TSSW Announces Online Dual Degree Option for Social Work and Disaster Resilience

Online Master of Social Work students who are interested in serving those affected by disasters may now pursue a dual degree with the Master of Science in Disaster Resilience Leadership. Beginning in Fall 2020 at the Tulane University School of Social Work, the current on-campus only offering of a dual MSW/MS-DRL degree will also be available to those students learning online. 

“Immediately after and for years post event, disasters impact the behavioral health of individuals, families, and communities,” said Dr. Patrick Bordnick, Dean of the Tulane University School of Social Work. “The MSW/MS-DRL combines the School’s top-tier clinical and community-based practice curriculum of our MSW degree with interdisciplinary knowledge in disaster preparedness and management to prepare students to be leaders in their communities locally and around the globe.”

Leading experts in their respective fields provide direct knowledge and experience from living and working in the resilient and culturally diverse city of New Orleans. This is transferable and provides insight applicable to a range of communities and populations.

Over five semesters, students will learn about preparedness pre and post event, disaster management, assessment of psychosocial factors and health, and infrastructures to support individuals and communities. In the program, students take one MS-DRL class each of the first four semesters during their MSW coursework for a total of 15 hours per semester and then one semester of all MS-DRL coursework for 12 hours to complete the dual degree.

Field education is part of the degree, and online dual degree students will gain real-world social work practice within their own communities. They spend three days a week in field instruction for three consecutive semesters after their first semester. MSW/MS-DRL field placements are in agencies that provide social work supervision in a disaster preparedness or response setting.

The online MSW/MS-DRL degrees prepares students to develop, evaluate, and implement disaster preparedness, management, and recovery programs and policies, provide services and resources to enhance well-being and equitable treatment, and instill resilience in the face of future crises and disasters.

“Our alumni work in communities that are affected by and vulnerable to disaster destruction and disruption as well as organizations that focus on all phases of disaster management, including preparedness, response, recovery, and risk reduction,” says Dr. Reggie Ferreira, Director of the Disaster Resilience Leadership Academy. “All of our graduates lead by example and can expect to achieve leadership and upper level management positions.”

This dual degree also provides a strong academic foundation in order to pass social work licensure exams or pursue a doctoral degree.

Those who already have a graduate degree may also pursue a certificate in Disaster Resilience Leadership online. 

For information on the online dual degree, visit our website or email onlinemsw@tulane.edu. Those interested in the certificate only can email msw@tulane.edu.