The Master of Social Work/Master of Public Health dual degree program at the University of Georgia has added two areas of concentration: community empowerment and program development within the social work degree, and a gerontology concentration within the public health degree. The options double the choices available to students, who until recently were limited to just a social work concentration in clinical practice and a public health concentration in health promotion and behavior. The concentrations were added in fall 2014 and fall 2015, respectively.
The concentration in community empowerment and program development, or CEPD, 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.
“With the CEPD concentration, students will graduate with strong skills in engaging the community in health promotion and prevention activities,” said Trina Salm Ward, program coordinator.
The concentration in gerontology, administered by the Institute of Gerontology in the College of Public Health, will give students a firm grounding in how aging affects older adults from biological, psychological, and social perspectives.
"UGA's Institute of Gerontology is delighted to help prepare students for careers combining the perspectives of social work, public health, and gerontology. Graduates will be highly sought after by the public and private sectors as they will have deep insights into how to address the needs of our growing older population at the local, state, and national levels," said Mary Ann Johnson, interim director of the Institute.
The process of developing both options was intensive, said Salm Ward. Faculty and staff in the School of Social Work and the College of Public Health conducted a careful review of courses to determine any overlap or program issues. The proposed changes were then vetted by curriculum committees in both units before being submitted to the Graduate School, which approved the new concentrations.
“The effort put forth by faculty and staff in creating these additional concentrations demonstrates the strong commitment by both units to building this interdisciplinary program,” said Salm Ward.
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