I entered the College of Public Health at the University of Georgia in 2018. Since then, I have spent the last two years answering questions like:
The first step was looking into the core values of the two disciplines. The mission of Social Work is rooted in “service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, integrity, and competence” (National Association of Social Workers, 2017). Within Public Health, "professionalism and trust; health and safety; health justice and equity; interdependence and solidarity; human rights and civil liberties; and inclusivity and engagement” are key elements of the values (American Public Health Association, 2019). My interpretation of the disciplines’ ethics and core values are building trust, offering genuine assistance, allowing room for self-determination, and addressing health inequalities. These principles align with my professional values.
- “What is that?”
- “What can you do with that degree?”
- “Will you be working at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)?”
Once I joined the School of Social Work in 2019, the questions shifted from general curiosity about my field to worry and concern. Now, the questions sounded more like:
- “You want to take people’s children?”
- “Why Social Work?”
- “They do not make a lot of money, do they?”
At first, I was just as lost as the individuals asking the questions.
What could I do with a degree in public health and social work?
Public Health is associated with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that conducts top-secret, scientific research related to health; Social Work is associated with the Department of Family and Children's Services (DFCS) that is infamous for being a ‘thief in the night.’ I knew that there had to be more to the fields I had chosen than those two things. So, the search began. I dug into learning more about Public Health and Social Work to be able to prepare responses to the frequently asked questions.
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| Keilondria Robertson MSW/MPH Dec. '20 |
[I would say that these values align with my ‘personal values,’ but an article by Derek Thompson taught me to separate my personal and professional life. That is a post for another day and time.]
The second step in my journey was weighing the benefits and challenges of a dual degree professional. The benefits are obvious: more money, more opportunities for employment, and the ability/skills to analyze a single issue from multiple angles. The challenges of a dual-degree holder are fueled by other people’s perceptions of a dual-degree holder. Others perceive dual-degree professionals as individuals with limited knowledge and opposing views based upon the two complex fields. How can I care about the public (health) and also the well-being of an individual (social work) at the same time? That sounds difficult, right? Not when you have been trained at a prestigious university, like the University of Georgia, though!. I only see the benefits when I think about my life as a dual-degree professional. I think of combining all of my professional aspirations into one career. Public Health is embedded in Social Work, and Social Work is embedded in Public Health.
Finally, the third step was discovering ways to utilize both degrees. I wanted to establish a professional identity that speaks to the skills I have gained from both disciplines. I quickly learned that ‘a’ professional identity is not enough. I need to create multiple professional identities that could be adopted in any job setting. That is how I ‘become’ the professional I want to be (Scanlon, 2011). Utilization of my dual degree depends on the type of job I obtain and the openness of the employers. The designated position will determine which professional identity I tap into more. I discovered that I can be whoever I need to be in either field.
Now that I have completed my journey, I have new responses to the frequently asked questions.
“What is a dual degree?” A dual degree professional is someone with two degrees. When making decisions, the professional considers ethics, frameworks, approaches, and perspectives from both disciplines.
“What can you do with a dual degree?” I can obtain a government job on the local, state, or federal level or be a part of a private organization. Or I can work as a social worker doing clinical work or manage a non-profit organization. Or I can work as a public health professional doing research or work in the community as a health educator. Or I can utilize both degrees in settings that employ public health social workers or customize a new position that combines both of my skill sets.
- “Why Social Work and Public Health?” The two fields allow me to help others (on a micro and macro level) by connecting them to resources and sharing knowledge. I want to work with vulnerable populations to reach optimal health, equality, and equity.
- “People in those fields don’t make a lot of money, do they?” Health is wealth. Helping others is good for your personal health and the general public in the long run. Therefore, I will be wealthy in that sense.
That is what being a dual-degree professional means to me!
-Keilondria Robertson graduated from the MSW/MPH program in December of 2020. Keilondria is currently working as an ORISE Fellow at the CDC. View Keilondria's Linkedin profile.
References
- American Public Health Association. (2019) Public health code of ethics. Retrieved from: https://www.apha.org/apha-communities/member-sections/ethics
- National Association of Social Workers. (2017). Code of ethics of the National Association of Social Workers. Retrieved from: http://www.socialworkers.org/pubs/code/
- Scanlon, L. (2011). ‘Becoming’ a professional. In Becoming a professional: An interdisciplinary analysis of professional learning (pp. 13-32). New York, NY: Springer.
- Thompson, D. (2019). Workism is making Americans miserable. The Atlantic, 24.
