The Master of Social Work (MSW) and Master of Public Health (MPH) dual degree is a collaboration between the University of Denver and the Colorado School of Public Health at the Anschutz Medical Campus. The fields of public health and social work share much in common. Both strive to improve health and social functioning, with public health focusing primarily on physical health trends and epidemiology and social work focusing primarily on social and emotional wellness and behavioral health. What can you do with an MSW/MPH dual degree? Medical and public health services, substance use prevention and treatment, and community and behavioral health are just a few of the options.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, GSSW now offers additional start dates and program tracks for the Two-Year and Advanced-Standing Denver Campus MSW Programs. Learn More and Apply Now.
Want to learn more about the MSW and MPH dual-degree program?
Your Career Options
With an MSW and MPH dual degree, you’ll graduate with a competitive, cross-disciplinary skill set that will give you an advantage in the job market. Career options include:
- Developing public health interventions
- Creating policy around issues such as substance use and behavioral health
- Developing and implementing public health prevention programs and campaigns
- Providing leadership in managed care organizations, hospitals, health care agencies, community-based organizations and coalitions
- Providing health education
- Collaborating with local and state systems to improve public health
- Advancing health equity
Featured Courses
SOWK 4401
Integrated Health Care: Models and Practice
About this Course
This course provides an overview of the knowledge, skills and theory of integrated health care social work practice, where physical and behavioral health services are most often provided in a primary care medical environment. Students will learn roles/functions of the behavioral health professional and their effectiveness as a member of the collaborative care team. Incorporating knowledge of evidence-based practice models of care and behavior change theory, they will increase their practice abilities to effectively work at an advanced level of skill as an integrated care behavioral health provider. Strategies and skills in patient engagement, motivational enhancement and advocacy will be taught through case studies and group activities. Cultural competency and effective care planning in an integrated healthcare environment will be emphasized.
SOWK 4645
Health Care Policy
About this Course
This policy course provides an overview of health care policy as it is relevant to social work practice in multiple health and behavioral care settings. With the advent of health care reform and the implementation and operationalization of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), there are rapidly changing policy issues related to this innovative integration and delivery of health care services. Students in this course critically analyze the practice of policy in this new and quickly evolving service arena. This course explores key health policy strategies to foster integrated delivery system development and sustainability in line with health policy goals to reduce cost of care, improve population health and improve quality of integrated care services, with special emphasis on the integration of primary care, behavioral health services and wellness/health promotion initiatives. Strategies for students to influence policies and promote change in the interest of the individual/family/community, agency/organization and the communities they serve are presented. Critical thinking skills in developing and analyzing proposals to improve integrated health policy are encouraged. The course builds on policy content offered in the professional foundation year and links policy to practice and research skills.
SOWK 4723
Social Work in Health
About this Course
This course is designed to explore and develop advanced social work knowledge, skills and practice in diverse health care settings. It includes an examination of the social work role on interdisciplinary teams and how to impact change in the health care system and support positive health outcomes for patients and their families. There is an emphasis on patient and family-centered care and interprofessional collaborative practice to reflect social work values in various health settings by focusing on health literacy, evidence-based clinical interventions, and responsive multi-cultural practice for acute and chronically ill patients and their families across the lifespan. Modules include content on bioethics, trauma-informed care, grief and loss, self-compassion, and special contemporary topics relevant to a social justice approach to advance health and well-being.
Learn more about the MSW and MPH dual-degree curriculum.
Key Faculty
Jessica Zaslav
Assistant Professor of the Practice, Field Faculty; Associate Director of Field Ed
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