Expand your career prospects.
Pursuing a dual degree at Boston University School of School Social Work allows you to build a unique portfolio of expertise. We offer three dual degree programs in collaboration with BU graduate schools in Public Health, Education, and Theology for students with specific interests and career goals. These programs provide interdisciplinary learning and advanced coursework in specific practice methods and/or populations. You’ll also earn a second graduate degree in less time and at lower cost.
Social Work and Public Health
Public health social work is an integrated approach to preventing, addressing, and solving health problems. The discipline draws on both social work and public health theories, frameworks, research, and practice. We are proud to serve as home to the nation’s oldest and largest dual degree in public health and social work. Our graduates emerge with a rich and relevant educational experience, extensive field experience, and the ability to work in many areas of the social service and health care systems.
At a Glance
- Master of Social Work & Master of Public Health
- Program Length: Variable (minimum of 3 years)
- Full-Time or Part-Time: Both
- Location: Charles River Campus (Boston)
Degree Requirements
You’ll complete 65 credits for the MSW degree, which include 14 credits of social work field internship hours and up to 16 credits of MPH core courses, plus you’ll complete 40 credits at the School of Public Health (SPH). This generally takes six semesters of full-time fall and spring coursework, and some students consider summer courses. One degree may be granted in advance of the other, provided all residency, course, and credit requirements have been completed.
At the School of Social Work (SSW), you may major in either Clinical or Macro Practice. Approximately two-thirds pf our dual degree students are Clinical Practice majors. At SPH, you may choose from any number of functional and context certificates, including Health Policy and Law; Program Management; Global Health; Social Justice, Human Rights, and Health Equity; and more.
For more information about the dual degree program, please contact the admissions team at busswad@bu.edu or view our Frequently Asked Questions.
Contact
MSW/MPH Program Director
Luz Marilis López, Clinical Professor, BU School of Social Work
- Email: luzlopez@bu.edu
MSW/MPH Program Advisor
Rick Cresta, LICSW, MPH, Lecturer, BU School of Social Work
- Email: cresta@bu.edu
Social Work & Education
Social workers and educators are deeply involved in working with children and families who are at risk. Our MSW/EdM dual degree option provides opportunities for you to develop skills in both professional arenas and to take leadership in designing and administering creative direct service and programmatic responses to the changing needs of schools, families, and communities.
At a Glance
- Master of Social Work & Master of Education (EdM) in either Special Education or Educational Leadership
- Number of credits for MSW/EdM: 83, minimum of 24 in residence at BU Wheelock College of Education & Human Development and 50 in residence at BUSSW
- Program Length: Variable (minimum of 2.5 years)
- Full-Time or Part-Time: Both
- Location: BUSSW Charles River Campus (Boston)
At the School of Social Work (SSW), you may major in either Clinical or Macro Practice. Our graduates are currently working in a wide variety of positions from early intervention programs to AIDS education, school administration and school social work to YMCA program planning. Some describe themselves as primarily social workers, others as primarily teachers/administrators, and still others as both.
Degree Requirements
The MSW/EdM program usually takes two and a half years of full-time study, and three years full-time if you choose to pursue teacher licensure.
A total of 83 credits is required to complete the MSW/EdM dual degree option.
- You are expected to meet the core requirements of both schools. You’ll find that course savings come from the capacity to use electives in one program to take courses in the other school, and from a limited number of pre-approved courses that count for credit in both schools.
- If you start at the SSW, you’ll find your first-year coursework similar to that of other social work students. In the second year, coursework is commonly done at both schools. If you start at BU Wheelock, you may count some of their education courses toward fulfilling the social work elective requirements.
- With approval of your advisor, almost all education courses are open to you to fulfill your education degree.
The BU Wheelock College of Education & Human Development requires student teaching only if you are seeking teaching licensure. The School of Social Work requires two social work field education internships for all students.
For more information about the dual degree program, please contact the admissions team at busswad@bu.edu.
CONTACT
MSW/EdM Program Coordinators
Jennifer Greif Green, Professor in Special Education, BU Wheelock College of Education & Human Development
- Email: jggreen@bu.edu
- Phone: 617-353-3253
Jeffrey Young, Master Lecturer and Program Director of the Educational Leadership & Policy Studies, BU Wheelock College of Education & Human Development
- Email: jmy@bu.edu
- Phone: 617-353-3519
Nina Aronoff, Clinical Associate Professor, BU School of Social Work
- Email: naronoff@bu.edu
Social Work & Theology
Since 1980, BU School of Social Work (SSW) has hosted a dual degree program with BU School of Theology (STH) in order to support social work students seeking to add a faith dimension to their social work education.
At a Glance
- Master of Social Work & Master in Theological Studies (MTS) or Master of Social Work & Master in Divinity Studies (MDiv)
- Program Length: Variable (typically 3 years for MSW/MTS and 4 years for MSW/MDiv)
- Full-Time or Part-Time: Full-Time
- Location: Charles River Campus (Boston)
Degree Requirements
At the SSW, you may major in either Clinical or Macro Practice. In the third and fourth semesters at SSW, approved elective course credit exchanges between the dual degree programs are possible. MSW degree requirements remain the same for both STH degree options.
The STH degree requirements vary and you can learn more from the BU Bulletin. For MDiv students with practicum requirements at both schools, the field education departments of both schools make every effort to find practicum sites permitting both social work and theology-related practice and supervision. In this way, credit toward each degree’s practice education requirements might be earned simultaneously, depending on availability of sites.
For more information about the dual degree program, please contact the admissions team at busswad@bu.edu.
Program Plans
For students who matriculated Fall 2025 or later:
For students who matriculated before Fall 2025:
Contact
MSW/Theology Dual Degree Program Director
Hope Haslam Straughan, Clinical Associate Professor, BU School of Social Work
- Email: hopehs@bu.edu
Want to Learn More?
Do you have questions about dual degrees? Contact our admissions team by clicking the button below.