Berkeley Public Health and the School of Social Welfare offer two options that offer interdisciplinary preparation in the fields of social welfare and public health leading to the Master of Social Work and Master of Public Health degrees, generally in less time than it would take to obtain these degrees independently.
Concurrent MSW/MPH
Master of Social Welfare / Master of Public Health with the School of Social Welfare
Qualifications
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.
Berkeley 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.
Employment
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. MSW/MPH 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 program coordinators, administrators, planners, or consultants.
Major professional organizations of interest to MSW/MPH 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.
Admissions
Prospective graduate students interested in the MSW/MPH Concurrent Degree, as well as Current Berkeley MSW or MPH students may apply.
For more information and program-specific application instructions, please see the Concurrent Degree in Public Health (MSW/MPH) and MSW Admissions Application Instructions pages on the UC Berkeley School of Social Welfare website.