DUAL PROGRAMS

The College of Social Work participates in three dual degree programs which make it possible for students to earn both the Master of Social Work (MSW) and a second degree in public health (MPH), public administration (MPA), or law (JD) in less time and with fewer credit hours than would be necessary to complete the two degrees separately.

In all three dual degree programs, students must meet the admissions requirements and maintain the educational standards of each academic unit in order to earn both degrees.

MSW/MPH

Graduates of the dual degree MSW/MPH program can expect to find employment in traditional health care settings that rely on the medical model of intervention as well as in settings that use a social health mode. Students may choose either the Health Promotion and Education (HPEB) track or the Health Services Policy and Management (HSPM) track in the MPH program. The HPEB track requires students to concentrate, during their second year of studies, in Social Work Practice with Individuals, Families, and Groups OR to concentrate on Social Work Organizations and Communities. The HSPM track requires students to concentrate, during the second year of their studies, in Social Work Practice with Organizations and Communities.

Students normally spend the equivalent of three years in their studies for their dual MSW/MPH degrees. Students complete the MSW/MPH with the HSPM track in 81 hours as opposed to the 99 hours that would be required to complete the two degree programs separately. Students complete the MSW/MPH with the HPEB track in 84 hours instead of the 105 hours required to complete the two degree programs separately. Students participate in two field placements, one in public health and one in social work, in addition to completing the special research project in public health.

Click here to see the course listings for the MSW/MPH - HPEB Degree

Click here to see the course listings for the MSW/MPH - HSPM Degree

MSW/MPA

The Public Administration degree requires students to concentrate, during the second year of their studies, in Social Work Practice with Organizations and Communities. In Public Administration, students complete the two degrees, the MSW and the Master of Public Administration, in approximately one year less than would be required to complete both degrees. Public administrators often become managers of human services agencies as well as managers of local, state, and national government organizations. Students use some Public Administration courses as electives in their MSW studies and use some of their MSW courses as electives in the MPA.

MSW/JD

The College of Social Work and the School of Law offer the dual degrees of MSW and Juris Doctor (JD). Students are able to complete both degrees in approximately one semester less than would be required for completion of the two degrees independently. Students count six hours of elective credits law toward the MSW and up to nine hours of social work as electives in the JD program. Students may specialize in either of the two advanced concentration tracks for the dual degree in law, Advanced Social Work Practice with Individuals, Families, and Groups or Advanced Social Work Practice with Organizations and Communities.

Advanced standing students are eligible for all three dual degree programs. In addition, some studies for full two-year students can be completed during the summer sessions in all three of the dual degree programs.

Enrolling in dual degree programs can sometimes be accomplished while the student is completing the first year of studies towards the MSW. Normally, however, students should apply to both programs of interest at the same time. Substantial lead time is required for completing the admissions process. The JD degree, in particular, requires early planning because of the special application procedures used in Law School admissions.

For information about the dual degree program students should contact:

Ms. Frances Spann
College of South Work
University of South Carolina
Columbia, SC 29208
telephone:(803) 777-1545
e-mail: francess@gwm.sc.edu

LINKS:

Public Health Dual Degree in Social Work and Public Health Page

Political Science Webpage for Dual MSW-MPA Program