The Master of Social Work/Master of Public Health dual degree program recently added a new area of concentration. Beginning in fall 2014, students in the program may focus on Community Empowerment and Program Development (CEPD) within the MSW degree. The option broadens the choices available to students, who until now have been limited to just the MSW concentration of Clinical Practice, which prepares students to address the problems of individuals within social networks such as families. The MPH continues to be in the Health Promotion and Behavior concentration, which prepares students to develop health promotion programs on a large scale.
“Students have been asking
for this option because many of them have a more community-focused interest
area,” said Trina Salm Ward, program coordinator.
The CEPD concentration focuses on how to create effective community
organizations or initiatives to address social problems that impact health.
Students will learn how to create supportive environments and initiate action
within a community by developing or strengthening local groups or promoting
changes in legislation. The CEPD concentration has always been available to MSW
students but not to students in the dual degree program.
“The process
of developing this option was intensive,” said Salm Ward. Faculty and staff in
both the School of Social Work and the College of Public Health conducted a
careful review of the courses to determine any overlap or program issues. The proposed change was then vetted by
curriculum committees in both units before being submitted to the Graduate
School, which approved the new concentration in June.
“The effort put forth by
faculty and staff to expand the program demonstrates the strong commitment by both
units to building this interdisciplinary program,” said Salm Ward. “With the
CEPD concentration, students will graduate with strong skills in engaging the
community in health promotion and prevention activities.”
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