The Master of Social Work and the Master of Public Administration programs at the University of Southern Indiana offer a dual degree program, which can be completed in two years.
Students must be admitted to both graduate programs before beginning the dual degree program. View admission requirements for the Master of Social Work and admission requirements for the Master of Public Administration.
Students can enroll in the full-time liberal arts track for students who do not have a Bachelor of Social Work degree or the two-year advanced standing track for students with a Bachelor of Social Work degree.
A total of 13 credit hours from select graduate social work coursework applies to both degrees.
Students must complete the MPA comprehensive examination in order to graduate with the MPA degree, taken towards the end of their coursework. Students must also complete Practice Evaluation (SOCW 605) and affiliated capstone project, cross-listed with the MPA Capstone Seminar, in order to graduate with both degrees.
Liberal Arts Track
Students in the liberal arts track (those who do not have Bachelor of Social Work degrees) are required to take 85 credit hours to complete both the MSW and the MPA degrees. Twenty-four credit hours come from the MPA program, and 61 hours come from the MSW program.
The program can be completed in two years with a full-time course of study. This track requires the student to be enrolled in 15 credit hours (five courses or fieldwork) most semesters and 12 credit hours (four courses or fieldwork) most summer sessions.
Track Examples
Click on the buttons below for a dropdown of information.
Two-Year Full Time (non-BSW): First Year Example
| Full Time (non-BSW): First Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| Class | Credits | |
| SOCW 503 | The Social Welfare System | 3 |
| SOCW 504 | Human Behavior and the Social Environment (HBSE) I | 3 |
| SOCW 506 | The Foundation of Social Work Practice | 3 |
| SOCW 510 | Social Welfare Policy and Service | 3 |
| PA 632 | Introduction to Public Administration | 3 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| SOCW 505 | Human Behavior and the Social Environment (HBSE) II | 3 |
| SOCW 508 | Micro Systems: Practice with Individuals, Groups, and Families | 3 |
| SOCW 509 | Macro Systems: Institutional and Community Systems | 3 |
| SOCW 610 | Human Diversity in Social Work Practice | 3 |
| PA 609 | Budgeting in Public and Nonprofit Administration | 3 |
| Summer Semester | ||
| SOCW 511 | Graduate Field Placement | 3 |
| SOCW 512 | Integrated Field Placement Seminar I | 1 |
| One or two courses chosen from PA 605, PA 631, PA 684, PA 690 or PA 698 | 3-6 | |
Two-Year Full Time (non-BSW): Second Year Example
| Full Time (non-BSW): Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| Class | Credits | |
| SOCW 601 | Clinical Assessment and Psychopathology in Social Work | 3 |
| SOCW 608 | Theories of Clinical Practice | 3 |
| SOCW 611 | MSW II Graduate Field Placement | 2 |
| SOCW 612 | MSW II Integrated Field Placement Seminar | 1 |
| SOCW 652 | Family and Couples Therapy | 3 |
| SOCW 660 | Clinical Practice with Groups | 3 |
| One course chosen from PA 605, PA 631, PA 684, PA 690 OR PA 698 3 | ||
| Spring Semester | ||
| SOCW 602 | Clinical Planning and Treatment Process in Social Work | 3 |
| SOCW 605 | Practice Evaluation | 3 |
| SOCW 611 | MSW II Graduate Field Placement | 2-4 |
| SOCW 612 | MSW II Integrated Field Placement Seminar | 1-2 |
| SOCW 671 | Social Work Management in the Clinical Setting | 3 |
| PA 618 | Research Methods in Public Administration | 3 |
| Summer Semester | ||
| PA 606 | Public and Nonprofit Personnel Administration | 3 |
| PA 644 | Policies and Processes in the Public Sector | 3 |
| PA 645 | Program Evaluation in the Public and Nonprofit Sector | 3 |
Advanced Standing Track
Students in the advanced standing track (those who have Bachelor of Social Work degrees) are given credit for foundation (500-level) courses. These students are required to take 60 credit hours to complete both the MSW and the MPA degrees. Twenty-four credit hours come from the MPA program, and 36 hours come from the MSW program.
The program can be completed in two years by students enrolled in nine credit hours (three courses or fieldwork) most semesters and 12 credit hours (four courses or fieldwork) most summer sessions.
The MPA curriculum requires two electives, with the option to take both during the summer semester of the first year, or one during the summer semester of the first year and one during the fall semester of the second year.
Track Examples
Two-Year Advanced Standing Part-time (BSW degree): First Year Example
| Advanced Standing Part-time: First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | ||
| Class | Credits | |
| SOCW 601 | Clinical Assessment and Psychopathology in Social Work | 3 |
| SOCW 608 | Theories of Clinical Practice | 3 |
| PA 632 | Introduction to Public Administration | 3 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| SOCW 602 | Clinical Planning and Treatment Process in Social Work | 3 |
| SOCW 610 | Human Diversity in Social Work Practice | 3 |
| PA 609 | Budgeting in Public and Nonprofit Administration | 3 |
| Summer Semester | ||
| One or two courses chosen from PA 605, PA 631, PA 684, PA 690 or PA 698 | 3-6 | |
Two-Year Advanced Standing Part-time (BSW degree): Second Year Example
| Advanced Standing Part-time (BSW degree): Second Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | ||
| Class | Credits | |
| SOCW 611 | MSW II Graduate Field Placement | 2 |
| SOCW 612 | MSW II Integrated Field Placement Seminar | 1 |
| SOCW 652 | Family and Couples Therapy | 3 |
| SOCW 660 | Clinical Practice with Groups | 3 |
| One course chosen from PA 605, PA 631, or PA 684 | 3 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| SOCW 605 | Practice Evaluation | 3 |
| SOCW 611 | MSW II Graduate Field Placement | 2 |
| SOCW 612 | MSW II Integrated Field Placement Seminar | 1 |
| SOCW 671 | Social Work Management in the Clinical Setting | 3 |
| PA 618 | Research Methods in Public Administration | 3 |
| Summer Semester | ||
| PA 606 | Public and Nonprofit Personnel Administration | 3 |
| PA 644 | Policies and Processes in the Public Sector | 3 |
| PA 645 | Program Evaluation in the Public and Nonprofit Sector | 3 |
Course Descriptions
A detailed list of degree requirements and course descriptions can be found in the USI Academic Bulletin.
