MSW Program
Dual Degree and Specializations
Dual Degree Program in Social Work and Public Health
Program Overview
FAQ
Can the program be done part time?
Answer Yes, both schools can create part time options for interested students.
Can I major in anything I want to?
Yes. At the School of Social Work, students choose from Macro or Clinical Methods. At the School of Public Health, there are eight concentrations from which to choose. Certain specialty certificate programs are not available to MSW/MPH students.
Will I finish one degree first, or do I have to "wait" for both until the end?
You may finish one degree first. As soon as you have completed the requirements for a degree from one of the schools, you may apply to graduate and obtain the degree from that school. Most students who start at SSW will finish the MSW after their second year. By studying full time, most students will finish the MPH degree at the end of the third year. Being able to obtain the MSW degree prior to completing the MPH requirements is especially important to clinical social workers who may wish to work part-time or full-time to earn clinical hours required for the LICSW license.
What kinds of jobs do graduates of this program find?
It depends on what you major in, and where you choose to work initially. MSW/MPH graduates are found in all aspects of both social work and public health: program planning; development and evaluation; clinical practice in public health social work; policy analysis and advocacy; health promotion; academia and research settings. For more information, please see the Alumni Directory from each school, which will give current job descriptions of many of our alumni. Also, the MSW/MPH Directory lists over 150 graduates of the BUSSW MSW/MPH Program who are willing to speak with you.
Can I start my studies in either school?
Yes. The program works best if started at the School of Social Work. However, students occasionally begin at SPH, and with careful planning, can be adapted. Students from SPH who think they are interested in the MSW/MPH program should contact the program administrators immediately to ensure they do not take courses that are not required of MSW/MPH students.
If I have an MPH or an MSW from another school, can I still be in the MSW/MPH program in order to save time and money?
No. This program is only for people who do not have either degree. If you do have another master's degree, there are ways to test out of or waive certain courses. Explore these options when you meet with the Admissions Department of the school to which you are applying.
What if I start the program, find that I do not like it, or that I cannot continue? Are there penalties?
No. We have deliberately created a program to meet the needs of adult learners and we recognize that there are times when personal circumstances or professional directions require change. If you apply and decide to not do the program, there is no penalty to you. If you apply, begin the program, but find you cannot continue onto the second degree, there is no penalty. You still receive the first degree as long as you complete the requirements for it. Even as late as the third year, a student may withdraw merely by filling out a form. This rarely happens though, because support, advising and planning help ensure maximum participation and success.
What kind of career advising and program support is there for someone in the program?
You will have an advisor assigned to you at both schools at all times. In addition, the program directors serve as ongoing career and program advisers. Another valuable source of support is the cohort of people with whom you go through the program. Normally, 15-20 people are admitted each year, and approximately 35-40 people are in the program at any time. We meet as a group twice a semester, and students regularly carpool, create study groups, and choose courses together. In addition, active and invested alumni provide information about themselves and access via the alumni directory and listserv. Both schools have their own respective Career Resource Center, in addition to the Martin Luther King center at BU which provides extensive career counseling services to the university community. Please check the MSW/MPH bulletin board outside room 224 for continual information, updates, and job postings.
What about financial aid? Are there special scholarships?
There are no special scholarships at this time. Financial aid is handled on a school basis, and awards depend on where you are in residence. Typically, students spend four full-time semesters in residence with SSW and two full-time semesters with SPH. Students frequently work as employees on research grants, in work-study positions, or full time for the university, which helps with tuition reimbursement or remission, depending on the job. Many jobs include a continuing education benefit that can be used to fund a part of the program or there are paid internships and scholarships available for students to search out and apply for.
Will courses taken at other schools be accepted for transfer credit?
No. You must complete 100 credits at Boston University. The reason for this is that we have already reduced the number of credits you would normally be required to complete "in residence" for these two degrees. We cannot, for professional integrity's sake, allow any more credits to be eliminated from the program.
Can I do this program if I am Advanced Standing?
This is handled on a case-by-case basis. Students interested in doing so are encouraged to contact the program director as soon as possible following admission to SSW in order to discuss options and program plans.
Can I do this program if I am almost finished at one of these schools?
No. Students may apply for a dual-degree program prior to having taken half of their existing program's credits. This is a university regulation. For students at SSW, this means you must apply prior to having earned 33 credits. For students at SPH, this means you must apply prior to having earned 24 credits. Once you have earned more than this in either of these programs, you are not eligible to apply for the MSW/MPH program.
My undergraduate GPA is under 3.0 or my tests scores are not very good; am I automatically disqualified from this program?
No. You must work very hard during the first semester and year to prove to the admissions department that you are capable of graduate level work simultaneously in two graduate programs. In the course of your application, you must address the reasons for previous difficulties or low test scores, and provide evidence that these will not impair your ability to participate in the program. If you are having difficulty in one part of the program, you can be certain that you will not be eligible to apply or gain admittance to the dual-degree program. If you have had academic difficulty in the past you should seriously question whether a dual degree program is appropriate for you, or whether you would benefit from concentrating in one program.
Do I need to have health care experience in order to apply?
No. You should be able to articulate why you want to combine public health and social work, and have some ideas about how you might do that. In addition, you can choose health related field placements so that you can gain important exposure to the field in a workplace-like setting.
Can I take summer classes at either school?
Yes. You may take courses that fit with your program needs, and students often find this is a good way to free up time in an upcoming semester in order to focus on particular interests. However, you cannot shorten the program to less than three years by trying to take a year's worth of courses over two summers. There are residency requirements that do not allow this to occur.
