 3 |
| SOWK 505 | Group Work Practice in Social Work: Micro/Mezzo/Macro | 3 |
| SOWK 508 | Integrated Micro, Mezzo, and Macro Practice 1 | 3 |
| or SOWK 504 | Integrated Micro/Mezzo/Macro Theory and Practice | |
| SWII 530 | Internship I & Simulated Experience | 1 |
| SWII 531 | Internship II & Simulated Experience | 1 |
| Specialized Courses | ||
| SOWK 680 | Advanced Micro-Level Practice | 3 |
| SOWK 682 | Advanced Mezzo and Micro Practice 1 | 3 |
| or SOWK 681 | Advanced Mezzo & Macro Practice | |
| SWII 632 | Internship Instruction III & Simulated Experiences | 1 |
| SWII 633 | Internship Instruction IV & Simulated Experiences | 1 |
| Micro Practice Specialization with Advanced Clinical Practice Track Courses | ||
| SOWK 603 | Seminar in Brief Treatment | 3 |
| or SOWK 645 | Crisis Intervention | |
| SOWK 614 | Clinical Social Work Practice in Health Care | 3 |
| Total Hours | 75 | |
- 1
Students who matriculated before Fall 2025 should take SOWK 504 and SOWK 681. Students who matriculated in Fall 2025 or after should take SOWK 508 and SOWK 682.
Specialization & Track
The Social Work/Public Health (MSW/MPH) is only compatible with the Micro Practice Specialization with Advanced Clinical Practice Track.
Suggested Sequence of Courses
MPH and MSW Dual Degree Template - Micro Practice Specialization
Management Focus, Micro Specialization-Advanced Clinical Practice Track
This option assumes internship starts in year 2.
The below sequence of courses is meant to be used as a suggested path for completing coursework. An individual student’s completion of requirements depends on course offerings in a given term as well as the start term for a major or graduate study. Students should consult their advisor for assistance with course selection.
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| SOWK 501 | Assessment of Client Concerns in Context 1 | 3 |
| SOWK 503 | Practice Skills with Individuals and Families 1 | 3 |
| MPBH 400 | Determinants of Population Health 2 | 3 |
| MPBH 402 | Public Health Practice and Management 2 | 3 |
| SOWK 502 | Power, Oppression, Privilege, and Social Justice 1 | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| SOWK 500 | Life Span Development, Human Behavior, Trauma, & Theory 1 | 3 |
| SOWK 504 / SOWK 508 | Integrated Micro/Mezzo/Macro Theory and Practice 1,9 | 3 |
| MPBH 404 | Biostatistics for Health and Biological Science 2 | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Summer | ||
| SOWK 505 | Group Work Practice in Social Work: Micro/Mezzo/Macro 1 | 3 |
| MPBH 407 | Public Health Policy: Concepts and Practice (MSW elective) 2,3,4 | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| MPBH 403 | Introduction to Epidemiology 2 | 3 |
| MPH Elective | Elective 2 | 3 |
| MPBH 416 | Health Services Research Methods 2,4,5 | 3 |
| SWII 530 | Internship I & Simulated Experience | 1 |
| Hours | 10 | |
| Spring | ||
| CMAN 533 | Fiscal Management in Health Care Organizations 2 | 3 |
| MPBH 499 | Public Health in Action 2,4,7 | 3 |
| MPBH 425 | Policy Analysis 2 | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Seminar in Brief Treatment 1 | ||
| Crisis Intervention 1 | ||
| SWII 531 | Internship II & Simulated Experience | 1 |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Summer | ||
| SOWK 680 | Advanced Micro-Level Practice 1 | 3 |
| BEHP 4xx | Bioethics Elective 2 | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| SOWK 614 | Clinical Social Work Practice in Health Care 1 | 3 |
| MPBH 422 | Population Health Planning & Management 2,4,8 | 3 |
| MPBH 411 | MPH Capstone 2 | 1 |
| SWII 632 | Internship Instruction III & Simulated Experiences | 1 |
| Hours | 8 | |
| Spring | ||
| SOWK 681 / SOWK 682 | Advanced Mezzo & Macro Practice 1,9 | 3 |
| MPH Elective | Elective 2 | 3 |
| MPBH 411 | MPH Capstone 2 | 1 |
| SWII 633 | Internship Instruction IV & Simulated Experiences | 1 |
| Hours | 8 | |
| Total Hours | 75 | |
- 1
MSW
- 2
MPH
- 3
Counts for SOWK 602 Health and Behavioral Health Policy and Systems
- 4
Shared credit
- 5
MPBH 416 Health Services Research Methods substitutes for SOWK 506 Research and Evaluation in Social Work Practice
- 6
MPBH 410 MPH Practicum (1 hr credit sharing it will map to both SWII 530 Internship I & Simulated Experience and SWII 531 Internship II & Simulated Experience)
- 7
MPBH 499 Public Health in Action substitutes for SOWK 509 Social Work Policy and Community Intervention
- 8
MPBH 422 Population Health Planning & Management is equivalent to SOWK 606 Practicum in Research & Evaluation-counts as a Social Work elective
- 9
Students who matriculated before Fall 2025 should take SOWK 504 and SOWK 681. Students who matriculated in Fall 2025 or after should take SOWK 508 and SOWK 682.
Dual Degree Programs
Students in dual degree programs are responsible for abiding by academic policies and graduation requirements of both academic units to which they are enrolled. It is strongly recommended that students schedule regular meetings with academic advisors from both units to ensure timely degree completion. Dual degree programs may have slightly different degree requirements from the standard for one or both of the degrees earned. Students should closely read through all degree requirements and ask for clarification as needed.
Graduate & Professional Standards and Regulations
Students in graduate and professional programs can find their Academic Policies in Graduate and Professional Academic Standards and Regulations under their school. Any additional University Policies supersede school policies.
Learning Outcomes
- Analyze problems and data using epidemiological, biostatistical, qualitative, and/or systems-thinking methods to inform public health policy and practice. [MPH]
- Design population-based research, policies, programs, or interventions that are evidence-informed, equity-centered, and culturally responsive to population and community health needs. [MPH]
- Apply principles of leadership, communication, and interprofessional collaboration to the development, promotion, delivery or evaluation of public health solutions. [MPH]
- Demonstrate ethical and professional behavior. [MSW]
- Engage diversity and difference in practice, including promoting social and economic justice. [MSW]
- Engage, assess, and intervene with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. [MSW]