Program Contact: Clotilde Dudley-Smith 203-582-7889 Stephanie Jacobson 203-582-8907
The Accelerated Dual-Degree BS in Health Science Studies to Master of Social Work (3+2) program is designed for students entering the School of Health Sciences who have an interest in healthcare and want to pursue a career in the field of social work and mental health. Upon admission, students choosing this 3+2 program are assigned to academic advisers who design a customized program to meet the career goals of students.
First-year students are automatically enrolled in a career exploration course to help them increase the breadth and depth of their professional interests. A strong emphasis on individualized academic advising is at the core of this program. The student-adviser relationship provides opportunity and support for each student while pursuing their goals within the Quinnipiac University educational experience.
The Quinnipiac University MSW program prepares social workers for specialized practice in health and mental health. The curriculum emphasizes interprofessional education to familiarize students with a team-based health and mental health care approach. The MSW program equips students to provide clients with clinical social work skills, including counseling, crisis intervention and trauma-informed treatments, as well as access to social welfare and community resources. Students are prepared for social work licensure as part of the MSW coursework. Graduates of this MSW program meet eligibility requirements for both the LMSW and the LCSW.
Social work is the major provider of mental health care and one of the fastest-growing occupations in the United States. Graduates of this MSW program enter a broad range of high-demand fields. Hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, mental health clinics, schools, health departments, and social welfare, criminal justice and community organizations rely on social workers to provide health and mental health care to a wide variety of clients. These include treating persons with trauma, such as veterans with PTSD; people with chronic illnesses; and many others. Social workers are also a crucial link between patients/clients and other healthcare professionals, ensuring that people receive critical health and mental health care.
Through this Accelerated Dual-Degree BS/MSW (3+2) program, students complete both their bachelor's degree and their Master of Social Work in just 5 years.
Accelerated Dual-Degree BS/MSW Program of Study
Undergraduate BS in Health Science Studies Curriculum
A total of 120 credits is required for completion of the BS in Health Science Studies.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Credits | |
| HSC 221 | Introduction to Health Care | 2 |
| BIO 101 & 101L |
General Biology I and General Biology I Lab |
4 |
| Select one of the following: 1 | 4 | |
| General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I Lab |
||
| Fundamentals of General, Organic and Biological Chemistry I and Fundamentals of General, Organic and Biological Chemistry I Lab |
||
| EN 101 | Introduction to Academic Reading and Writing | 3 |
| FYS 101 | First-Year Seminar | 3 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| HSC 202 | Medical Terminology | 2 |
| BIO 102 & 102L |
General Biology II and General Biology Lab II |
4 |
| Select one of the following: 1 | 4 | |
| General Chemistry II and General Chemistry II Lab |
||
| Fundamentals of General, Organic and Biological Chemistry II and Fundamentals of General, Organic and Biological Chemistry II Lab |
||
| EN 102 | Academic Writing and Research | 3 |
| UC Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Total Credits | 32 | |
- 1
Chemistry courses and additional math courses depend on intended professional goal or career plan and math placement score.
Subsequent Course and GPA Requirements
Health Science Studies students must maintain a minimum overall science GPA of 2.25. Students meet with their academic advisers to develop a customized plan of study that incorporates their academic and career goals. To remain in good standing in the 3+2 program, students must maintain an overall GPA of 3.00, complete 20 credits in liberal arts, and earn 120 credits for degree completion in the third year. It is essential that students work closely with their academic adviser to carefully plan their course of study.
Students in this program take 9 credits of graduate coursework in their third year. These 9 MSW credits are used to fulfill both undergraduate and graduate requirements. Students must achieve a grade of B or higher in the graduate social work courses. Students earn the Master's Degree in Social Work upon satisfactory completion of all MSW graduate curriculum requirements.
Course selections must fulfill the following:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Curriculum Requirements | ||
| University Curriculum Requirements | 46 | |
| Foundational Science Core (biology, chemistry & physics) | 13 | |
| Health Science Core Courses | 7 | |
| Health Science Track Electives | 6-15 | |
| Science Electives | 9-18 | |
| Open Electives | 30 | |
| Total Credits | 120-123 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Health Science Studies (HSC) Possible Courses | ||
| HSC 202 | Medical Terminology * | 2 |
| HSC 205 | Age-Related Community Engagement Youth (HSC 505) | 1 |
| HSC 206 | Community Engagement Legacy Service Learning Seminar: International (HSC 506) | 1 |
| HSC 207 | Interprofessional Community-Based Service Learning Seminar: Special Populations (HSC 507) | 1 |
| HSC 210 | Introduction to Evidence-Based Health Care | 3 |
| HSC 214 | Care and Prevention of Athletic Injuries | 3 |
| HSC 215 | Complementary and Alternative Medicine - a Health Science Perspective | 3 |
| HSC 220 | Health Care Essentials: Structure, Policy and Professionalism * | 3 |
| HSC 221 | Introduction to Health Care * | 2 |
| HSC 225 | Writing in the Health Professions | 3 |
| HSC 230 | Counseling and Teaching for Health Care Professionals | 3 |
| HSC 250 | Communication Disorders | 3 |
| HSC 261 | 3 | |
| HSC 262 | Nutrition in Health and Illness | 3 |
| HSC 270 | Pillars of Public Health: Saving the World on a Population Level | 3 |
| HSC 301 | Health Care Challenges and Team-Based Solutions | 1 |
| HSC 305 | Emotional/Social Intelligence for the Health Sciences | 2 |
| HSC 315 | Bioethical Issues in the 21st Century | 3 |
| HSC 320 | The Environment and Human Health | 3 |
| HSC 330 | Leadership: Creating Adaptive Cultures | 3 |
| HSC 334 | Clinical Skills Patient Communication | 1 |
| HSC 350 | Language Development | 3 |
| HSC 351 | Pharmacological Interventions for Common Medical Conditions | 3 |
| HSC 375 | Immunology | 3 |
| HSC 378 | Vaccines and Vaccine-Preventable Diseases | 3 |
| HSC 380 | International Health Care - Field Research | 3 |
| HSC 388 & 388L | EMT I Training and EMT I Training Lab | 3 |
| HSC 389 & 389L | EMT Training II and EMT Training II Lab | 3 |
| HSC 397 | Pre-Health Professions Clinical Affiliation | 3 |
| HSC 460 | Advanced Nutrition | 3 |
| HSC 498 | Independent Study in Health Sciences | 1-4 |
| HSC 505 | Interprofessional Community-Based Service Learning Seminar: Age-Related (HSC 205) | 1 |
| HSC 506 | Interprofessional Community-Based Service Learning Seminar: International (HSC 206) | 1 |
| HSC 507 | Interprofessional Community-Based Service Learning Seminar: Special Populations (HSC 207) | 1-2 |
- *
Health Science Studies Core Course
MSW Courses (taken in the third year)
Students admitted to the program take 9 credits of graduate coursework in their third year:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | ||
| SW 504 | Social Welfare and Social Policy | 3 |
| SW 511 | Human Behavior in the Social Environment I: Theories for Practice for Individuals and Families | 3 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| SW 512 | Human Behavior in the Social Environment II: Theories for Groups, Organizations and Communities | 3 |
Admission Requirements
The requirements for admission into the undergraduate Health Science Studies programs are the same as those for admission to Quinnipiac University. The Accelerated Dual-Degree BS/MSW (3+2) is primarily a direct admit program for first-year students.
Admission to the university is competitive, and applicants are expected to present a strong college prep program in high school. Prospective first-year students are strongly encouraged to file an application as early in the senior year as possible, and arrange to have first quarter grades sent from their high school counselor as soon as they are available.
For detailed admission requirements, including required documents, please visit the Admissions page of this catalog.