Holistic Health Studies & Social Work - Dual Degree
Master of Arts in Holistic Health Studies & Master of Social Work Dual Degree Program
The MAHS/MSW is a collaborative dual degree program in holistic health studies and social work. The intersectionality of these two programs mirrors the intersectionality of health, showing that everyone, regardless of race, culture, age, economic status, sexuality, or gender deserves the opportunity to thrive and live a healthy life. Keeping with the social justice mission of St. Catherine University, these two programs propel social justice outside of the classroom into the community through engaging assignments, research, and practicums. Each program provides students with the unique skills and competencies from the fields of Holistic Health and Social Work to empathetically work with diverse populations, honor cultural backgrounds, and communicate effectively with those in need.
Graduate Outcome and Competences
Expected outcomes and competencies for the MAHS/MSW dual degree program are consistent with the outcomes and competencies required for all students who complete the MAHS and the MSW programs separately. Students will complete the MAHS research sequence in order to fully encompass both avenues of their studies into one holistic, cumulative research project. Students earn both a Master of Arts in Holistic Health Studies and Master of Social Work degree by the end of the program.
The dual degree program requires that students meet the disciplinary requirement for both the MAHS and MSW programs.
Program Progression
Students have the option to start in the dual degree program during their initial enrollment at St. Catherine University, or begin in one program and be admitted to the dual degree program after the first semester of enrollment in either program. Once accepted, students will receive advising from the program directors of each program in a collaborative process to ensure proper sequencing of courses and management of appropriate course load.
Students enroll in the dual degree program from a variety of undergraduate degrees and disciplines. How students progress in the program depends on whether they have an undergraduate degree in social work (advanced standing) or not (regular standing):
- Advanced standing students will find the dual degree path to be a rewarding graduate-level addition to their foundational knowledge of social work. Advanced standing students need to complete 58 total credits in order to complete the dual degree.
- Regular standing students can have a bachelor’s degree in any field, as long as the prerequisite classes are completed before beginning graduate courses. Regular standing students need to complete 73 total credits.
The dual degree program requires that students meet the disciplinary requirement for both the MAHS and MSW programs, with a completion of the dual degree program within seven years of starting.
Career Possibilities
Students will refine their calling to expand possibilities for health and healing with diverse populations in a wide variety of professional settings.
The St. Catherine alumni community is a well-respected and well-connected group of motivated, passionate, and soulful people. Alumni of the dual-degree program can be found working both in the greater Twin Cities area in Minnesota, as well as the US west and east coasts. The unique qualities of the MAHS/MSW dual-degree program prepare students to thrive in settings such as mental health support, medical institutions, and educational settings.
Some examples of alumni careers are: holistic health practitioner/educator, equity and inclusion advocate, therapist, clinical social worker for psychiatric emergency services, assistant director of counseling services, and mental health practitioner.
The dual degree program consists of courses taken both in the MAHS and MSW curricula. Requirements will vary based on the student's prior Bachelor's degree:
- Students with a prior Bachelor's degree in social work (from a CSWE-accredited program at a regionally accredited college or university) will complete 28 credits in the MAHS curriculum and 30 credits in the MSW curriculum, for a total of 58 graduate credits.
- Students who have a prior Bachelor's degree in another field will complete 28 credits in the MAHS curriculum and 45 credits in the MSW curriculum, for a total of 73 graduate credits between both programs.
Students in the dual degree program may also choose to declare a Specialization in Addiction & Recovery Counseling as part of their MSW program.
Holistic Health Studies Curriculum
The following curriculum is only for students who are dual enrolled in the Master of Social Work program.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HHS 6700 | Foundations of Holistic Health and Wellness | 2 |
| HHS 8900 | Quantitative and Qualitative Research: Mindful Inquiry | 3 |
| HHS 8920 | Practicum and Integrative Seminar | 2 |
| HHS 8940 | Research Methods and Statistics | 3 |
| HHS 8980 | Research Seminar | 2 |
| Choose 16 Elective Credits From: | 16 | |
| Complementary/Alternative Approaches to Healthcare | ||
| Culture as a Resource in Health and Healing | ||
| Spiritual Wellness | ||
| Ecology and Health | ||
| Movement, Relaxation and Health | ||
| Journeys of Death and Dying | ||
| Plants, Culture, and Healing | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Core Concepts in Mind/Body Interactions | ||
| Women and Holistic Health | ||
| Alternative Approaches to Nutrition | ||
| Mindfulness Based Meditation | ||
| Perspectives of Health and Healing in India | ||
| Energy Healing I | ||
| Energy Healing II | ||
| Total Credits | 28 | |
Social Work - Regular Standing Curriculum
The following curriculum is only for students who are dual enrolled in the Master of Holistic Health Studies program and do not have a previous Bachelor's degree in social work.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GRSW 5000 | History and Philosophy of Social Work | 3 |
| GRSW 5010 | Theory and Practice of Social Work I | 3 |
| GRSW 5020 | Theory and Practice of Social Work II | 3 |
| GRSW 5050 | Field Practicum and Seminar I | 3 |
| GRSW 5060 | Field Practicum and Seminar II | 3 |
| GRSW 5400 | Human Behavior and the Social Environment | 3 |
| GRSW 6030 | Methods of Clinical Social Work I | 3 |
| GRSW 6040 | Methods of Clinical Social Work II | 3 |
| GRSW 6073 | Field Practicum & Seminar III | 3 |
| GRSW 6083 | Field Practicum & Seminar IV | 3 |
| GRSW 6250 | Social Policy and Advocacy Practice | 3 |
| GRSW 6450 | Clinical Assessment | 3 |
| GRSW 6500 | Clinical Supervision and Program Management | 3 |
| GRSW Electives (see list below) 1 | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 45 | |
- 1
Not required for students who have declared a Specialization in Addiction & Recovery Counseling as part of their MSW program.
Social Work - Advanced Standing Curriculum
The following curriculum is only for students who are dual enrolled in the Master of Holistic Health Studies program and have a previous Bachelor's degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program at a regionally accredited college or university
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GRSW 5000 | History and Philosophy of Social Work | 3 |
| GRSW 6030 | Methods of Clinical Social Work I | 3 |
| GRSW 6040 | Methods of Clinical Social Work II | 3 |
| GRSW 6073 | Field Practicum & Seminar III | 3 |
| GRSW 6083 | Field Practicum & Seminar IV | 3 |
| GRSW 6250 | Social Policy and Advocacy Practice | 3 |
| GRSW 6450 | Clinical Assessment | 3 |
| GRSW 6500 | Clinical Supervision and Program Management | 3 |
| GRSW Electives (see list below) 1 | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
- 1
Not required for students who have declared a Specialization in Addictions & Recovery Counseling as part of their MSW program.
GRSW Elective options
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CAST 5000 | Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Child Maltreatment and Advocacy | 3 |
| CAST 5100 | Building Resilience for Professional Sustainability in the Helping Professions | 3 |
| CAST 5200 | Professional and Systemic Responses to Child Abuse and Maltreatment | 3 |
| GRSW 5410 | Social Work Practice with Immigrants and Refugees | 3 |
| GRSW 5903 | Topics | 3 |
| GRSW 5950 | Gender, Sexuality, and Culturally Responsive Practice | 3 |
| GRSW 6090 | The Spiritual Dimension of Social Work Practice | 3 |
| GRSW 6120 | Grief Counseling and Therapy | 3 |
| GRSW 6190 | Integrative Psychotherapy | 3 |
| GRSW 6220 | Clinical Practice with Adolescents | 3 |
| GRSW 6230 | Clinical Practice with Older Adults | 3 |
| GRSW 6260 | Clinical Practice for the Treatment of Trauma | 3 |
| GRSW 6280 | Clinical Practice with Immigrants and Refugees | 3 |
| GRSW 6290 | Clinical Social Work Practice in Integrated Healthcare | 3 |
| GRSW 6330 | Dialectical Behavioral Therapy | 3 |
| GRSW 6903 | Topics | 3 |