The Zilber School of Public Health and the Helen Bader School of Social Welfare collaboratively offer a program designed to provide students with theoretical, research- based policy and practice knowledge and accompanying skill sets, to address health inequities and inequalities and respond to the health and well-being needs of communities at the local, regional, national and international arenas.

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Admission Requirements 

Application Deadlines

Application deadlines vary by program, please review the application deadline chart for specific programs. Other important dates and deadlines can be found by using the One Stop calendars.

Admission

Students are admitted to each graduate program separately and based on admission requirements which are consistent with those specified by the UWM Graduate School, the MPH program in the Zilber School of Public Health, and the MSW program of the Department of Social Work.

Credits and Courses

Students accepted into this MPH/MSW program complete the following courses:

Master of Public Health (MPH)

Required Common Core Courses (24-25 Credits)

Required Common Core Courses
PH 702Introduction to Biostatistics3
PH 703Environmental Health Sciences3
PH 704Principles and Methods of Epidemiology3
PH 705Principles of Public Health Policy and Administration3
PH 706Perspectives on Community & Behavioral Health3
PH 708Health Systems and Population Health3
PH 733Overview of Qualitative Methods for Public Health *1
PH 791Leadership in Public Health1
SOC WRK 823Coordinated Public Health and Social Work Field Education **3
PH 800Capstone in Public Health2
Total Credits25
*

Students in the PHP Track take PH 776 Qualitative Approaches in Public Health Policy instead of PH 733. Students in the CBHP Track may take PH 776 Qualitative Approaches in Public Health Policy as an elective instead of PH 733.

**

SOC WRK 823 satisfies the PH 790 Field Experience for MPH/MSW students.

Students specialize in one of the two public health tracks of study:
  • Community and Behavioral Health Promotion
  • Public Health Policy

Community and Behavioral Health Promotion Track (24 credits)

In addition to the common MPH core classes, students complete:

Required Courses
PH 700Structures of Inequality and Population Health3
PH 725Theories and Models of Health Behavior3
PH 726Community Health Assessment3
PH 727Program Planning & Implementation in Public Health3
PH 728Program Evaluation in Public Health3
Electives (see table below)9
Total Credits24
 Community and Behavioral Health Promotion Electives
Methods “S” Electives6
Select two of the following courses:
PH 729Survey Research Methods in Public Health3
PH 776Qualitative Approaches in Public Health Policy3
PH 831Community Engagement and Participatory Research Approaches in Public Health3
Electives 3
Select one of the following courses:
PH 719Social Justice in Public Health3
PH 730Overview of Children with Special Health Care Needs3
PH 740Special Topics in Public Health:1-3
PH 752Public Health and Mental Health3
PH 820Maternal and Child Health Foundations, Policy and Practice3
PH 999Independent Study1-3
Other courses as approved by advisor.

Public Health Policy Track (24 credits)

In addition to the common MPH core classes, students complete:

Required Courses
PH 776Qualitative Approaches in Public Health Policy3
PH 777Quantitative Research Methods for Public Health Policy 3
PH 779Public Health Policymaking and Policy Analysis3
PH 785Principles of Public Health Economics3
Electives (see table below)12
Total Credits24
Public Health Policy Electives
Content Elective3
Select one of the following courses:
PH 700Structures of Inequality and Population Health3
PH 719Social Justice in Public Health3
PH 730Overview of Children with Special Health Care Needs3
PH 752Public Health and Mental Health3
PH 769Critical Perspectives on Nutritional Epidemiology and the Food System3
PH 784Social and Economic Policy as Health Policy3
PH 820Maternal and Child Health Foundations, Policy and Practice3
PH 859Racial/Ethnic Health Disparities in the United States3
ED POL 630GRace and Public Policy in Urban America3
Methods and Practice Elective9
Select three of the following courses:
PH 726Community Health Assessment3
PH 727Program Planning & Implementation in Public Health3
PH 728Program Evaluation in Public Health3
PH 729Survey Research Methods in Public Health3
PH 763Epidemiology for Equity3
ED POL 601Foundations of Community-Based Organizations3
ED POL 602Proposal Writing and Fundraising Skills for Community-Based Organizations3
NONPROF 791Nonprofit Advocacy and Public Policy3
PUB ADM 630Budgeting and Finance in the Public Sector3
PUB ADM 763Scope and Dynamics of Public Administration3
URBPLAN 791Introduction to Urban Geographic Information Systems for Planning3
BUS ADM 755Health Care Administration and Delivery Systems3
BUS ADM 766Marketing for Nonprofit Organizations3
Other courses as approved by advisor.

Total MPH Degree Credits Required: 48-49 Credit Hours

Master of Social Work (MSW)

Foundation Curriculum
SOC WRK 604Social Systems and Social Work Practice3
SOC WRK 662Methods of Social Welfare Research3
SOC WRK 665Cultural Diversity and Social Work3
SOC WRK 705Individual Behavior and Social Welfare3
SOC WRK 708Social Work Methods I: Individuals and Families3
SOC WRK 709Social Work Methods II: Groups, Organizations and Communities2
SOC WRK 721Field Instruction I3
SOC WRK 750Social Welfare Policy Development and Implementation2
Advanced Practice Curriculum
SOC WRK 711Direct Social Work Practice I3
SOC WRK 712Advanced Practice and Leadership in Organizations and Communities3
SOC WRK 795Evaluation of Social Work Practice and Programs3
SOC WRK 851Social Issue and Policy Analysis:3
Field Courses
SOC WRK 722Field Instruction II3
SOC WRK 822Field Instruction IV3
SOC WRK 823Coordinated Public Health and Social Work Field Education3
Electives (see table below)4
Total Credits47

Electives

Choose at least two courses:
SOC WRK 630GFamilies and Poverty2-3
SOC WRK 680GDeath and Dying3
SOC WRK 685GSocial Gerontology3
SOC WRK 690GMindfulness and Community Building3
SOC WRK 753Adult Psychopathology3
SOC WRK 754Child and Adolescent Psychopathology2
SOC WRK 765Social Work Boundaries and Ethics in Professional Practice2-3
SOC WRK 771Development of the Family Over the Life Span3
SOC WRK 774Trauma Counseling I: Theory and Research3
SOC WRK 775Trauma Counseling II: Diagnosis and Treatment3
SOC WRK 791Current Topics in Social Work:1-3
SOC WRK 811Direct Social Work Practice II:3
SOC WRK 818Treatment of Co-Occurring Disorders3
SOC WRK 820Seminar in Social Work Practice:2
SOC WRK 855Practice Skills and Concepts for Aging and Health3
SOC WRK 999Independent Reading in Social Work1-3
Other courses as approved by advisor.

Total Degree Credits Required:

(1) With BSW: 34 cr. (includes 9 cr. satisfied by public health credits) 

(2) Without BSW: 56 cr. (includes 9 cr. satisfied by public health credits) 

Total Credits for Coordinated Degree Program:

(1) With BSW: 73 - 74 cr.

(2) Without BSW: 95 - 96 cr.

The credits for the coordinated program would typically be completed in both programs at the same time, rather than one program after the other. A student not completing the requirements for the coordinated degree program would need to complete all requirements for an individual program in order to receive a degree.

Additional Requirements

Time Limit

Students in the coordinated MPH/MSW degree program must complete all degree requirements within seven years of the first enrollment semester as a degree student.