Dual MPH/MSW Program

Program Highlights & Accreditation

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill offers a dual-degree program enabling students to earn both a Master of Social Work (MSW) and a Master of Public Health (MPH). The MPH component is conferred by the renowned Gillings School of Global Public Health. This program is designed for students to integrate social work principles with public health expertise.

The dual degree particularly complements MPH concentrations related to maternal, child and family health; health equity; social justice and human rights; health policy; global health; and health behavior. Accreditation details for the MPH program are not specified in the provided context.

Delivery Modes

The MPH portion of this dual degree is part of a residential program, indicating an on-campus learning experience. The entire dual-degree program is structured to be completed over a three-year period, suggesting a full-time commitment.

Curriculum Overview

Students in the dual-degree program earn a total of 77 credit hours. The public health component (MPH) accounts for 33 of these credit hours. The remaining 44 credit hours are for the MSW degree (if concentrating in Community Management and Policy Practice); students who opt for the Direct Practice (DP) MSW concentration will need an additional 6-9 credit hours.

The program is typically structured with students registering for social work courses in their first year, and primarily public health courses in their second and third years. Students must select their MPH concentration at the time of application to the Gillings School of Global Public Health.

Admissions Requirements

Prospective students must submit separate applications to both the UNC School of Social Work (for the MSW) and the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health (for the MPH). Acceptance into one program does not guarantee admission into the other.

It is encouraged that applicants have at least one year of work experience after completing their bachelor’s degree before applying. Alternatively, students can apply to the School of Public Health during their first year of MSW coursework. Applications including recommendations from School of Social Work faculty regarding a student's graduate-level capabilities and interest in public health may be viewed more competitively.

This dual-degree program is available to students in either the 2-year or 3-year MSW program tracks but is not open to students in the Advanced Standing MSW program.

Career & Practical Experience

The HTML context mentions field practicum hours required for the MSW Direct Practice concentration. Specific details regarding MPH practicum requirements, career services, or typical career outcomes for MPH graduates from this dual-degree program are not provided in the text.