MPH/MSW Dual Degree
“I think trauma is the link between the majority of the work that social workers and public health practitioners do. If you work with people, you work with trauma; that’s just how it is, whether you’re a counselor or a health policy maker." - Lauren Kroening, MPH/MSW '16
Our MPH/MSW program incorporates a public health perspective into social work practice and enables students to earn both a Master in Public Health (MPH) and a Master of Social Work (MSW). This collaborative program with the UB School of Public Health and Health Professions reduces the amount of time and credits compared to completing both programs separately.
Course of Study Options
The MPH/MSW dual-degree offers two program options:
- A three-year MPH/MSW program, for students with a Bachelor's degree in any subject
- A two-year MPH/MSW Advanced Standing program, for students with a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree
Both MPH/MSW course of study options are full-time only. While there is a reduction in total credit hours for the dual degree program, you must meet all other requirements for both degree programs.
Choose Your Public Health Area of Focus
You can concentrate your area of public health focus with two program options:
Health Services Administration explores how to assess population health needs, formulate policies and interventions, and assure the effectiveness of community programs and services.
Community Health and Health Behavior explores the actions of individuals, groups and organizations from a scientific perspective to promote health.
MPH/MSW Curriculum (3 Year)
The MPH/MSW options are for students with bachelor degrees from all undergraduate majors.
The tracks below show the program beginning in the School of Social Work, however, students can begin the program in the School of Public Health and Health Professions if they wish, in which case, the first and second years would be switched.
The curriculum shown below is effective for all students matriculating Fall 2020 and later.
MPH Health Services Administration/MSW
First Year
Second Year
Fall Semester
EEH 501 Principles of Epidemiology (or EEH 500 Intro to Epidemiology in the spring semester)
EEH 530 Introduction to Health Care Organization*
STA 527 Statistical Analysis I
CHB 501 Study of Health Behavior*
EEH 536 Healthcare Policy in the U.S.
EEH 590 Leadership, Collaboration and Negotiation in Public Health (2 cr.)
CHB 507 Public Health Professionalism and Teamwork (1 cr., take fall or spring)
Spring Semester
EEH 500 Intro to Epidemiology (or EEH 501 Principles of Epidemiology in the Fall semester)
EEH 520 Biological Basis of Public Health
EEH 538 Introduction to Healthcare Economics
EEH 550 Environmental Health
CHB 590 Contemporary Issues in Public Health (1 cr.)
CHB 507 Public Health Professionalism and Teamwork (1 cr., take fall or spring)
MPH Elective
Third Year
Spring Semester
SW 553 Field Instruction IV
SW 569 Community Social Work*
EEH 630 Culminating Project
EEH 544 Field Training
SW Elective (choose one)
*These courses count towards the degree requirements for both the MPH and MSW degrees.
MPH Community Health and Health Behavior/MSW
First Year
Second Year
Fall Semester
EEH 501 Principles of Epidemiology (or EEH 500 Intro to Epidemiology in the Spring semester)
EEH 530 Introduction to Health Care Organization*
STA 527 Statistical Analysis I
CHB 501 Study of Health Behavior*
EEH 590 Leadership, Collaboration and Negotiation in Public Health (2 cr.)
CHB 507 Public Health Professionalism and Teamwork (1 cr., take fall or spring)
Spring Semester
EEH 500 Intro to Epidemiology (or EEH 501 Principles of Epidemiology in the Fall semester)
CHB 502 Health Behavior Change
CHB 505 Applied Statistics for Public Health
EEH 520 Biological Basis of Public Health
EEH 550 Environmental Health
CHB 590 Contemporary Issues in Public Health (1 cr.)
CHB 507 Public Health Professionalism and Teamwork (1 cr., take fall or spring)
Third Year
Fall Semester
Spring Semester
SW 553 Field Instruction IV
SW 569 Community Social Work*
CHB 630 Culminating Project
CHB 544 Field Training
SW Elective (choose one)
*These courses count towards the degree requirements for both the MPH and MSW degrees.
MPH/MSW Advanced Standing Curriculum (2 Year)
The MPH/ MSW Advanced Standing tracks are for students with a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree only. View apply page for additional eligibility requirements.
Advanced Standing students must begin the program in the School of Public Health and Health Professions.
The curriculum shown below is effective for all students matriculating Fall 2020 and later.
MPH Health Services Administration/ MSW Advanced Standing
First Year
fall semester
EEH 501 Principles of Epidemiology (or EEH 500 Intro to Epidemiology in the spring semester)
EEH 530 Introduction to Health Care Organization*
STA 527 Statistical Analysis I
CHB 501 Study of Health Behavior*
EEH 536 Healthcare Policy in the U.S.
EEH 590 Leadership, Collaboration and Negotiation in Public Health (2 cr.)
CHB 507 Public Health Professionalism and Teamwork (1 cr., take fall or spring)
Spring Semester
EEH 500 Intro to Epidemiology (or EEH 501 Principles of Epidemiology in the Fall semester)
EEH 520 Biological Basis of Public Health
EEH 538 Introduction to Healthcare Economics
EEH 550 Environmental Health
CHB 590 Contemporary Issues in Public Health (1 cr.)
CHB 507 Public Health Professionalism and Teamwork (1 cr., take fall or spring)
MPH Elective
Summer Semester
Second Year
Fall Semester
SW 542 Perspectives on Trauma and Human Rights
SW 552 Field Instruction III, 4 credits*
SW 555 Field Seminar (0.5 credit)
SW 564 Administration and Management*
Advanced Interventions (Choose one)
Spring Semester
SW 553 Field Instruction IV
SW 555 Field Seminar (0.5 credit)
SW 569 Community Social Work*
EEH 630 Culminating Project
EEH 544 Field Training
SW Elective (choose one)
*These courses count towards the degree requirements for both the MPH and MSW degrees.
MPH Community Health and Health Behavior/ MSW Advanced Standing
First Year
Fall Semester
EEH 501 Principles of Epidemiology (or EEH 500 Intro to Epidemiology in the Spring semester)
EEH 530 Introduction to Health Care Organization*
STA 527 Statistical Analysis I
CHB 501 Study of Health Behavior*
EEH 590 Leadership, Collaboration and Negotiation in Public Health (2 cr.)
CHB 507 Public Health Professionalism and Teamwork (1 cr., take fall or spring)
Spring Semester
EEH 500 Intro to Epidemiology (or EEH 501 Principles of Epidemiology in the Fall semester)
CHB 502 Health Behavior Change
CHB 505 Applied Statistics for Public Health
EEH 520 Biological Basis of Public Health
EEH 550 Environmental Health
CHB 590 Contemporary Issues in Public Health (1 cr.)
CHB 507 Public Health Professionalism and Teamwork (1 cr., take fall or spring)
Summer Semester
Second Year
Fall Semester
SW 542 Perspectives on Trauma and Human Rights
SW 552 Field Instruction III, 4 credits*
SW 555 Field Seminar (0.5 credit)
SW 564 Administration and Management*
Advanced Interventions (Choose one)
MPH Elective
Spring Semester
SW 553 Field Instruction IV
SW 555 Field Seminar (0.5 credit)
SW 569 Community Social Work*
CHB 630 Culminating Project
CHB 544 Field Training
SW Elective (choose one)
*These courses count towards the degree requirements for both the MPH and MSW degrees.
Learn More
Question?
Email us!
SWinfo@buffalo.edu
![Meet Rachel Daws, MPH/MSW '17 [1:35 min]](http://img.youtube.com/vi/tJ5d81p2bkA/mqdefault.jpg)
![Learn About Rachel's Trip to India [1:48 min]](http://img.youtube.com/vi/RNZGYxTn86g/mqdefault.jpg)