Dual Degree, Master of Social Work/Master of Public Health

The Master of Social Work/Master of Public Health (MSW/MPH) dual degree provides academic training in order to maximize the impact of both public health and social work practices. This dual degree develops expertise at the nexus of public health and social work. The goal of this program is to train leaders who have the skills and competencies to address many of the social and public health problems facing the state of Alaska, this nation and the world.

An advantage of the dual MSW/MPH option is that by mutual agreement between the two programs, some courses count toward graduation requirements in both programs. Thus the time to complete both degrees and the total number of credits required has been reduced. The time to complete both degrees for a full-time student is approximately three years (nine semesters). If both degrees were pursued sequentially, the minimum time to the degrees is four years (12 semesters). Similarly, the total number of credits to acquire the dual degree is fewer than 80; the total number of credits for sequentially obtaining both degrees is 105.

Admission Requirements

Advising

Each student will have two academic advisors, one for each degree program. Students will have two graduate studies plans (GSPs), one for each degree program. The GSPs will vary based on full or part-time status and the semester of entry into the MSW or MPH program.

Academic Requirements

To maintain satisfactory academic progress toward the dual degrees, a student is expected to be in good standing in both academic programs. See Graduate Degree Policies for additional requirements.

Graduation Requirements

Each degree will be awarded when the requirements for graduation for that degree have been met.

Program Requirements

Complete the following MPH core courses:
HS A605Public Health and Society3
HS A610Environmental and Occupational Health3
HS A615Health Services Administration3
HS A624Circumpolar Health Issues3
HS A625Biostatistics for Health Professionals3
HS A626Principles of Epidemiology3
HS/SWK A628Program Evaluation3
HS A629Public Health Research Tools and Methods4
HS A630Public Health Emergencies and Disasters3
HS A695Applied Practice Experience3
HS A696Integrative Learning Experience2
Total33
Complete the following MSW core courses:
SWK A607Social Welfare Policy and Services3
SWK A608Advanced Policy Practice3
SWK A630Practice with Individuals3
SWK A631Introduction to Social Work Practice3
SWK A632Practice with Families and Groups3
SWK A633Advanced Practice with Families and Groups3
SWK A634Transformational Leadership in Social Work Practice3
SWK A635Transformational Leadership Capstone3
SWK A636Practice with Organizations and Communities3
SWK A642Human Behavior in the Social Environment3
SWK A643Human Diversity in Social Work Practice3
SWK A644Social Work Practicum I3
SWK A645Social Work Practicum II3
SWK A646Advanced Generalist Practicum I3
SWK A647Advanced Generalist Practicum II3
Total45

A minimum of 78 credits is required for the Master of Social Work and Master of Public Health dual degree, including a minimum of 42 credits of public health-relevant coursework.