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master of public administration and master of social work dual degree program.

The School of Public Administration and the School of Social Work at UNO have agreed to offer prospective candidates the option to receive both graduate degrees offered by these programs (MPA & MSW) through entering a dual degree program.

Admission Requirements

NOTE: Students who have already graduated with an MPA or MSW degree are NOT eligible for a dual degree.

Students who identify the MPA/MSW dual degree option prior to admission will complete a single application which includes:

  • Graduate Application for Admission
  • Graduate Application Fee
  • One official transcript from each college or university attended
  • GRE scores
  • Three letters of recommendations - Please provide the names and email addresses for your recommenders. (A Request form will be emailed to recommenders by UNO when you submit your online application.)
  • 2 Statements of purpose- one for the School of Social Work (also known as personal essay) and one for the School of Public Administration (also known as essay).
  • Updated resume or work history

The completed application will be reviewed by both the School of Public Administration and the School of Social Work for review and approval.

Students who decide after admission to public administration or social work to pursue the dual degree program will need to submit a new application, application fee, and additional application materials to the appropriate school for review. The public administration advisor will assist public administration students and the social work advisor will assist social work students with this process.

There are two options for students entering the dual degree program, a 54 credit program and a 78 credit program. The 54 credit program is for students who have completed an accredited BSW degree. The 78 credit program is for all other students; it includes foundation course work in social work.

Dual degree Requirements

For both options, students must choose the "Integrated Practice" concentration in social work and be willing to take a minimum of two courses per semester, excluding the summer semesters.

57 credit program
  • PA 8050 Public Administration and Democracy
  • PA 8010 Public Economy
  • PA 8090 Organizational Theory and Behavior
  • PA 8300 Policy Development & Implementation
  • PA 8400 Public Budgeting
    or
    PA 8480 Public Finance Administration
    or
    PA 8720 Health Care Finance
  • PA 8530 Strategic Planning & Implementation
    or
    PA 8440 Organizational Development & Change
  • PA 8320 Policy Evaluation
  • PA 8990 Capstone Project
  • SOWK 8940 Evaluation of Social Work Practices
  • SOWK 8190 Research Skills in Social Work Practices
  • SOWK 8220 Micro I- Clinical Social Work with Individuals
  • SOWK 8230 Micro II- Clinical Social Work with Groups
  • SOWK 8510 Macro I- Personal Administration and Personnel
  • SOWK 8530 Macro II- Social Welfare Planning
  • SOWK 8400 Adv Practicum I
  • SOWK 8410 Adv Practicum II
  • SOWK 8540 Social Welfare Planning
  • SOWK 8570 Social Work Administration- Administration or Social Welfare Agencies
  • SOWK 8240 - 8300 Any one Advanced Micro Practice course
  • SOWK 8--- Any one Social Problem/Condition Social Work course
81 credit program

Students must complete the courses listed in the 57credit program, plus the following 24 credit hours of foundation courses (prerequisites for the advanced social work courses):

  • SOWK 8070 Human Behavior & Social Environment I
  • SOWK 8080 Human Behavior & Social Environment II
  • SOWK 8090 Social Welfare Policy
  • SOWK 8110 Institutional Oppression
  • SOWK 8130 Generalist Practice I
  • SOWK 8150 Generalist Practice II
  • SOWK 8160 Generalist Practicum I
  • SOWK 8170 Generalist Practicum II

Students also will complete a 4-hour social work comprehensive exam focused on Integrated Social Work Practice administered by the School of Social Work.




last updated: 11/9/2011 at 4:09pm