Dual degree students join the conversation at third annual state of public health conference

On September 10, 2014, the UGA College of Public Health hosted the third annual State of Public Health Conference.  The conference brings Georgia’s public health professionals together with elected officials, policy makers, academics, and business leaders with the goal of crafting an actionable plan to improve Georgia’s public health outcomes.

Dual degree students Mumbi Mwaura (Dec '14) and Joelle Pettus (May '15) added to this conversation by describing UGA's MSW/MPH program as an innovative approach to public health education.  Their poster, co-authored with Dr. Trina Salm Ward (MSW/MPH Coordinator) and Dr. Trisha Reeves (former coordinator), was well-attended at the conference.

View the poster.

Read more coverage of the third annual State of Public Health conference.

Conversations with Public Health and Social Work Professionals - Rebecca Matthew, PhD, MSW, MPH

Join us on Monday, September 15th, from 12:30-1:15 PM in Tucker Hall Room 328 to speak with Dr. Rebecca Matthew.  Dr. Matthew earned a MPH, but felt the need to return to school to earn a MSW.  She will speak with us about her motivations for going back to pursue her MSW, as well as her views on how the two degrees complement each other.

Please bring your lunch and join us for this exciting discussion!

As background, Dr. Matthew joined the UGA School of Social Work as an Assistant Professor this year.  She grew up in rural Rhode Island and at 17 years old enlisted in the Army in order to earn the means to attend college.  She earned a MPH in 2005, a MSW in 2009, and then went on to earn a PhD in social work in December 2013.  Her research explores the labor conditions of childcare workers, and her teaching engages students in service-learning to assess community service providers and local redevelopment efforts.

Why pursue an MSW/MPH from the University of Georgia?

Why would I want an MSW/MPH?

Graduates with an MSW/MPH degree demonstrate an ability to complete a rigorous program of study that involves trans-disciplinary methods which integrates public health’s focus on prevention and social work’s focus on intervention.  

The MSW/MPH provides students with an interdisciplinary education using biopsychosocial and epidemiological perspectives to address critical health issues at the local, state, national, and international levels.

An MSW/MPH provides graduates with a strong foundation to improve the health and well-being of communities.

The fields of social work and public health complement each other in several ways (Sable et al, 2012):
 
Shared Values:

• Enhancing social, economic and environmental justice 
• Eliminating disparities between and among various populations 
• Focusing on oppressed, vulnerable, and at-risk groups

Shared Theories aimed at understanding how social systems relate to health status:

• Social epidemiology (public health)
• Ecological or person-in-environment (social work)

Shared Practice:

• Family-centered
• Community-based
• Culturally competent
• Coordinated care
• Trans- and inter-disciplinary teams

 

How much could I earn, and what would my job outlook be? 

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2012), in 2010, public health workers (such as health educators and epidemiologists) earned as much as $81,000 per year, with average salaries ranging from $39,000 to $53,000, depending on where they worked.  An increase in demand is estimated in the next 10 years, ranging from 20-37%.

Social work employment (including public health social workers) is estimated to grow by 25% from 2010-2020, faster than the average for all occupations.  Healthcare social worker employment is expected to grow by 34% as the baby boomers age. In 2010, social workers earned up to $71,000 per year (average: $45,300).

An MSW/MPH degree gives you access to positions in both of these fast-growing fields, which could increase your chances of finding employment after graduation.

What can I do with an MSW/MPH? 

Potential employment opportunities include:

• Prevention-oriented clinical practice
• Health education and health promotion
• Health program planning, development, and evaluation
• Health policy analysis
• Management at local, state, national, and international levels
• Public health advocacy
• Research

 

Tell me more about the UGA MSW/MPH program.

The UGA MSW/MPH program is a 91-credit program that can be completed in 2 ½ years (7 consecutive semesters), which is a semester shorter than many of the other dual degree programs. The reason for this is that UGA, the School of Social Work and College of Public Health work together to allow you take social work and public health courses at the same time.  Many other dual degree programs have you alternate between social work coursework one year and public health coursework the following year.

The UGA MSW/MPH Program provides an integrated field placement, allowing you to complete your MPH internship and MSW field placement at the same agency.  

Students in the MSW/MPH can choose either the Clinical Practice or Community Empowerment and Program Development Concentrations for their MSW, and earn a MPH concentrating in Health Promotion and Behavior. 


Where can I learn more?

• Visit our website.
• "Like" us on Facebook.
• Read our blog.
• Contact Dr. Trina Salm Ward, MSW/MPH Program Coordinator and Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work and the Department of Health Promotion and Behavior in the College of Public Health, salmward@uga.edu.

 

How do I apply?

Current MSW or MPH students must apply for admission by November 15, 2014 for first-year MSW students.

For more information on the MPH Admission process, click here.

For more information on the MSW Admission process, click here.








References
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Dept. of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-2013 Edition. (2012). Social Workers. Available at: http://www.bls.gov/ooh/Community-and-Social-Service/Social-workers.htm.

Sable, M.R., Schild, D.S. & Hipp, J.A. (2012). Public Health and Social Work. In S. Gehlert & T. Browne (Eds.), Handbook of Health Social Work (pp. 64-99). Hoboken, NJ: WILEY.

What is Public Health?

What is Public Health?

Public Health is the "science of protecting and improving the health of communities through education, promotion of healthy lifestyles, and research for disease and injury prevention." (1)

What do Public Health professionals do?

Public health professionals implement educational programs, develop policies, administer services, conduct research, and regulate health systems to achieve the goals of preventing disease and injury by promoting healthy lifestyles.(1)

Complementary to social work, public health provides skills and knowledge (such as epidemiology, community-based assessment, and prevention interventions) to provide population-based interventions.

The combination of both disciples helps bridge the gap between practice and research, individual and community, and services and policies.

Where do Public Health Professionals practice?

Similar to social work, public health professionals practice in a variety of settings, including community agencies, hospitals and clinics, private practices, community-based organizations, and public health agencies.

What is a Master of Public Health?

A Master of Public Health (MPH) is a professional degree that equips you to practice public health.  The UGA MPH program of study includes an internship that offers hands-on learning in applying public health competencies.

Students in the UGA MSW/MPH program can pursue the MPH concentrating in Health Promotion and Behavior.

The UGA MPH program is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health.


References

¹ Association of Schools & Programs of Public Health. (2014). What is Public Health [website]:

http://www.whatispublichealth.org/what/