M.S.S./M.P.H. Dual Degree Program
GSSWSR's dual degree program is offered in partnership with Thomas Jefferson University's College of Population Health.
About the Dual Degree Program
Increasingly, the practice of healthcare, especially in serving the neediest populations, depends on community-based multidisciplinary teams of practitioners, researchers, and policy makers who are well grounded in health, social, and legal services.
Bryn Mawr College鈥檚 Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research (GSSWSR) and Thomas Jefferson University鈥檚 College of Population Health (JCPH) are partnering to offer a unique opportunity to complete dual degrees in social work (M.S.S.) and public health (M.P.H.). The Bryn Mawr-Jefferson collaboration acknowledges the long-standing synergy between social work and public health and also recognizes the growing interest among professionals to further their preparation by earning multiple graduate degrees.
Bryn Mawr College鈥檚 M.S.S. program is one of the most respected academic social work programs in the country. Accredited by the Council on Social Work Education鈥檚 Commission on Accreditation, it is fully equivalent to a Master of Social Work (M.S.W.). Jefferson鈥檚 M.P.H. program is nationally accredited through the Council of Education for Public Health. This dual degree offering reflects the mission of both institutions to enhance the wellness and quality of life of individuals, families, and their communities, through the shared commitment to social justice and human rights.
How to Apply
Those interested in the M.S.S./M.P.H. Dual Degree Program must first apply and be accepted to the Bryn Mawr's Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research. Currently enrolled M.S.S. students then apply to Jefferson in their first year of the M.S.S. program by Feb. 1 for Fall entrance the following Fall and apply for financial aid through Jefferson.
Joint degree students will study at both Bryn Mawr College's Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research and Jefferson College of Population Health. The completion of the dual degree takes approximately three years for full-time students.
Current full-time students must first discuss their interest in the JCPH M.P.H. program with their faculty advisor and be recommended for eligibility to apply. Please note that the number of applicants eligible to apply is limited; each academic year, JCPH will make available a partial merit scholarship to an eligible GSSWSR student or recent alumnus (graduated within the past five years from applying) who is accepted into the JCPH M.P.H. program and meets established criteria for this award.
Joint Degree Course Sequence
- Year One: Complete the first year of the M.S.S. curriculum (10 units)
- Year Two: Complete all coursework for the M.P.H. (September to June)
- Year Three: Complete the M.S.S. curriculum while preparing and finishing M.P.H. Capstone Project.
NOTE: M.S.S. Students take a leave of absence from GSSWSR M.S.S. after their first year to complete their M.P.H. coursework at Jefferson in their second year.
Program Requirements
- Completion or satisfactory academic progress toward completion of stipulated coursework for the M.S.S.
- Minimum grade of B or GSSWSR equivalent for all M.S.S. coursework completed at GSSWSR
- Competency in basic statistics, demonstrated by satisfactory completion (grade of B or higher) of undergraduate or graduate coursework in statistics; or passing score on JCPH Basic Statistics Qualifying Test
- Sincere interest and readiness to matriculate into the M.P.H. degree program as demonstrated by personal essay and interview
Career Opportunities
With advanced study in both social work and public health, professionals who complete the dual degree program acquire expanded knowledge and skills that broaden their appeal and value in the workplace. Graduates work in managed care organizations and hospitals, local and state health and welfare departments, federal and voluntary health and social service agencies, community based organizations, medical-legal partnerships, and advocacy coalitions.