CONCURRENT AND DUAL DEGREES
Master of Social Welfare (M.S.W.)/ Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) Dual Degree Program
Introduction
The M.S.W./M.P.H. Dual Degree Program is a collaborative effort between the School of Social Welfare and the School of Public Health. It offers interdisciplinary preparation in the fields of social welfare and public health leading to the master of social work and the master of public health degrees, generally in less time than it would take to obtain these degrees independently. Students apply to the dual degree program after enrollment in one of the schools.
A distinctive feature of the UC Berkeley program is the opportunity it offers students to pursue any combination of concentrations within the two schools. In social welfare, the student may specialize in management and planning, children and families, community mental health, gerontology, or health. In public health, the student may select one of eight areas; most frequently chosen are health and social behavior, health policy and management, and maternal and child health.
Since the early 1950s, social workers with master's degrees have earned a second master's degree in the School of Public Health, generally after intervening work experience in the health field. That possibility still exists. However, to keep pace with the changing needs of professionals for whom it was more feasible to pursue the two degrees simultaneously, the Schools of Social Welfare and Public Health inaugurated the dual degree program in 1982.
Degree Program
The normal course of study for the dual degree takes three years, plus a full time summer field experience. Students meet the breadth requirements for public health as well as specific courses required in their area of concentration. They also meet the academic requirements of their selected emphasis in social welfare. Field faculty are available in each school to help plan and coordinate practice experiences. Typically, student progress follows the following sequence:
- First Year: Public Health or Social Welfare
- Second Year: Public Health and Social Welfare
- Summer: Full-Time Residency/Field Work
- Third Year: Public Health and Social Welfare
Admissions
Those interested in the M.S.W./M.P.H. Dual Degree Program must first apply to and enroll in one of the two schools. Both schools require:
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
- Grade point average of 3.0 or better (on a 4-point scale) in upper-division undergraduate course work
- Graduate Record Examination (GRE) with a test date within five years of application
In the fall semester of the initial year, M.S.W./M.P.H. applicants apply to the second school for dual enrollment beginning the following fall. Applicants may begin taking electives in the other school during the first year of graduate study. M.S.W./M.P.H. applicants have already met the Graduate Division requirements and those of the school in which they are enrolled; they also must meet the admission requirements of the second school.
The School of Social Welfare seeks applicants who are committed to professional goals compatible with its mission to provide leadership in the provision of services to the disadvantaged and underserved. Successful social welfare applicants will have a broad liberal education consisting of knowledge drawn from history; philosophy; the behavioral, social, and natural sciences; and the humanities. Knowledge of the social welfare field and professional commitment to social work are also evaluated.
The School of Public Health seeks applicants with interests in population-based health, community interventions and health promotion/disease prevention. While undergraduate majors are diverse and vary according to the area of concentration, college level courses in human biology and math or statistics are recommended. In both schools, fluency in a second language and knowledge relevant to serving historically underrepresented minority groups and current immigrant and refugee populations are desirable. Experience in international settings is also valued.
Prospective applicants to the M.S.W./M.P.H. Dual Degree Program are encouraged to obtain information from both schools prior to submitting their initial application. For more information see School of Social Welfare admissions and School of Public Health admissions.
Financial Support
For information about financial support, see fees and financial aid.
Opportunities for Graduates
Advanced study in both social welfare and public health deepens knowledge and skills in the interface of the two fields, making graduates attractive candidates in the health and social service job market. M.S.W./M.P.H. alumni work in managed care organizations and hospitals, in local and state health departments and federal health agencies, and with voluntary health agencies, community based organizations and advocacy coalitions. Those with social work training in direct service provide clinical services, often with additional management or planning responsibilities. Others serve as programs coordinators, administrators, planners, or consultants.
Major professional organizations of interest to M.S.W./M.P.H. graduates include the American Public Health Association (Social Work Section), National Association of Social Workers, Association of State and Territorial Public Health Social Workers, Society for Social Work Leadership in Health Care, and the Coalition of Social Work Organizations in Public Health.