Program Overview

Social Work, MSW/Public Health, MPH

The Zilber School of Public Health and the Helen Bader School of Social Welfare collaboratively offer a program designed to provide students with theoretical, research-based policy and practice knowledge and accompanying skill sets, to address health inequities and inequalities and respond to the health and well-being needs of communities at the local, regional, national, and international arenas.

Admission Requirements

• Application deadlines vary by program.
• Students are admitted to each graduate program separately and based on admission requirements which are consistent with those specified by the UWM Graduate School, the MPH program in the Zilber School of Public Health, and the MSW program of the Department of Social Work.

Credits and Courses

Master of Public Health (MPH)

• Required Common Core Courses (24-25 Credits):
  • PH 702: Introduction to Biostatistics (3 credits)
  • PH 703: Environmental Health Sciences (3 credits)
  • PH 704: Principles and Methods of Epidemiology (3 credits)
  • PH 705: Principles of Public Health Policy and Administration (3 credits)
  • PH 706: Perspectives on Community & Behavioral Health (3 credits)
  • PH 708: Health Systems and Population Health (3 credits)
  • PH 733: Overview of Qualitative Methods for Public Health (1 credit)
  • PH 791: Leadership in Public Health (1 credit)
  • PH 800: Capstone in Public Health (2 credits)
  • SOC WRK 823: Coordinated Public Health and Social Work Field Education (3 credits)
• Students specialize in one of the two public health tracks of study:
  • Community and Behavioral Health Promotion
  • Public Health Policy

Community and Behavioral Health Promotion Track (24 credits)

• In addition to the common MPH core classes, students complete:
  • PH 700: Structures of Inequality and Population Health (3 credits)
  • PH 725: Theories and Models of Health Behavior (3 credits)
  • PH 726: Community Health Assessment (3 credits)
  • PH 727: Program Planning & Implementation in Public Health (3 credits)
  • PH 728: Program Evaluation in Public Health (3 credits)
  • Electives (9 credits)

Public Health Policy Track (24 credits)

• In addition to the common MPH core classes, students complete:
  • PH 776: Qualitative Approaches in Public Health Policy (3 credits)
  • PH 777: Quantitative Research Methods for Public Health Policy (3 credits)
  • PH 779: Public Health Policymaking and Policy Analysis (3 credits)
  • PH 785: Principles of Public Health Economics (3 credits)
  • Electives (12 credits)

Total MPH Degree Credits Required: 48-49 Credit Hours

Master of Social Work (MSW)

• Foundation Curriculum:
  • SOC WRK 604: Social Systems and Social Work Practice (3 credits)
  • SOC WRK 662: Methods of Social Welfare Research (3 credits)
  • SOC WRK 665: Cultural Diversity and Social Work (3 credits)
  • SOC WRK 705: Individual Behavior and Social Welfare (3 credits)
  • SOC WRK 708: Social Work Methods I: Individuals and Families (3 credits)
  • SOC WRK 709: Social Work Methods II: Groups, Organizations and Communities (2 credits)
  • SOC WRK 721: Field Instruction I (3 credits)
  • SOC WRK 750: Social Welfare Policy Development and Implementation (2 credits)
• Advanced Practice Curriculum:
  • SOC WRK 711: Direct Social Work Practice I (3 credits)
  • SOC WRK 712: Advanced Practice and Leadership in Organizations and Communities (3 credits)
  • SOC WRK 795: Evaluation of Social Work Practice and Programs (3 credits)
  • SOC WRK 851: Social Issue and Policy Analysis (3 credits)
• Field Courses:
  • SOC WRK 722: Field Instruction II (3 credits)
  • SOC WRK 822: Field Instruction IV (3 credits)
  • SOC WRK 823: Coordinated Public Health and Social Work Field Education (3 credits)
• Electives (4 credits)

Total Degree Credits Required:

• With BSW: 34 credits (includes 9 credits satisfied by public health credits)
• Without BSW: 56 credits (includes 9 credits satisfied by public health credits)

Total Credits for Coordinated Degree Program:

• With BSW: 73 - 74 credits
• Without BSW: 95 - 96 credits

Additional Requirements

Time Limit

• Students in the coordinated MPH/MSW degree program must complete all degree requirements within seven years of the first enrollment semester as a degree student.