Academic Programs

Dual Degree Program with Social Work

The joint MSW/MPA degree program offers the student interested in social service administration careers a unique opportunity. The joint degree program permits her or him to develop social work competence as well as the administrative skills and general orientation to the public sector that are necessary for successful functioning in the government or not-for-profit sectors. Joint degree graduates obtain two nationally accredited graduate degrees and typically become administrators in organizations that deliver social services. Graduates of the program have had excellent job opportunities.

The MPA degree program, taken alone, is 45 hours (39 for mid-career professionals for whom the internship is waived). Typically, the dual MSW/MPA degree students take 15 fewer credit hours in social work courses than other MSW students and 12 credit hours less of public administration classes compared to other MPA students. Elective requirements of each program are met by counting coursework taken in the other program. Depending upon whether the student is enrolled in the regular standing or advanced standing MSW program, and also upon how much summer instruction is taken, the total elapsed time for the completion of both degree programs on a full-time basis normally runs between 24 and 33 months. These requirements may change.

In summary, students with advanced standing in Social Work take 67 credit hours for COSA track and 70 credit hours for Direct Practice for the MSW and MPA degrees. Those with regular standing in Social Work take 79 credit hours for COSA track and 82 credit hours for Direct Practice.

APPLICATION PROCESS

A candidate for the joint degree program must apply to both participating degree programs. While the two programs need not be started in the same semester, beginning them simultaneously or a single semester apart will facilitate planning and faculty advising and may save the joint degree student some scheduling problems. There are separate application procedures and admission requirements that must be followed. Students wishing to apply should seek pre-application advice from faculty members in both academic units. Normally, these faculty are Dr. Eleanor Blakely of the Division of Social Work (304/293-3501) and Dr. Gerald Pops of the Division of Public Administration, (304/293-2614).

PLAN OF STUDY

MSW (regular standing)/MPA DEGREE PLAN

Foundation courses: 27 credit hours

SW 520 - Intro to Human Growth and Behavior I

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is a dual degree program?

A dual degree program is one in which students are admitted to two progrmas at or near the same time and pursue coursework for both degrees, with the expectation of meeting the requirements for two masters degrees. In the case of the MSW/MPA, students can also apply required coursework taken in each program to meet elective requirements of the other program, thus reducing the total number of hours required.

What would I do with a dual degree in Social Work and Public Administration?

Joint degree graduates obtain two nationally accredited graduate degrees. With both degrees you could work, either upon graduation or after direct social work practice is gained, in an administrative or policy position in a social service organization. The dual degree approach emphasized the breadth of two practice disciplines. Graduates of the dual MSW/MPA program at WVU have been successful at gaining positions in community non-profit organizations, in state and local government, and in for-profit enterprises that utilize social work services including hospitals and private colleges. The dual degree graduate would have substantially more to offer the social service organization than would someone with a graduate degree in just one of the fields.

Does the dual degree plan represent a distinctly separate program?

No. The faculties in Social Work and Public Administration have operated the dual degree program for nearly 30 years within the existing masters programs of each unit through a system of informal cooperation. Joint degree students are assigned an advisor in each unit and are expected to develop their plans of study with both advisors.

Do I have to do two separate internships/field placements since both degree programs require one?

No. The supervised practice experiences required in both programs are designed to overlap. Dual degree students ordinarily are placed in administrative/management settings in human service organizations under the supervision of a field instructor acceptable to both programs. Students are visited by, and are expected to meet the requirements of both programs. Social Work students use a combination of MSW/MPA internship course credits to meet the required clock hours for the practicum.