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2024-2025 Academic Bulletin
Public Health, Nutrition and Wellness Concentration/Social Work Dual Degree MPH/MSW
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The School of Population Health, Nutrition and Wellness in the College of Health and Human Services and the School of Social Work in the College of Arts & Sciences are offering a dual degree combining the Master of Public Health and the Master of Social Work. The goal is to prepare individuals for leadership roles in the field of public health where clinical skills learned in the field of social work strengthen their ability to serve the needs of the community. The objectives of this program are for students to learn from highly competent public health professionals in order to prevent disease and restore health in the local, national, and global communities through the MPH program. In the MSW program, they will learn theories and practice skills related to counseling approaches, person-in-environment, social and economic justice, human rights, and global perspectives from a Christian worldview. This will better equip graduates to meet the needs of the community at multiple levels. Graduates will be equipped to address the mental and physical health problems of individuals, families, groups, and communities through treatment and prevention. In addition, this will enrich their learning experience, expand their employment opportunities, and better equip them for the job market where a wide knowledge base is preferred. The program is designed to give students both master’s degrees within four years.
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Program Information
Information for the two programs (Public Health, Nutrition and Wellness Concentration MPH and Social Work MSW) follows:
Click here to jump to Social Work MSW.
Public Health, Nutrition and Wellness Concentration MPH
The mission of the Master of Public Health (MPH) Program is to prepare highly competent public health professionals to prevent disease and restore health in local, national and global communities. This mission is accomplished through excellence in graduate teaching, and through public health research to develop or implement evidence-based lifestyle solutions to improve health while addressing public health problems from a wholistic perspective. We offer a distinctive program with a concentration in Nutrition & Wellness providing a unique emphasis in vegetarian nutrition. See the School of Population Health, Nutrition & Wellness Website for the statement of value and goals of the program.
Delivery: This program is offered in an interactive online asynchronous format (see Global Campus definitions) and face-to-face format. The interactive online degree does not require any on-campus time. Students are encouraged to come to campus for graduation.
MPH Dual Degree Option:
The MPH is also available with the following dual degree option:
Public Health Foundations - 22
Electives - 2
Choose one of the following courses (Note: MPH/MSW dual degree students replace this choice with SOWK 630 - Policy for Social Change):
Concentration
Complete the following concentration:
Nutrition & Wellness Concentration - 17
Additional Requirements
Student is required to demonstrate ability to integrate specific areas of Administration, Epidemiology, Statistics, Environmental Health, Health Behavior, Program Planning and Evaluation, and Nutrition during culminating activities.
Culminating activities include Applied Practice Experience, professional portfolio, and an exit survey at the conclusion of program.
Certification
The curriculum for the MPH is designed to help prepare students to take the Certified Health Education Specialist Exam (CHES) administered by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC). Students will be expected to meet the Seven Areas of Responsiblity of a Health Education Specialist. - Assessing individual and community needs for health education.
- Planning effective health education programs.
- Implementing health education programs.
- Evaluating effectiveness of health education programs.
- Coordinating provision for health education services.
Admission Requirements
To be eligible for admission to the MPH program, you must have completed a bachelor’s degree or equivalent with a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or better (on a 4.0 scale). A limited number of students whose background and experience show potential for success but whose GPAs are less than 3.0 may be admitted on a provisional basis. A candidate who has a bachelor’s degree but without the prerequisites below may also be admitted on a provisional basis. For details on applying to the program and admission requirements, go to the School of Graduate Studies website. Prerequisites
The candidate is required to have completed the courses listed below at the undergraduate level: - Biology, Physiology, or Anatomy and Physiology
- Two courses in nutrition:
Social Work MSW
The Master of Social Work (MSW) degree is a professional degree enabling the graduate to enter practice as an advanced-level practitioner. Graduates are prepared to work in a variety of clinical, administration, and development focus areas. The foundation curriculum for the MSW consists of 9 core competencies that are required for every accredited MSW program: 1) Demonstrate ethical and professional behavior; 2) Engage diversity and difference in practice; 3) Advance human rights and social, economic, and environmental justice; 4) Engage in practice-informed research and research-informed practice; 5) Engage in policy practice; 6) Engage with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities; 7) Assess and plan with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities; 8) Intervene with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities; and 9) Evaluate practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities. In addition, our program has added an additional competency: 10) Demonstrate a Christian social work perspective. The curriculum is designed to teach students the knowledge, values and skills, along with understanding of the cognitive and affective reactions and judgement that accompany these dimensions. Measurement outcomes for these competencies can be found on the first page of the Andrews University School of Social Work website. The Andrews University MSW program is accredited by the Council of Social Work Education through the year 2027.
Delivery
All tracks of the MSW program are available in the face-to-face format. The Regular Standing and Accelerated Regular Standing tracks are also available in the interactive online synchronous format (see Global Campus definitions). Online students are encouraged to come to campus for graduation.
Dual Degrees Options
The MSW Dual Degree Programs allow the student to complete two degrees in one additional year, with a tuition reduction of 33% for the MSW credits. To facilitate this objective, the two programs will reduce the total number of required credits and will share a practicum and a limited number of elective courses. Specifically, the School of Social Work will reduce the required number of credits by 9-10 credits by allowing students to take their required social work electives in the other graduate program. In addition, approximately 16 credits will be shared between the two programs. The following Dual Degree options are available:
Curriculum
Core advanced interpersonal practice courses supplemented by optional areas of focus are offered. Students wishing to enroll in core graduate social work courses must be enrolled in the MSW program and/or have the instructor’s permission. Students may transfer up to 20% of the credits from one degree into the MSW program. All courses are subject to change based on accreditation needs.
Areas of Focus
Students may choose to specialize in the following focus areas: Human Resources, Mental Health, School Social Work, Marriage & Family, Christian Ministry, International Social Work, and Medical Social Work. Please refer to the School of Social Work website for further information: www.andrews.edu/cas/socialwork/. Students are not required to choose a focus area.
Additional Requirements
- A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 in Social Work Program.
- No grade of D or F (or U) may count toward a graduate degree.
- The maintenance at all times of professional conduct and behaviors appropriate for a social worker according to the National Association of Social Workers’ Code of Ethics.
- Defense of the professional degree portfolio as part of SOWK689 Advanced Professional Seminar. This portfolio is a demonstrative collection of professional competencies.
- Other Andrews University degree requirements as presented in the Graduate Academic Information section of this bulletin.
Past experience strengthens all MSW student applications. However, following Council on Social Work Education requirements, no social work course credit can be given for life experience or previous work experience.
English Language Requirements
For those applicants whose native language is not English, the following is required:
- Demonstration of English proficiency by obtaining at least a minimum score on any one of the following exams. Exam must be taken within two years prior to enrollment.
- TOEFL ITP (paper-based): A minimum score of 550
- TOEFL iBT (internet-based): 80 with a minimum of 20 on each section
- IELTS (Academic version ): 6.5
- PTE (Academic version): 54
- MSW program participates in the Bridge program which allows students who are close to the minimum scores to take 3-6 credits of MSW courses along with ESL courses. Requirements to participate in the Bridge program are below.
- TOEFL ITP (paper-based): A score of 500-549 (2-3 ESL courses and up to 3-6 credits of regular MSW course work)* OR
*with permission of the department
- Nelson Denny: score of 13
- Personal interview with MSW program director or designee
Applicants who fail to meet any of the above may be admitted only after committee consideration of the specific circumstances. Additional course work in English may be required.
A student who graduated from a four-year English-speaking high school, college or university may be exempted from all or parts of the above requirements.
Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
Students who are applying for admission to the MSW program are not required to take the GRE.
Assistantships
Students have the opportunity to apply for graduate assistantships—teaching or research. These assistantships give students the opportunity to develop their expertise. Students interested in becoming social-work educators—especially those with years of clinical experience—may teach undergraduate courses. Research assistantships offer experiences in community consulting, grant writing, and/or conducting research.
MSW Student Handbook
The MSW Student Handbook has been designed as the social work student’s aid in understanding the program requirements of the School of Social Work as well as relevant policies of Andrews University. Inside the handbook you will find information such as expectations of students, the MSW curriculum, departmental policies, and other relevant information.
Field Manual
The Field Manual has been designed as your aid in understanding field education requirements, your role as a student in a field agency, and relevant policies of Andrews University.
You are responsible for the information found in this handbook, so please take the time to familiarize yourself with the handbook and know where to find questions and answers if the need arises.
Student Learning Outcomes
Students who complete this program will:
- Demonstrate ethical and professional behavior
- Engage diversity and difference in practice
- Advance human rights and social, economic, and environmental justice
- Engage in practice-informed research and research-informed practice
- Engage in policy practice
- Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
- Assess and Plan with Individuals, Families, Groups, and Communities
- Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
- Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
- Demonstrate a Christian Social Work Perspective
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