The Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis has launched three new joint-degree programs and a dual-degree program with Fudan University to begin this fall, expanding class offerings and learning opportunities both in St. Louis and around the world.
Doctor of Medicine (MD)/Master of Public Health (MPH) program,
offered in partnership with the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, is designed for medical students with a special interest in community health. The dual degree approaches improving health from the perspective of prevention. Students will gain an understanding of the social, economic, environmental and cultural determinants of health, and learn to apply evidence-based approaches to community-level disease prevention, health promotion and health policy.
“Medicine and public health have many valuable synergies and the joint MD/MPH degree brings them together,” said Amy Eyler, PhD, assistant dean for Public Health and assistant professor at the Brown School. She co-chairs the joint-degree program with Will Ross, MD, associate dean for diversity and associate professor of medicine at the School of Medicine.
“Through this degree, physicians can enhance their knowledge and skills needed to address complex health problems affecting communities and society,” Eyler said.
For more information, visit mph.wustl.edu/dual.
The Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT)/Master of Public Health (MPH) degree, offered in partnership with the School of Medicine, will give students a unique combination of skills and knowledge to benefit communities and populations, and will create new pathways of research, practice and health programming.
The health-care professions are adapting, changing and evolving through evidence-based practice, research and technological innovations, and policy reform. In recent years, that adaptation has included broadening the clinical scope to include not only a biomedical view of health, but sociocultural, community and population perspectives as well.
“This joint degree combines biomedical knowledge with a community and population focus that can expand graduates’ career options,” said Steve Taff, PhD, assistant professor of occupational therapy and associate director of professional education and academic affairs at the School of Medicine. “This training equips new practitioners with the paradigm-spanning skill set that is needed in the new healthcare landscape.”
For more information, visit mph.wustl.edu/dual.
The Master of Social Work (MSW)/Master of Arts in Education (MAEd) program, offered in partnership with the Department of Education in the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, will prepare graduates for leadership in classroom, school systems or the policy sphere.
The program aims to develop leaders who are committed to addressing the pressing challenges facing urban schools, increasing student achievement and shaping education policy. Students will be prepared for these leadership roles through coursework, training and mentorship.
“With the focus on social work and education, the MSW/MAEd prepares students to address the unique needs of students in urban classrooms,” said Sheretta Butler-Barnes, PhD, assistant professor at the Brown School and chair of the program. “This program empowers students with the knowledge and skills to become transformative leaders.”
For more information, vist msw.wustl.edu/dual.
The Master of Social Policy (MSP)/Master of Arts (MA) degree program combines training in a specific discipline with knowledge and skills in social policy analysis, evaluation, management and leadership. It will be offered in partnership with Fudan University in Shanghai, China. Fudan is one of Washington University’s 28 partner institutions through the McDonnell International Scholars Academy.
Graduates will have the necessary skills and experiences to advance social welfare and to develop and implement innovative policy approaches. They will be poised to address social problems and policy challenges through leadership positions in government, business and nonprofit organizations.
“The dual-degree program enables students to combine deep knowledge of a discipline with the skills and knowledge to be a leader and innovator in social policy,” said Carolyn Lesorogol, PhD, associate professor at the Brown School and chair of the program. “With its focus on management and leadership, the MSP/MA program prepares graduates to make a positive impact on a large scale.”
For more information, visit brownschool.wustl.edu/socialpolicy.