Public Administration, MPA and Social Work, MSW (MPA/MSW)

School of Public Administration and Grace Abbott School of Social Work, College of Public Affairs & Community Service

Vision Statement

The MPA/MSW dual degree program is a collaborative effort between the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO), Grace Abbott School of Social Work and the School of Public Administration. This program offers interdisciplinary preparation in the fields of social work and public administration leading to the master of social work and the master of public administration degrees, with fewer required credit hours than it would take to obtain these degrees independently.

The program prepares students to provide a variety of advanced level micro, mezzo, and macro social work services to individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities; and assume leadership in the public service sector, specifically in administrative and policy work with governmental units and nonprofit organizations.

Students beginning the MPA/MSW program at the MSW Foundation level must complete 81 credit hours total. Students beginning the MPA/MSW program at the Advanced Standing level must complete 57 credit hours total.

Program Contact Information

Social Work

Henry D'Souza, Ph.D., Graduate Program Chair (GPC)
206 College of Public Affairs & Community Service (CPACS) 
402.554.2793
hdsouza@unomaha.edu

Public Administration

Tara Bryan, PhD, Graduate Program Chair (GPC)
111 College of Public Affairs & Community Service (CPACS)
402.554.2751
tbryan@unomaha.edu

Admissions Advisor

Meagan Van Gelder, EdD, Senior Advisor
111 College of Public Affairs & Community Service (CPACS)
402.554.3480
mvangelder@unomaha.edu

Current Student Advisor

James Harrold, PhD, Advisor
111 College of Public Affairs & Community Service (CPACS)
402.554.6702
jharrold@unomaha.edu

Program Website

Other Program Related Information

  • Master’s level social workers are employed in public and private agencies, including medical settings, schools, residential treatment centers, court and correctional agencies, and community planning and development agencies. 
  • The MSW degree at the Grace Abbott School of Social Work is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), the national accrediting body for all social work education.
  • Information on certification and licensure is available on the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services website.

Admissions

General Application Requirements and Admission Criteria

Program-Specific Requirements

Application Deadlines (Spring 2024 and Fall 2024)

  • Spring: October 15
    • Foundation MPA/MSW students (those who do not have an undergraduate degree in social work, BSSW) admitted for the spring term are limited to only the MPA coursework in spring and summer terms. The MSW coursework will be added in the fall term.
    • Advanced MPA/MSW students (those with an undergraduate degree in social work, BSSW) can begin both MPA and MSW coursework in the spring term.
  • Fall: February 15 ​
    • Students admitted as either Foundation MPA/MSW or Advanced MPA/MSW can begin both MSW and MPA coursework in the fall term.

Note: If admitted to the Master of Social Work program and you wish to become a dual degree MSW/MPA student you will need to adhere to the MPA deadline date which is June 1(fall) or October 1 (spring).

Other Requirements

  • The general prerequisite for admission to the program is a four-year bachelors’ degree with a minimum of a 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) in the junior and senior years (last 50-60 hours).
  • English Language Proficiency: Applicants are required to have a command of oral and written English. Those who do not hold a baccalaureate or other advanced degree from the United States, OR a baccalaureate or other advanced degree from a predetermined country on the waiver list, must meet the minimum language proficiency score requirement in order to be considered for admission.

    • Internet-based TOEFL, 80, IELTS: 6.5, PTE: 53, Duolingo: 110

  • Statement of Purpose: Two statements of purpose are required; one for the School of Public Administration and one for the Grace Abbott School of Social Work
    • For Social Work, the statement of purpose is an opportunity to demonstrate your understanding of and fit for the social work profession, as well as your aptitude for graduate-level social work education. The Admissions Committee pays close attention to both content and writing skills. In your statement of purpose, please address each of the items listed below, and should be no more than five (5) pages, double-spaced, in a 12-point font. Your response to each of the items should be roughly the same length. If your statement of purpose does not clearly and directly address each of the items or does not follow the instructions, it may not be considered.
      • Why have you chosen social work? Your response should demonstrate a basic understanding of the social work profession, including what distinguishes it from other helping professions.
      • Social work is a values-based profession dedicated to mitigating inequality and enhancing human wellbeing, especially for vulnerable, marginalized, and oppressed populations. From the core values and ethical principles identified in the NASW Code of Ethics, identify and discuss one that resonates with you and one that may challenge you.
      • Social workers are self-reflective, strengths-based, and growth-oriented. Identify a strength that you possess and an area for growth. Discuss how you became aware of these, how they show up in your current professional practice, and how they may influence your future professional practice.
      • The social work profession is rooted in social justice. Social workers adopt a stance of cultural humility and strive towards cultural awareness. Discuss a time when you realized that one of your personal or cultural identities influenced your reaction to a social situation.  Reflecting on that experience, how might it influence your future social work practice? 
      • If you have a compelling autobiographical story relevant to your application, but that falls outside of the items addressed within the statement, you may add a letter to the Admissions Committee. Your letter will be considered, but will not be scored.
    • For Public Administration, the essay should answer the following questions:
      • Please tell us about the factors in your background that will help us understand your interest in a profession in the public or nonprofit sectors.
      • What are your professional goals? Ten years from now, what do you hope to be doing professionally?
      • How can this dual degree from UNO help you achieve these goals?
  • Resume: Applicants are highly encouraged to have professional experience in the human service field.  Please submit a professional resume that identifies:
    • Educational experiences since high school
      • List start and end dates with month and year
      • Identify whether the position is part or full-time
      • Identify whether the position is paid or volunteer
      • Field placements, internships or practicums
      • Honors or distinctions received
      • Professional experiences, especially in human services
  • Letters of Recommendation: Three letters of recommendation are required. Recommendation requests are generated from your online application.  The recommendations should be from professional and academic sources who are directly familiar with your skills and experience. At least one reference should be from an immediate professional supervisor. If you have graduated from an academic program within the past three years, at least one reference should be from a faculty member who can speak directly to your academic preparation for graduate social work education. References from family members, family friends, personal friends, personal therapists, or other non-professional/academic sources will not be scored.

The MSW Foundation Program is a 63 credit hour program available to applicants who do not hold a BSSW degree from an accredited school of social work within the last 10 years.

The MPA/MSW Advanced Standing Program is a 57 credit hour program available to applicants who have earned a BSSW degree from an accredited school of social work within the last 10 years.

Degree Requirements

Required Foundation Courses
SOWK 8070HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND THE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT I3
SOWK 8080HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND THE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT II3
SOWK 8090SOCIAL WELFARE POLICY3
SOWK 8110INSTITUTIONAL OPPRESSION3
SOWK 8130GENERALIST PRACTICE I3
SOWK 8150GENERALIST PRACTICE II3
SOWK 8160GENERALIST SOCIAL WORK PRACTICUM I 13
SOWK 8170GENERALIST SOCIAL WORK PRACTICUM II 13
Total Credits24
1

A student must receive grades of "B" or higher in practicum courses (SOWK 8160 and SOWK 8170).

Required Public Administration Courses
PA 8050FOUNDATIONS OF PUBLIC ADMINSTRATION3
PA 8090ORGANIZATION THEORY AND BEHAVIOR3
PA 8100ADVANCED MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP FOR PUBLIC AND NONPROFIT PROFESSIONALS3
PA 8300POLICY DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION3
PA 8400PUBLIC AND NONPROFIT BUDGETING3
PA 8530PLANNING AND EVALUATION3
PA 8990CAPSTONE PROJECT IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION3
Public Administration Elective
Select one of the following:3
PUBLIC POLICY EVALUATION
INTRODUCTION TO THE NON-PROFIT SECTOR
PUBLIC HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
SEMINAR IN PUBLIC FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION
SEMINAR IN GRANT WRITING
INTERGOVERNMENTAL MANAGEMENT
ADMINISTRATIVE LAW
HEALTH CARE POLICY
ADMINISTRATIVE ETHICS AND LEADERSHIP
Required Social Work Courses
SOWK 8190RESEARCH & COMPUTER APPLICATIONS3
SOWK 8220CLINICAL SOCIAL WORK WITH INDIVIDUALS3
SOWK 8230CLINICAL SOCIAL WORK WITH GROUPS3
SOWK 8540PLANNING FOR SOCIAL CHANGE3
SOWK 8290SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE IN HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH3
SOWK 8650HEALTH/MENTAL HEALTH POLICIES FOR SOCIAL WORK3
SOWK 8940EVALUATION OF SOCIAL PROGRAMS3
SOWK 8400ADVANCED SOCIAL WORK PRACTICUM I3
SOWK 8410ADVANCED SOCIAL WORK PRACTICUM II3
Social Work Community Practice Elective
Select one of the following:3
SOCIAL JUSTICE AND SOCIAL ADVOCACY
ADVANCED COMMUNITY PRACTICE
ADMINISTRATION OF SOCIAL WELFARE AGENCIES (Social Work Elective)
Social Work Elective
Select one of the following:3
SOCIAL WORK WITH AMERICAN INDIANS
SOCIAL WORK WITHIN THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY
AGING AND DIVERSITY
ETHNIC DIVERSITY AND SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE
SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE WITH CHILDREN
SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE WITH FAMILIES
SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE WITH OLDER ADULTS
SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE WITH SEXUAL CONCERNS
SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE WITH COUPLES AND CHANGING FAMILY STRUCTURES
TREATMENT ISSUES IN CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY
SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK
PERMANENCE FOR CHILDREN
FAMILY AND COMMUNITY VIOLENCE
TRAUMA AND RESILIENCE
MEDICAL AND PSYCHOSOCIAL ASPECTS OF SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS
ASSESSMENT AND CASE MANAGEMENT IN SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS
SOCIAL WORK AND THE LAW
SPIRITUALITY AND SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE
GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT: A SOCIAL WORK PERSPECTIVE
CRISIS INTERVENTION
HOSPICE & OTHER SERVICES FOR THE DYING PATIENT/FAMILY
TOPICAL SEMINAR IN SOCIAL WORK
Total Credits57
1

A student must receive grades of "B" or higher in practicum courses (SOWK 8400, SOWK 8410 and SOWK 8420).

Exit Requirements

Academic Policies and Standards

  • The Academic Policies and Standards can be found here.