Advanced study in social work and public health is available through a dual degree program co-sponsored by the School of Social Work and the School of Public Health.
The dual degree M.S.W. and M.P.H. program allows students to earn two degrees with a minimum of 84 credits rather than the 105 credits necessary if the two degrees were pursued separately. This efficiency lowers the overall cost of tuition while also reducing time to earn both degrees.
Program goals
The objectives of this dual degree program are to:
- Prepare graduates to work with individuals, families, groups, communities and/or organizations
- Advocate for social, health care and economic justice in a diverse and multicultural society
- Promote physical and mental health across the life course
Potential benefits offered by participation in the dual degree program include student competency in:
- Advocating for policy change to promote social justice and improve the health of vulnerable populations
- Applying a systems-thinking approach to enhance the delivery of health and social services in a community
- Applying theoretical principles to develop community-based interventions targeting health behavior change and designed to reduce risk factors contributing to poor health outcomes
- Assessing the effectiveness of programs to improve societal conditions and health issues
- Applying research methods to advance the science of health equity
The diplomas for this dual degree program are awarded simultaneously, after completion of the requirements for each degree program. Students receive both degrees upon graduation from VCU.
Student learning outcomes
See each degree program page for student learning outcomes.
Other information
Advising
The student is assigned an adviser from each program to develop a plan of study. Advisers coordinate regarding program curriculum as appropriate. Primarily, the coordination occurs to ensure that M.S.W. students complete a social work field placement that aligns with the requirements of the M.P.H. program. In addition, advisers coordinate guidance to ensure that the M.P.H. integrated learning experience (capstone project), which frequently is based on work of the social work field placement, meets the requirements of the M.P.H. program. Advisers share curriculum sequencing documents for advising students in registration for coursework to ensure consistency and uniformity in their guidance.
Admission requirements
See the individual program pages for admission deadlines and other requirements.
In addition to the general admission requirements of the VCU Graduate School, the School of Social Work has established the following minimum criteria for admission to the 60-credit hour full-time or part-time format:
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
- A cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for all undergraduate course work
- Completion of the following prerequisites: two three-credit courses in the social and behavioral sciences (e.g., psychology, sociology, anthropology, political science, economics), or health sciences, biological sciences or humanities.
Applicants who have not completed all the liberal arts prerequisites may be considered for admission but must have completed the prerequisite courses prior to enrollment and must provide official transcripts to document their completion. Courses may be completed at a community college or four-year institution. In addition to the academic requirements, the applicant must demonstrate commitment to social welfare and social justice. This should be reflected in (1) the professional statement and (2) the applicant’s background, social work employment, internships and volunteer work in community agencies serving vulnerable and/or oppressed populations.
Application procedure
Students may apply to both programs simultaneously and must apply to each program separately. Since admitted students begin the program’s first year exclusively in the M.S.W. curriculum, a student in the social work master’s may also choose to apply to the M.P.H. program while in the first months of the M.S.W. curriculum. Applications to the M.P.H. program are through SOPHAS, which requires a fee; in addition, a supplemental application is required to VCU and also requires a fee. Applications to the M.S.W. program are through VCU’s graduate programs portal and require a fee.
Degree requirements
Students are required to complete a minimum of 48 M.S.W. credit hours and a minimum of 36 M.P.H. credit hours for the dual degree program, so that a student can complete both programs with 84 credits rather than 105 credits to complete the programs separately.
In the standalone M.P.H. program, the curriculum includes 26 credit hours of required core courses, nine credit hours of concentration courses (for either the applied public health concentration or the epidemiology concentration), and 10 credits of electives. Six of the 26 required core courses are applied practice and integrative learning courses, including a three-credit hour capstone project that examines a relevant public health topic.
In the dual degree, these courses within the M.S.W. curriculum count toward the M.P.H. degree:
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SLWK 601 | Human Behavior in the Social Environment I (satisfies M.P.H. elective) | 3 |
| SLWK 606 | Policy, Community and Organizational Practice II (satisfies M.P.H. elective) | 3 |
| SLWK 793 | Specialization Field Instruction I (satisfies EPID 693 in M.P.H.) | 3 |
The standalone M.S.W. program includes 30 credits of generalist course work, 21 credits of concentration courses and nine credits of electives.
These courses within the M.P.H. count toward the M.S.W. degree:
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| EPID 571 | Principles of Epidemiology (satisfies M.S.W. elective) | 3 |
| HCPR 601 | Introduction to Health Policy (satisfies SLWK 710 In M.S.W.) | 3 |
| Applied public health concentration courses | ||
| EPID 600 | Introduction to Public Health (satisfies specialization elective in M.S.W.) | 3 |
| EPID 628 | Public Health Program Planning and Evaluation (satisfies SLWK 709 in M.S.W.) | 3 |
| Epidemiology concentration courses | ||
| EPID 548 | Applied Data Analysis Lab (satisfies SLWK 709 in M.S.W.) | 3 |
| EPID 606 | Epidemiologic Methods (satisfies specialization electivein M.S.W.) | 3 |
| Cancer health equity science concentration | ||
| SBHD 612 | Fundamentals of Cancer Health Equity (satisfied specialization elective in M.S.W.) | 3 |
| SBHD 613 | Community-engaged Research and Cancer Disparities (satisfies SLWK 709 in M.S.W.) | 3 |
Degrees are awarded simultaneously, upon completion of degree requirements for both programs.
Curriculum requirements for the dual degree
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| M.S.W. requirements | ||
| • Generalist courses | ||
| SLWK 601 | Human Behavior in the Social Environment I (satisfies M.P.H. elective) | 3 |
| SLWK 602 | Policy, Community and Organizational Practice I | 3 |
| SLWK 603 | Power, Privilege and Oppression | 3 |
| SLWK 604 | Social Work Practice with Individuals, Families and Groups I | 3 |
| SLWK 605 | Social Work Practice with Individuals, Families and Groups II | 3 |
| SLWK 606 | Policy, Community and Organizational Practice II (satisfies M.P.H. elective) | 3 |
| SLWK 609 | Foundations of Research for Social Work Interventions and Services | 3 |
| SLWK 610 | Human Behavior in the Social Environment II | 3 |
| Field instruction (select one option) | 6 | |
| Generalist Field Instruction I and Generalist Field Instruction II | ||
| Block Generalist Field Instruction | ||
| • Concentration requirements (select one concentration) | 15 | |
Administration, planning and policy practice | ||
| Specialization Research for Understanding and Assessing Social Work Interventions and Services (satisfied by EPID 628, EPID 548 or SBHD 613 in M.P.H. concentration) | ||
| Concentration Social Policy (satisfied by HCPR 601 in M.P.H.) | ||
| Strategies for Social Work Planning and Administrative Practice | ||
| Social Work Planning and Administrative Practice I | ||
| Social Work Planning and Administrative Practice II | ||
Clinical practice concentration | ||
| Mental, Emotional and Behavioral Disorders | ||
| Clinical Social Work Practice I | ||
| Clinical Social Work Practice II | ||
| Specialization Research for Understanding and Assessing Social Work Interventions and Services (satisfied by EPID 628, EPID 548 or SBHD 613 in M.P.H. concentration) | ||
| Concentration Social Policy (satisfied by HCPR 601 in M.P.H.) | ||
| • Field instruction (required for either concentration; select one option) | 6 | |
| Specialization Field Instruction I and Specialization Field Instruction II 1 | ||
| Specialization Block Field Instruction | ||
| Specialization Field Instruction Extended Semesters I and Specialization Field Instruction Extended Semesters II and Specialization Field Instruction Extended Semesters III | ||
| • Electives | 9 | |
| Students may select a minimum of nine credit hours of electives from the M.P.H. concentration of the student's choice. EPID 600 or EPID 606 satisfies three credits toward electives. EPID 571 satisfies three credits of electives toward the MSW. | ||
| M.P.H. requirements | ||
| • M.P.H. core requirements | ||
| BIOS 543 | Graduate Research Methods I | 3 |
| EPID 571 | Principles of Epidemiology | 3 |
| EPID 580 | Public Health Ethics | 1 |
| EPID 593 | Foundations of the Public Health Profession | 2 |
| EPID 604 | Principles of Environmental Health | 3 |
| EPID 693 | Public Health Internship (satisfied by SLWK 793) | 3 |
| EPID 694 | MPH Capstone Project | 3 |
| HCPR 601 | Introduction to Health Policy | 3 |
| IPEC 563 | Interprofessional Complex Care Coordination | 2 |
| SBHD 605 | Introduction to Social and Behavioral Health | 3 |
| • Concentration requirements (select one concentration) | 9 | |
Applied public health concentration | ||
| Introduction to Public Health | ||
| Public Health Program Planning and Evaluation | ||
| Health Disparities and Social Justice | ||
Epidemiology concentration | ||
| Graduate Research Methods II | ||
| Applied Data Analysis Lab | ||
| Epidemiologic Methods | ||
Cancer health equity science concentration | ||
| Cancer Epidemiology | ||
| Fundamentals of Cancer Health Equity | ||
| Community-engaged Research and Cancer Disparities | ||
| • Electives (minimum) | 10 | |
| Select courses according to the area(s) of interest in public health; SLWK 601 and SLWK 606 satisfy six credits toward electives. | ||
| Total Hours | 84 | |
SLWK 793 satisfies EPID 693 in M.P.H. for dual degree students.
The minimum number of graduate credit hours required for this dual degree is 84.
Sample plan of study
Students in the dual M.S.W./M.P.H. program spend the first year immersed in the M.S.W curriculum. Beginning in the fall of the second year, student registration is primarily in the M.P.H. curriculum, with a small proportion of courses in the M.S.W. program. During the third year, students focus on their two-semester M.S.W. final field placement while completing any remaining M.P.H. course work and developing the integrative learning experience requirement for the M.P.H. program known as the capstone project. This project frequently stems from the student’s work in the final year field placement, which is selected with coordination between the two programs to ensure that it aligns with both M.S.W. and M.P.H program expectations.
General sequence of dual degree program (M.P.H. concentration in applied public health)
| Year one | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall semester | Hours | |
| SLWK 601 | Human Behavior in the Social Environment I (satisfies M.P.H. elective) | 3 |
| SLWK 602 | Policy, Community and Organizational Practice I | 3 |
| SLWK 603 | Power, Privilege and Oppression | 3 |
| SLWK 604 | Social Work Practice with Individuals, Families and Groups I | 3 |
| SLWK 693 | Generalist Field Instruction I | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| SLWK 605 | Social Work Practice with Individuals, Families and Groups II | 3 |
| SLWK 606 | Policy, Community and Organizational Practice II (satisfies M.P.H. elective) | 3 |
| SLWK 609 | Foundations of Research for Social Work Interventions and Services | 3 |
| SLWK 610 | Human Behavior in the Social Environment II | 3 |
| SLWK 694 | Generalist Field Instruction II | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Year two | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| BIOS 543 | Graduate Research Methods I | 3 |
| EPID 571 | Principles of Epidemiology (satisfies M.S.W. elective) | 3 |
| EPID 580 | Public Health Ethics | 1 |
| EPID 593 | Foundations of the Public Health Profession | 2 |
| HCPR 601 | Introduction to Health Policy (satisfies SLWK 710 in M.S.W.) | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 12 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| EPID 628 | Public Health Program Planning and Evaluation (satisfies SLWK 709 in M.S.W.) | 3 |
| SBHD 605 | Introduction to Social and Behavioral Health | 3 |
| SBHD 632 | Health Disparities and Social Justice | 3 |
| SLWK 726 | Social Work Practice and Health Care (or other SLWK elective) | 3 |
| MPH elective | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Year three | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| EPID 600 | Introduction to Public Health (satisfies specialization elective in M.S.W.) | 3 |
| IPEC 563 | Interprofessional Complex Care Coordination | 2 |
| SLWK 703 or SLWK 711 | Mental, Emotional and Behavioral Disorders or Strategies for Social Work Planning and Administrative Practice | 3 |
| SLWK 704 or SLWK 712 | Clinical Social Work Practice I or Social Work Planning and Administrative Practice I | 3 |
| SLWK 793 | Specialization Field Instruction I (satisfies EPID 693 in M.P.H.) | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 14 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| EPID 604 | Principles of Environmental Health | 3 |
| EPID 694 | MPH Capstone Project | 3 |
| SLWK 705 or SLWK 713 | Clinical Social Work Practice II or Social Work Planning and Administrative Practice II | 3 |
| SLWK 794 | Specialization Field Instruction II | 3 |
| MPH elective | 1-3 | |
| Term Hours: | 13 | |
| Total Hours: | 84 | |
The minimum number of graduate credit hours required for this dual degree is 84.
General sequence of dual degree program (M.P.H. concentration in cancer health equity science)
| Year one | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall semester | Hours | |
| SLWK 601 | Human Behavior in the Social Environment I (satisfies M.P.H. elective) | 3 |
| SLWK 602 | Policy, Community and Organizational Practice I | 3 |
| SLWK 603 | Power, Privilege and Oppression | 3 |
| SLWK 604 | Social Work Practice with Individuals, Families and Groups I | 3 |
| SLWK 693 | Generalist Field Instruction I | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| SLWK 605 | Social Work Practice with Individuals, Families and Groups II | 3 |
| SLWK 606 | Policy, Community and Organizational Practice II (satisfies M.P.H. elective) | 3 |
| SLWK 609 | Foundations of Research for Social Work Interventions and Services | 3 |
| SLWK 610 | Human Behavior in the Social Environment II | 3 |
| SLWK 694 | Generalist Field Instruction II | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Year two | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| BIOS 543 | Graduate Research Methods I | 3 |
| EPID 571 | Principles of Epidemiology (satisfies M.S.W. elective) | 3 |
| EPID 580 | Public Health Ethics | 1 |
| EPID 593 | Foundations of the Public Health Profession | 2 |
| HCPR 601 | Introduction to Health Policy (satisfies SLWK 710 in M.S.W.) | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 12 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| EPID 620 | Cancer Epidemiology | 3 |
| SBHD 605 | Introduction to Social and Behavioral Health | 3 |
| SBHD 613 | Community-engaged Research and Cancer Disparities (satisfies SLWK 709 in M.S.W.) | 3 |
| SLWK 726 | Social Work Practice and Health Care (or other SLWK elective) | 3 |
| MPH elective | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Year three | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| IPEC 563 | Interprofessional Complex Care Coordination | 2 |
| SBHD 612 | Fundamentals of Cancer Health Equity (satisfies specialization elective in M.S.W.) | 3 |
| SLWK 703 or SLWK 711 | Mental, Emotional and Behavioral Disorders or Strategies for Social Work Planning and Administrative Practice | 3 |
| SLWK 704 or SLWK 712 | Clinical Social Work Practice I or Social Work Planning and Administrative Practice I | 3 |
| SLWK 793 | Specialization Field Instruction I (satisfies EPID 693 in M.P.H.) | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 14 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| EPID 604 | Principles of Environmental Health | 3 |
| EPID 694 | MPH Capstone Project | 3 |
| SLWK 705 or SLWK 713 | Clinical Social Work Practice II or Social Work Planning and Administrative Practice II | 3 |
| SLWK 794 | Specialization Field Instruction II | 3 |
| M.P.H. elective | 1-3 | |
| Term Hours: | 13 | |
| Total Hours: | 84 | |
The minimum number of graduate credit hours required for this dual degree is 84.
General sequence of dual degree program (M.P.H. concentration in epidemiology)
| Year one | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall semester | Hours | |
| SLWK 601 | Human Behavior in the Social Environment I (satisfies M.P.H. elective) | 3 |
| SLWK 602 | Policy, Community and Organizational Practice I | 3 |
| SLWK 603 | Power, Privilege and Oppression | 3 |
| SLWK 604 | Social Work Practice with Individuals, Families and Groups I | 3 |
| SLWK 693 | Generalist Field Instruction I | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| SLWK 605 | Social Work Practice with Individuals, Families and Groups II | 3 |
| SLWK 606 | Policy, Community and Organizational Practice II (satisfies M.P.H. elective) | 3 |
| SLWK 609 | Foundations of Research for Social Work Interventions and Services | 3 |
| SLWK 610 | Human Behavior in the Social Environment II | 3 |
| SLWK 694 | Generalist Field Instruction II | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Year two | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| BIOS 543 | Graduate Research Methods I | 3 |
| EPID 571 | Principles of Epidemiology (satisfies M.S.W. elective) | 3 |
| EPID 580 | Public Health Ethics | 1 |
| EPID 593 | Foundations of the Public Health Profession | 2 |
| HCPR 601 | Introduction to Health Policy (satisfies SLWK 710 in M.S.W.) | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 12 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| BIOS 544 | Graduate Research Methods II | 3 |
| EPID 548 | Applied Data Analysis Lab (satisfies SLWK 709 in M.S.W.) | 3 |
| SBHD 605 | Introduction to Social and Behavioral Health | 3 |
| SLWK 726 | Social Work Practice and Health Care (or other SLWK elective) | 3 |
| MPH elective | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Year three | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| IPEC 563 | Interprofessional Complex Care Coordination | 2 |
| SLWK 703 or SLWK 711 | Mental, Emotional and Behavioral Disorders or Strategies for Social Work Planning and Administrative Practice | 3 |
| SLWK 704 or SLWK 712 | Clinical Social Work Practice I or Social Work Planning and Administrative Practice I | 3 |
| SLWK 793 | Specialization Field Instruction I (satisfies EPID 693 in M.P.H.) | 3 |
| M.P.H. elective | 1-3 | |
| Term Hours: | 12 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| EPID 604 | Principles of Environmental Health | 3 |
| EPID 606 | Epidemiologic Methods (satisfies specialization elective in M.S.W.) | 3 |
| EPID 694 | MPH Capstone Project | 3 |
| SLWK 705 or SLWK 713 | Clinical Social Work Practice II or Social Work Planning and Administrative Practice II | 3 |
| SLWK 794 | Specialization Field Instruction II | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Total Hours: | 84 | |
The minimum number of graduate credit hours required for this dual degree is 84.
Contacts
Katherine Peterman, M.P.H.
M.P.H. education administrator, School of Public Health
petermankb@vcu.edu
(804) 628-2868
Qasarah Bey Spencer, Ed.D.
Director, M.S.W. program
beyqd@vcu.edu
(804) 828-2007
Additional contact
Juan Lu, Ph.D., M.P.H., M.D.
Professor and graduate program director, M.P.H.
jlu1@vcu.edu
(804) 828-9786
Program websites: sph.vcu.edu and socialwork.vcu.edu