MSW/MPH Dual Degree
Develop the skills to address the complex issues that drive health equity.
EXPAND YOUR OUTLOOK WITH THE MSW/MPH DUAL DEGREE
Social inequities — such as access to education, composition of neighborhoods and availability of safe public spaces — can drive health disparities. This relationship is so strong that there is a term for these influences: social determinants of health.
The Master of Social Work/Master of Public Health dual degree integrates public health, social justice and policy to address this complex relationship on local, state, national and international scales. MSW/MPH graduates are uniquely equipped to work at the intersection of social and environmental risk, and transform the health and well-being of individuals, families and communities.
MSW/MPH Dual Degree
Financial Aid
Support
Information
MSW/MPH students take 33 credit hours in social work and 34 credit hours in public health. An additional 18 credit hours are counted toward the completion of both degrees.
Within 33 MSW credit hours, students complete two practica and have opportunities to personalize your curriculum toward your concentration, with coursework such as Practice with Organizations and Communities; Designing Sustainable Social Policies and Programs; and Substance Use Disorders.
Within 34 MPH credit hours, students complete one practicum and coursework such as Gender, Poverty and Global Health; Public Health and the Built Environment; and Health Administration and Policy.
Students take 18 credit hours of MSW/MPH equivalent courses, which integrate issues of social work and public health, including Social Justice and Human Diversity; and Research Methods.
MSW/MPH students have three practicum opportunities. During practica, students apply the knowledge and skills learned in the classroom in real-world settings, as well as connect with outstanding professionals within their area of interest. Our diverse list of national and international partner organizations offers students flexibility when choosing their practicum site. MSW/MPH students have completed practica at locations including:
- Centerstone
- St. Louis Regional Health Commission
- St. Louis Integrated Health Network
- Washington University Division of Public Health Sciences
- E3 Nutrition Lab
In the fall and spring semesters, tuition and fee charges are based on your primary, full-time division of study, referred to as your “Prime Division.” Within the dual-degree, you will spend three semesters Prime to MSW Program, during which times you will pay tuition according to the MSW tuition structure and are eligible to receive MSW scholarships. For three semesters, you are Prime to the MPH program, during which time you will pay tuition according to the MPH tuition structure and are eligible to receive MPH scholarships.
Tuition for summer session is paid on a per-credit-hour basis.
We remain a student-centered institution and welcoming community that will guide you in your academic, personal and professional growth, and we are dedicated to connecting each student with the resources they need to thrive.
An Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion fosters an inclusive environment and promotes dialogue among all students. Our Communication Lab and Stat Lab offer support in critical areas of your academic work. The innovative Career Services team prepares you to navigate the job market successfully with one-on-one coaching, specialized workshops and networking events. As well, our three-tiered advising system ensures you have faculty and administrative guidance throughout your program.
Those interested in the MSW/MPH dual degree must apply to both programs separately. For both programs, admissions and scholarship decisions are based primarily on a review of the following:
- Commitment to the mission of the Brown School
- Undergraduate GPA
- Additional academic work
- Specialized training relevant to the program
- Human service-related experience
- Leadership experience or potential
- Ability to think critically
- Recommendations from academic and professional references
MSW/MPH Dual Degree Chair
“The MSW/MPH degree offers students a unique opportunity to integrate both disciplines to understand issues from an individual to population level while addressing social determinants and some of the most challenging issues facing the world today. Using a social justice and equity framework, students develop theoretical understanding, knowledge, and practice skills essential to advance social work and public health across diverse settings.”
—Ragini Maddipati
Lecturer, Chair of the MSW/MPH Dual Degree
“The Brown School dual MSW/MPH program equipped me with the knowledge and practical tools needed to address social and structural barriers to health and well-being—and I was ready to work on finding meaningful solutions to eliminate health disparities and improve health outcomes for vulnerable populations.”
—JACQUELYN COATS, MSW/MPH ’13
COATS IS NOW A PHD STUDENT AT THE BROWN SCHOOL, FOCUSED ON HEALTH INEQUITIES IN OLDER BLACK ADULTS.
