Master of Public Health (MPH) in International Health and Development offered jointly with the MSW The Department of International Health and Development, together with the School of Social Work, is dedicated to improving the health status of populations throughout the world through the education and training of young and mid-career MPH students in an environment of interdisciplinary, creative problem solving in the public health and social work sectors. The combined MPH/MSW degree is offered jointly by the School of Social Work and the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Department of International Health and Development. This program is particularly applicable to students who have had previous experience in international settings (such as the Peace Corps) or who aspire to work in the international arena, yet also want to obtain credentials in social work. The joint degree increases the student's career options in the future, by providing the individual with two sets of skills that are highly complementary: clinical social work skills, and international public health program skills (management, planning and evaluation). Both degrees are internationally recognized and highly regarded.
Graduates may seek employment in health/social service programs in the United States (especially those working in cross-cultural setting) or in various international humanitarian agencies working either in the U.S. or abroad. These agencies may include UNICEF, UNAIDS, U.S. Agency for International Development, World Health Organization, and a variety of non-governmental organizations (Save the Children, International Rescue Committee, CARE). Typical employment opportunities include international development work in developing countries in nutrition, health education, policy and management, reproductive health, in social or psychosocial programs in HIV/AIDS (orphans and vulnerable children, elderly caring for family members, persons living with HIV/AIDS), and social or psychosocial programs for refugees due to natural disasters or war. The Department stresses the development of analytic and technical skills that will give joint degree students a comparative advantage in future employment. The teaching program draws directly on the faculty's experience in designing, implementing, and evaluating programs in developing country settings. The curriculum translates theory into practical applications to current problems in developing countries. The research and teaching programs of the department have several major areas of strength including, nutrition and food security, emergencies and disasters management, reproductive health and population, infectious diseases and HIV/AIDS, policy-programs-management, and monitoring & evaluation. These areas have been identified to help the student prepare for future professional opportunities in a specific sector or technical specialization. MSW/MPH Students will design their own unique programs of study which draw upon the strengths of the department in consultation with the appropriate faculty advisor. Bridging Competency: Using the social sector as a framework and incorporating sociological methods, students in the MSW/MPH program in IHD will be able to identify target populations or subgroups that require specific intervention approaches; design programs/projects in the context of national and international policy; incorporate cultural factors in their designs and management; assess critically strategic obstacles to successful social change; and evaluate social development programs/projects. Specific Competencies: By the end of the program, students in the MPH/MSW in International Health and Development will be able to: - Identify target populations or subgroups that require specific intervention approaches using demographic, epidemiologic, sociological and economic analysis
- Design population, health, environmental, social service, and/or public nutrition programs/projects in the context of national and international policy
- Incorporate cultural factors in the design and management of social service projects/programs
- Assess critically strategic obstacles to successful social change
- Evaluate social development programs/projects in terms of their quality, effectiveness and efficiency using qualitative and quantitative research techniques
- Utilize state-of-the-art information technologies in the design and monitoring of social service programs/projects
- Access and utilize effectively the programming resources of local, national and international organizations engaged in social sector activities
Competencies number 3 and number 5 above are addressed specifically in the social work practicum. To view a matrix which illustrates how these competencies are achieved through the SPHTM courses, practical training and culminating activities please click here. For the mission and competencies for the MSW degree, please refer to the School of Social Work, click here. Applicants must meet general admission requirements of the school. Applicant's credentials will also be reviewed by the departmental admissions committee: We are looking for demonstrated commitment to international work, and relevant prior experience, training and skills. A separate application must be submitted to each of the schools. The GRE is required for applicants to the Department for the MPH/MSW. The point of entry into this dual degree program is the School of Social Work in the first (Fall) semester. Full-time students receive their MSW in the fourth (Fall) semester, then move to the School of Public Health for full-time coursework in the fifth (Spring) semester. Students may opt to continue public health classes into the sixth (Summer) semester or to come one summer early and begin public health classes before social work classes. Course and Credit Requirements A total of 42 credits is required for the MPH in the SPHTM. Thirty-two (32) of these credits are in didactic courses in the MPH program and ten (10) credits will be transferred from coursework at the School of Social Work. These ten credits include three credits in behavioral science and seven credits of electives.
School Core Courses (15-18 credits)
BIOS 6030, Introductory Biostatistics (3)
EPID 6030, Epidemiologic Methods I (3)
HSMG 6030, Principles of Health Systems Admin. & Management (3)
ENHS 6030, Survey of Environmental Health (3)
SPHL 6010, Biological Basis of Health and Disease (3)
SPHL 6030, Social and Behavioral Aspects of Global Health (3) [Note: Joint degree students in the MSW/MPH are encouraged to apply for a waiver of this requirement based on their social work courses and experiences.] Departmental Core Courses (5 credits) INHL 6040, Health and Economic Development (3)
INHL 6050, Principles for Policies and Programs in Population, Health and Nutrition in Developing Countries (2)
[Note: In some cases INHL 6110, Health Economics of Developing Countries (3) can be substituted for INHL 604] MSW/MPH Requirements (9-12 credits) The MSW/MPH student is required to earn the remaining 9-12 credits in elective courses chosen from the offerings of the SPHTM after discussion with the academic advisor. Course Requirements at the School of Social Work SOWK 7110 Professional Foundations (1)
SOWK 7120 Social Work History and Policy (3)
SOWK 7210 Theory I (4)
SOWK 7310 Methods I (4)
SOWK 7410 Tools I (3)
SOWK 7220 Theory II (4)
SOWK 7320 Methods II (3)
SOWK 7420 Tools II: Research, Learning (3)
SOWK 7520 Field Practicum I (5)
SOWK 7330 Advanced Methods (5)
SOWK 7530 Field Practicum II (5)
SOWK 7440 Capstone Professional Project and Seminar (6)
SOWK 7540 Field Practicum III Practicum Requirement The SSW requires a 990 hour Field Practicum (330 hours x 3 semesters), which also serves to meet the SPHTM Practicum requirement. This practicum must contain a public health component (for example, population-based and prevention-oriented program planning, intervention, and/or evaluation). Please see the SPHTM Practicum Handbook for further details. Prior to SPH graduation, MSW/MPH students must complete all SPHTM practicum forms. Culminating Experience Requirement All MPH graduates are required to complete a culminating experience prior to graduation. This may be the thesis, the public health analysis or the culminating exam. For more information click here. Other Requirements Students in the MPH/MSW must demonstrate proficiency in a language other than English, as determined by an oral exam. MSW/MPH students will begin their programs of study in the School of Social Work in the fall. For a model course schedule of the MPH courses click here. Joint degree students must consult with their advisor in the School of Social Work regarding the scheduling of Social Work classes. The students in the MPH/MSW program must complete the following requirements at least four weeks before the expected date of graduation. Specific courses and requirements may be waived on the basis of previous studies with the approval of the appropriate professors, advisors and the department chair. For a detailed discussion of course and program requirements please visit the Advising Guidelines which are used each year for incoming students at orientation. Here is a brief summary. - Complete all SPHTM core courses. For a listing of core courses click here.
- Complete the IHD core courses: INHL 6040 (or INHL 6110) and INHL 6050.
- Complete the remaining required credit hours with elective courses. Students in the dual MSW/MPH program must complete 42 credit hours (32 didactic credit hours with the School of Public Health and 10 from the School of Social Work). For credit requirements for the MSW please refer to the School of Social Work, click here.
- Maintain a GPA above 3.0.
- Complete the language certification. All IHD students must demonstrate proficiency in a language other than English prior to graduation. Proficiency is determined by an oral exam given by a member of the department's faculty or staff.
- Complete the required practicum forms in a timely fashion. The practicum provides students with experience in an actual international health and development agency, program or project, in which students apply the knowledge and skills acquired in their coursework to practical settings. The specific reporting requirements of the practicum are detailed in field practicum handbook. Modifications or clarifications related to International Health and Development students are detailed in the addendum.
- Beginning in January 2007, students at Tulane are required to complete a culminating experience that draws together the students' classroom learning and practice experiences. This culminating experience will be completed by the writing of a thesis, preparation of a public health analysis, or a comprehensive exam. For more information on the culminating experience click here.
For more information on the MPH/MSW program please contact Penny Jessop, MPH, Clinical Assistant Professor, at pjessop@tulane.edu. | 
