Social Work and Public Policy (MSW/MPP)

The School of Social Work and the Ford School of Public Policy offer a dual degree program enabling students to pursue concurrent work in Social Work and Public Policy leading to the Masters in Social Work (MSW) and Masters in Public Policy (MPP) degrees.

Program Overview

The 90 credit-hour program is designed for completion in two and one-half years (6 terms). In the final term, each student proposes and completes an independent research/practice project related to his or her career objectives. Two faculty members, one from each school, supervise and evaluate the project. Students in this dual degree program will have opportunities to learn social work practice skills and do intensive fieldwork. In addition, they will expand their analytical skills in economic and political analysis and program evaluation.

Course Concentrations

In Social Work, students should select as their Practice Methods concentration either: Community Organization, Management of Human Services, or Social Policy and Evaluation. Students can elect any of the Practice Area concentrations for their dual concentration requirement.

In Public Policy, students take core courses in statistics, microeconomics, political environment of policy analysis, public management, values and ethics, program evaluation, and advanced analytic methods and concentrate in a variety of public policy areas, including social welfare and labor market policies, or public management.

Field Experience

Field experience is an important part of the program, providing opportunities to integrate knowledge and practice in diverse policy settings. Students spend time working under the supervision of experienced practitioners. Field placements include public agencies, research organizations, and nonprofit and voluntary organizations, and urban neighborhood groups. Field placements may be arranged in a policy setting in Lansing, in Washington, D.C. or elsewhere during any spring/summer term.

Course of Study

First Year—FSPP and Social Work (SW) courses and Social Work Foundation Field Instruction
First Summer –Summer Internship/Field Placement
Second Year—FSPP and SW courses and electives
Final Term—Individually developed project; FSPP and SW courses and electives

Degree Requirements

Students admitted to this 90 credit-hour program must satisfy the following:

43 credit hours in Social Work courses
36 credit hours in Public Policy courses including participation in the Integrated Policy Exercise (IPE)
11 credit hours for double-counted or jointly accepted elective courses

Admission Requirements

Students must file separate applications to and be admitted by both schools. An application fee must accompany each application.

Contact Information

For more information or an application, please contact:

The School of Social Work
Office of Admissions
Phone: (734) 764-3309
Email: ssw.msw.info@umich.edu
Website: http://www.ssw.umich.edu/msw

The Ford School of Public Policy
Office of Admissions
2236 Weill Hall
Phone: (734) 764-0453
Click here to e-mail us.
Website: http://www.fordschool.umich.edu

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