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Columbia Campus    
2019-2020 Graduate Studies Bulletin 
    
 
  Apr 24, 2024
 
2019-2020 Graduate Studies Bulletin

Social Work / Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, M.S.W. / M.P.H.


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Admissions

The College of Social Work and the Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior (HPEB) in the Arnold School of Public Health, participate in a dual degree program that allows individuals to complete both the Social Work, MSW   and Master of Public Health degrees in less time than if the degrees are completed separately.  Students apply to the dual degree program option through the USC Graduate School. Application reviews, including required supplemental application materials required by the programs, and admission recommendations are made independently by the College of Social Work and by the Arnold School of Public Health.  Official notification of the admission decisions comes from the Graduate School.  Students enrolled in both Master of Social Work and Master of Public Health courses in any term may be subject to fees for both programs.  

Students enrolled in either the social work or public health program beyond their first year of graduate study cannot apply for the dual degree program.   Part-time social work students may enroll in the dual degree program.  Advanced Standing social work students enrolled beyond the summer bridge term cannot apply for the dual degree program. Students in the Online Master of Public Health (MPH) in Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior - Professional Program are not eligible for the dual MSW/MPH program.

Degree Requirements M.S.W. (60 Hours) / M.P.H. (45 Hours)

Students may complete the dual degree program by starting in either the Master of Social Work program or the Master of Public Health program.  Each program offers a typical sequence of courses; through academic advisement with a dual degree coordinator in each program, students select specific courses to satisfy the requirements for each degree.  All curriculum and hour requirements must be satisfied in order to graduate from the dual degree program.   Students in the dual degree program must complete the program within six academic years.  See the MSW bulletin and the MPH student handbook for additional information.

Two (2) SOWK elective courses can be satisfied by successfully completing two HPEB elective courses (6 credit hours total).  SOWK 783 and SOWK 784 (6 credit hours total) satisfy the HPEB 797 Applied Practice Experience requirement. The Fieldwork courses require coordination and contract with a HPEB advisor to meet the terms of the MPH Applied Practice Experience.  Thus the 60-credit hour MSW degree and 45-credit hour MPH degree can both be completed with a total of 93 credit hours.

The table below reflects the plan of study for a full-time student who begins the dual degree program in social work. Note that some of the courses beyond the first year of MPH and SOWK studies may be adjusted due to program or accreditation changes. 

2nd year Fall Semester: Public Health Core Courses


3rd Year Spring Semester: Social Work Advanced Year Courses and Health Promotion, Education and Behavior Courses


Notes


*Students may elect to take these courses during summer sessions in order to meet curriculum requirements upon approval of the dual degree coordinator in each program.

**SOWK 783 and 784 require coordination and contract with a HPEB advisor to meet the terms of the Applied Practice Experience of the MPH program.

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