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The University of South Florida offers a dual-degree program with a clinical social work concentration combined with a public health concentration in either Maternal & Child Health OR Behavioral Health . The MSW and the MPH programs were developed as mandated by the Florida legislature to respond to the public health needs of the state. The dual-degree program was initiated in 1986 and produced its first graduate in 1988.
Social Work is an essential component of both maternal and child health as well as behavioral health. The combination of degrees in public health and social work ideally equips graduate students to prepare for careers in both social work and public health settings with the ability to fill clinical, administrative, and evaluative roles, which positively affect the lives of women, children, and various populations-at-risk in a changing society.
For social work students seeking the dual-degree, expanded study in public health encourages a well-balanced macro-micro orientation to clinical practice. Such expansion can equip the social work student with specific skills that result in comprehensive and effective client interventions in health care settings. The fundamental methodological tools of public health, such as biostatistics, epidemiology, and health management and evaluation, further assist the social worker in targeting the needs of individuals and communities. The MPH / MSW dual-degree program is a two-and-a-half to three year, full-time course of study.
- The Maternal and Child Health Concentration prepares health professionals and individuals in related fields for leadership roles in community based organizations that focus on major public health problems of women, children and families, especially among culturally diverse and underserved populations. Using multidisciplinary approaches, students develop analytical, advocacy, programmatic and evaluative skills to address health disparities, and to emphasize health promotion and disease prevention among populations in need. Areas of programmatic focus include child health, women's health, childhood injury, family and community violence, children with special needs, and others. (Contact is Martha Coulter, DrPH, email mcoulter@health.usf.edu ). Find the MCH concentration at http://health.usf.edu/publichealth/mphmch.html .
- The Behavioral Health Concentration is concerned with the study of mental disorders and substance disorders in community populations. The focus areas include children's mental health services, community-based prevention, evaluation and accountability, evidence-based practice in behavioral health, homelessness, multi-cultural issues in mental health, and epidemiologic issues in mental disorders, including co-occurring disorders. (Contact is Bruce Levin , MPH, DrPH, email Levin@fmhi.usf.edu ). Find the Behavioral Health concentration at http://health.usf.edu/publichealth/cfhbehavioralmph.html .
Public Health:
It is recommended that students take some Public Health courses prior to admission to the dual-degree program. This reduces stress related to logistical conflicts in course scheduling. These courses can be taken prior to full admission to the College of Public Health and before acceptance to the dual-degree as the College of Public Health allows students to transfer in a maximum of 12 credits taken before admittance to a course of study.
Students in the behavioral health concentration are required to take the following two courses as prerequisites if they do not have a strong public health background (to be determined by faculty advisor):
PHC 4100 Introduction to Public Health (3)
HSC 4551 Survey of Human Disease (3)Students in the maternal and child health concentration are required to take the following two courses as prerequisites if they do not have a strong public health background (to be determined by faculty advisor):
PHC 4100 Introduction to Public Health (3)
HSC 4579 Foundations of Maternal and Child Health (3)
Social Work advanced standing students may also wish to take public health courses the fall before social work courses begin. It is recommended that students take two of the Public Health Core Courses immediately upon admission:
PHC 6000 Epidemiology (3)
PHC 6050 Biostatistics I (3)
Please refer to the Maternal and Child Health Concentration page (http://health.usf.edu/publichealth/mphmch.html) or the Behavioral Health Concentration page (http://health.usf.edu/publichealth/cfhbehavioralmph.html) for specific Information on the requirements for individual concentrations in the College of Public Health.
Students requesting waivers for any courses must meet with their assigned advisors to present their case.
Application for the Dual Master's Degree
Students may apply to enter the dual masters program by applying to both programs simultaneously (indicating this intention on their application forms), or may add Social Work after admission to the Public Health Program, or add Public Health after admission to the Social Work Program. Students applying to the College of Public Health need to apply through SOPHAS (see the college of Public Health Admissions page at http://health.usf.edu/publichealth/degreereqs.html). Applications for the Dual Master's Degree may be obtained from the Academic and Student Affairs at the College of Public Health . The application should be signed by the MSW Program Chair at the School of Social Work (813-974-1372) and then returned to the Academic and Student Affairs Office in Room 1133. The application process is coordinated between the School of Social Work and the College of Public Health. If the student is already in the Public Health Program additional letters of recommendation may be needed for the application to Social Work.
Social Work students adding Public Health to their dual degree program should include a statement that discusses how the dual degree program would meet the student's academic and career goals. The statement should be the personal essay on their SOPHAS application. In choosing which program to apply to first, students should take into consideration the following: Requirements in Social Work for admission are different from those in Public Health; admission to one program does not guarantee admission to the other; and of course, the student should consider her or his individual interests and and career plans.
Admission requirements for MSW
Admission to the MSW program is a two-part procedure.
Part 1
Applications are made first to Graduate Studies of the University. There are application forms available for this purpose from the Graduate Studies at http://admissions.grad.usf.edu/prospective/Graduate_Application.html . Admission to one program does not guarantee admission to the dual-degree. Applicants must meet at least the following university criteria. Check full criteria at the Graduate School Site at http://admissions.grad.usf.edu/prospective/criteria2.html : 1. Have earned a "B" (3.0) average in all upper divisional baccalaureate studies attempted while registered.
2. Submit Graduate Record Examination scores, no more than five years old, to the Graduate Admissions Office. The University requires a total verbal-quantitative score of 1000 or a "B" (3.0) average in the last 2 years of baccalaureate work.
3. Submit two official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate course work attempted and/or completed.
Part II
Admission Criteria for the Master of Social Work Program (which is located at http://socialwork.usf.edu/msw/admissions/ ) includes: 1. A completed application form to the School of Social Work in addition to the above mentioned Graduate Admissions Office form.
2. Previous social service related experience; a year of related experience is preferred, but not required.
3. References from previous supervisors, faculty or advisors.
4. A 500-word biographical sketch.
5. An interview with the Social Work faculty member may be required. Additionally, all applicants must attain a liberal arts background, which is defined as the current State of Florida University System general education requirements:
- 6 hours English composition
- 6 hours Humanities
- 6 hours Quantitative Math (courses such as computer operations, statistics, or logic of numbers may be acceptable substitutes)
- 6 hours of Natural Sciences (one of which must be Human Biology or an equivalent such as: Food and Drugs, Human Sexuality, or Sex, Reproduction, and Population)
- 6 hours Social Sciences or their equivalent
Full-time students are admitted to the MSW program in the fall semester. Applicants are urged to check the current University catalogue for admission dates. Advanced standing students can be admitted in the summer and spring. NOTE: Social work students who are interested in becoming dual master's students should apply to the Public Health portion of the dual-degree program during their first semester and before starting their research project or field placement. It is possible to enter during the second semester but when beginning the research project in social work; the Public Health advisor should be consulted. Failure to do so may lead to additional course work. To maintain good academic standing, a minimum of a 3.0 GPA in each program is required.
Admission requirements for MPH
Students applying to the College of Public Health need to apply through SOPHAS (see the college of Public Health Admissions page at http://health.usf.edu/publichealth/degreereqs.html)
To be considered for admission, a first-time graduate student or a student transferring from another graduate program should meet the following minimum
College of Public Health criteria:
1. Applicants must have a Bachelor's degree or equivalent from a regionally accredited university. 2. All applicants, except those with advanced degrees requesting a waiver as noted below, must take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or an equivalent measure approved by the Board of Regents within five years preceding application. 3. MPH requirements include an earned "B" average (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) or better in all work attempted while registered as an upper division (baccalaureate degree) student OR a minimum GRE Verbal score of 500 and minimum GRE Quantitative score of 550. 4. Prerequisite courses, HSC 4551 Survey of Human Disease and HSC 4203 Introduction to Public Health, or their equivalent knowledge are required and may be taken after admittance to the College.
COURSE WORK
Master of Public Health Course WorkMaster of Social Work Course Work
SOW 6105 Foundations in Human Behavior * (3)
SOW 6114 Individual Growth and Development Theory (3)
SOW 6124 Theoretical Perspectives on Mental Dysfunctioning (3)
SOW 6126 Theoretical Perspectives on Physical Dysfunctioning (2)
SOW 6235 Foundations of Social Welfare Policy * (3)
SOW 6236 Social Welfare Policy Analysis and Design (3)**
SOW 6405 Foundations of Social Work Research and Statistics * (3)
SOW 6425 Clinical Research (2) SOW 6426 Field Research I (1)
SOW 6427 Field Research II (1)
SOW 6305 Fundamentals of Social Work Practice * (3)
SOW 6348 Clinical Practice Perspectives on Race and Culture (2)
SOW 6342 Individual, Family and Group Treatment I (3)
SOW 6362 Individual, Family and Group Treatment II (4) SOW 6368 Individual, Family and Group Treatment III (3) SOW 6375 Macro Practice Seminar (3) SOW 6534 Field Instruction I (3)
SOW 6535 Field Instruction II (6)
SOW 6536 Field Instruction III (4)
>> Approved electives (6) ***TOTAL HOURS: 60
* First semester foundation courses may be waived for students holding a BSW.
** PHC 6102 Principles of Health Policy and Management may be substituted for SOW 6236, Social Welfare Policy Analysis and Design
*** Public Health Courses may be taken as 6 hours of Social Work Electives.
For Both ConcentrationsRefer to the Maternal and Child Health Concentration for course work details.
- Foundation Courses in Social work, 6105, 6405, or 6235 may substitute for PHC 6410 Social and Behavioral Sciences Applied to Health.
- Social Work Courses may be taken as 3 hours of Public Health approved electives.
- Field Placement for MPH is usually combined with MSW clinical placement & Special Project for MPH is usually combined with MSW special project.
- Public health courses with a clinical content may count toward Social Work licensure, but the Director of the School of Social Work must first approve them.
Refer to the Behavioral Health Concentration for course work details.
- PHC 6410 Social and Behavioral Sciences Applied to Health may be waived for students with extensive social work, psychology, or counseling backgrounds
Field Placement: PHC 6945 Supervised Field Experience (Public Health - see http://health.usf.edu/publichealth/academicaffairs/fe/) is usually combined with the Social Work clinical placement. The placement is handled primarily through the Social Work Department, with prior consultation with the Public Health advisor. The dual-degree program is designed to afford students an opportunity to learn a more holistic interdisciplinary approach to planning services particularly in maternal child health settings. Students enrolled in the dual-degree program will take three semesters of field placement, in accord with the requirements of the MSW program.
Research Project : The student should consult with the Public Health and Social Work advisor before beginning the joint research project. Work on the research project is most often done simultaneously with the field placement.
Integrative Seminar: This seminar is usually taken in the second year of the social work program but may be taken later. This one-hour seminar, which primarily focuses on integrating Public Health and Social Work, is required for all dual master's students.
A Comprehensive Core Exam is also required before completion of the MPH portion of the program.
Important Department and Faculty Links
MPH: Department of Community & Family Health Faculty at http://hsc.usf.edu/publichealth/cfh/faculty+listing.html College of Public Health Contact Information at http://health.usf.edu/publichealth/aacontacts.html
USF Louis de la Parte Faculty (Florida Mental Health Institute)
Armstrong, Mary I., MSW, PhD armstrong@fmhi.usf.edu Becker, Marion RN, PhD mbecker@fmhi.usf.edu Boothroyd, Roger A. PhD boothroyd@fmhi.usf.edu Clark, Colleen PhD cclark@fmhi.usf.edu Friedman, Robert M. PhD friedman@fmhi.usf.edu Hanson, Ardis MLS hanson@fmhi.usf.edu Hernandez, Mario PhD hernandez@fmhi.usf.edu Levin, Bruce Lubotsky, MPH, DrPH levin@fmhi.usf.edu Massey, O. Tom PhD massey@fmhi.usf.edu Gregory Teague, PhD Teague@fmhi.usf.edu John C. Ward, Jr., PhD ward@fmhi.usf.edu Jack Zusman, M.D., MPH zusman@fmhi.usf.edu
School of Social Work Faculty at http://socialwork.usf.edu/faculty/
School of Social Work at http://socialwork.usf.edu/
Student Resources
Please look at the following
two websites for information on student resource information.
We have pointed out some specific ones of which we encourage
you to be aware.
- Pubic Health Tuition and Fees and Financial Assistance at http://health.usf.edu/publichealth/financial.html
- Social Work Student Supports at http://www.cas.usf.edu/social_work/studentsupport.html
- Graduate Assistantships: Graduate assistantships are awarded each semester and are available through both the School of Social Work and the Department of Community and Family Health. Graduate assistants may be assigned to assist with research or teaching functions, assist in developing seminars or workshops, or do other work that is related to graduate study as well. Graduate assistants are paid a biweekly stipend and sometimes qualify to receive tuition waivers as well. Students should consult the web sites above, inquire within the department, with the office of field placement, and with individual faculty members about upcoming assistantship openings.
- Maternal-Child Health (MCH) Traineeships: Federally funded traineeships in maternal and child health are available to students admitted to the MPH or Ph.D. programs in maternal and child health within the Department of Community and Family Health. Traineeships provide stipends and/or financial assistance toward tuition. MCH traineeships tend to be competitive awards and the availability of the traineeships is dependent on annual funding. Interested students should hold a degree in an MCH relevant field and have career goals that indicate a commitment to MCH. Applications should be forwarded to students once the application for admission to the graduate school is received. Students should indicate their interest in the traineeship at the time of application.
- Scholarships from the School of Social Work : The Betty Bodde, Margaret Wright, and Wayne Vasey Scholarships are offered by the School of Social Work at various times throughout the year. Each of the three scholarships offers an award up to $500. For more information, contact the School of Social Work at (813) 974-2063.