You want to help individuals and communities address their physical and mental health needs over their entire lifespan. To affect lasting change, you need to understand social and behavioral factors and disparities as well as community-based interventions and public health programming. A dual degree that combines a Master of Social Work with a Master of Public Health in Social, Behavioral, and Population Sciences enables you to discern the most effective, culturally appropriate, and empowering methods for engaging with communities to improve their health and well-being.
TSSW’s innovative learning environment values quality education, research, and leadership. Our program provides:
- Curriculum that understands and serves people and families within their environments
- A focus on research for evidence-based practice
- Opportunities to learn and generate knowledge alongside top-tier faculty in Social Work and Public Health
- Field education with one of over 75 agencies in one of the most unique and diverse cities in the world for on-campus study based in New Orleans
- A supportive and cooperative academic environment
Tulane and its curriculum emphasize noting and building upon individual and community strengths. We teach culturally relevant social work practice (CRSWP) that prioritizes the field’s responsiveness to cultural contexts and enables us to engage in and train students to engage in competent, ethical, community-led assessments and interventions.
ADMISSION INFORMATION GET A GLIMPSE OF THE MSW/MPH EXPERIENCE
A combined Master of Social Work (MSW) and Master of Public Health (MPH) degree is offered through the collaboration of TSSW and the Department of Social, Behavioral, and Population Sciences (SBPS) in the Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine (SPHTM). Through this program, a student can prepare for a career in social work as well as receive training in the methods and practice of public health. The flexibility resulting from both degrees allows the student to fill a professional role in the planning, management and delivery of human services within communities and public health organizations.
MSW/MPH students will acquire both social work practice skills and core public health competencies through successful completion of core coursework in both schools. Upon completion of the program, the graduate should be able to:
- Assess individual and community needs for public health programs
- Demonstrate competence in planning community-based public health programs and research projects
- Implement and manage preventive strategies, interventions and programs at the community level
- Acquire the ability to identify and use various methods of evaluating community-based public health programs
- Communicate and advocate for community health programs and policies
- Serve as a resource person for community-based programs in public health
- Promote cultural competence within diverse community settings
- Utilize clinical social work skills to affect individual and community health behavior change
- Incorporate knowledge of the Public Health core areas of epidemiology, biostatistics, environmental health, health systems management, and the biological, social, and cultural aspects of health and disease in addressing and solving problems
The dual degree MSW/MPH program requires 75 credits in coursework and 15 credit hours in field education for a total of 90 hours. The combined social work and public health practicum equates to three semesters of 316 hours of field work each semester for a total of 948 hours.
The program begins in the fall semester and takes at least five consecutive semesters, including the summer. In the beginning of the program, students take courses primarily in social work, and, as the semesters progress, students take an increasing portion of their courses in public health. The final semester’s coursework focuses solely on public health.
Students interested in this dual degree may refer to the separate requirements of the MSW and MPH in Social, Behavioral, and Population Sciences.
Field Education
Our field education program exposes students to real-world social work and public health practice as well as diverse populations and social issues. Field opportunities are available at agencies in New Orleans and surrounding parishes. Students spend three days a week in field instruction for three consecutive semesters after their first semester.
With Tulane’s high-touch program, students focus and engage in a variety of ways. Required MSW coursework in human behavior, direct and community practice, social justice, data analysis, and program evaluation teach tangible skills to leverage strengths and apply interventions that empower individuals, families, and communities. The MSW program effectively prepares students in accordance with the standards set forth by various regulatory bodies. Our pass rates on Association of Social Work Boards licensure examinations are consistently above the national average.
The MPH program teaches fundamentals of public health, including health systems policy and management, epidemiology, biostatistics, and community training methodologies, and allows students to focus on a particular content area, including community health, gender and sexuality, or social innovation.
You will engage with the dual degree program via team projects and teaching, problem-based learning, creative simulation, field work, and electronic learning exchanges.
MSW course descriptions MPH course descriptions
Students should meet with their respective advisors in both the School of Social Work and Department of Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences to review course requirements and map out the best plan to suit their specific career interests.
Refer to Tulane’s class schedule to determine availability of courses in any given semester.
| Semester 1 = 12 Social Work Credits | ||
|---|---|---|
| Course ID | Course Title | Credits |
| SOWK 7120 | Social Welfare History & Policy | 3 |
| SOWK 7130 | Diversity and Social Justice: Theory and Practice | 3 |
| SOWK 7211 | Human Behavior and the Social Environment I | 3 |
| SOWK 7310 | Intro to Direct Social Work Practice | 3 |
| Semester 2 = 13 Social Work Credits | ||
| Course ID | Course Title | Credits |
| SOWK 7221 | Human Behavior and the Social Environment II | 3 |
| SOWK 7230 | Community Organizing and Policy Advocacy: Theories and Practice | 3 |
| SOWK 7320 | Social Work Practice with Individuals, Families, and Groups | 3 |
| SOWK 7520 | Field Practicum and Seminar 1 | 4 |
| Semester 3 = 13 Social Work Credits | ||
| Course ID | Course Title | Credits |
| SOWK 7345 | Psychopathology and DSM | 3 |
| SOWK 7331 | Advanced Integrated Clinical and Community Practice I | 3 |
| SOWK 7530 | Field Practicum and Seminar 2 | 4 |
| Social Work Elective | 3 | |
| Semester 4 = 13 Social Work Credits | ||
| Course ID | Course Title | Credits |
| SOWK 7341 | Advanced Integrated Clinical and Community Practice II | 3 |
| SOWK 7440 | Integrative Capstone Seminar | 3 |
| SOWK 7540 | Field Practicum and Seminar 3 | 4 |
| Social Work Elective | 3 | |
| Courses to Count Toward MSW/MPH Dual Degree | ||
| Course ID | Course Title | Credits |
| SOWK 7421 | Research for Program Evaluation and Evidence-Based Social Work | 3 |
| SOWK 7431 | Data Analysis and Interpretation for Program Evaluation and Research | 3 |
| SPHL 6050 SPHL 6060 | Biostatistics for Public Health OR Epidemiology for Public Health | 3 |
| GCBH 6340 | M&E of Global Health Programs | 3 |
| GCBH 6030 | Social & Behavioral Aspects of Global Health | 3 |
Contact Us
We are happy to help!
- Within the School of Social Work please contact TSSW Admissions by emailing msw@tulane.edu.
- Within the School of Public Health, please contact Dr. Maya Begalieva by emailing mbegali@tulane.edu.
