About the Dual Degree Program
This dual degree will enable practitioners to implement both individual and systemic change in the mental health and public health fields, by integrating the tools of the counselor with the tools of public health.
The Master of Arts in Counseling (MAC) educates and socializes students to become practioners skiled in the art of behavior assessment and change. This is accomplished through a program that integrates theory and pracctice (both within and outside of the classroom) from the beginning of the program. The MAC allows students to become licensed as professional counselors in Pennsylvania.
The Master of Public Health (MPH) educates community health professionals to promote the health of individuals, families, communities, and the environment. This is accomplished through a program that integrates education, research, and practice in a global environment. Dual degree candidates must be accepted to each of the programs in order to enroll in the dual degree (only one application will be required).
With dual degrees, students gain knowledge in two fields as they prepare for their professional careers.
Students explore the relationship between mental health conditions on an individual level on the one hand, population health and the health of communities on the other. Students are challenged to participate in meaningful internships, develop critical analyses, propose effective solutions, and contribute substantively to the current dynamics linking individual health with the health of communities. There are multiple opportunities for students to work in situations that will allow them to combine their Counseling clinical training with their Public Health community-based internship requirement. Students earn 78 credits in this program.
While the MAC prepares students to identify lifestyle factors that may lead to increased risk for serious mental health problems, the focus of the training is on the individual, rather than on a population, and on remediation, rather than prevention. In contrast, the MPH explores the frequency, distribution, and social determinants of public health related issues within human populations with a focus on prevention. This dual degree enables practitioners to implement both individual and systemic change in the mental health and public health fields by integrating the tools of counseling with the tools of public health.
The MPH program is accredited by the Council for Education in Public Health (CEPH). The Counseling program is accredited by the Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC).
Public Health (MPH) Goals and Objectives
The Master of Public Health degree educates community health professionals to promote the health of individuals, families, communities, and the environment. This is accomplished through a program that integrates education, research, and practice in a global environment.
The goals of the MPH in Community Health program are to:
- Educate community health professionals and develop the skills needed to promote health within communities.
- Provide an academic environment that integrates community public health education with research and practice.
- Translate knowledge into practice through collaborative service projects both domestically and internationally. This can be accomplished through internships with community-based organizations and local health departments.
- Employ scientific investigation to advance public health knowledge of the relationship between health and the structural environment within which individuals live and work.
Counseling (MAC) Goals and Objectives
The Master of Arts in Counseling (MAC) educates and socializes students to become practitioners skilled in the art of behavior assessment and change. This is accomplished through a program that integrates theory and practice (both within and outside of the classroom) from the beginning of the program.
The program is structured to develop professional-level competence in:
- Applying an evidence-based model of counseling
- Integrating multicultural practice in counseling
- Developing the professional skills to pursue specific careers in counseling
- Incorporating self-care into their counseling careers
Dual Degree Goals and Objectives
Arcadia students will:
- Learn about public health and counseling principles from a global perspective.
- Integrate their public health education with their clinical counseling training through community projects/internships that enhance their clinical and community-based skills within the United States and/or internationally.
- Enhance understanding of the scope of public health issues surrounding individual patients and their relationships to their families and their larger communities.
- Combine the advocacy agendas proposed by both the public health and counseling fields to most effectively address individual and group problems.
Expenses
2020-2021 Tuition: $790 per credit for Counseling.
$780 per credit for Public Health.
Fees:
- Registration: $50 per semester
- Technology: $100 per semester
- Parking: $55 per semester or $100 per year (Fall and Spring) before 4 p.m. No charge after 4 p.m.
Financial Aid
Graduate students who have been accepted into a degree program and are enrolled for at least 6 credits per semester are eligible to apply for financial aid. Please visit www.arcadia.edu/finaid for information regarding available aid options and visit www.arcadia.edu/gradfinaidapply to complete required forms online.
Graduate Assistantships/Graduate Student Employment
Graduate Assistantships/Graduate Student Employment may be available to graduate students registered for at least 9 credits per semester. Students may apply for assistantships/graduate student employment upon acceptance and registration. Questions regarding graduate assistantships should be directed to the Office of Graduate and Undergraduate Studies at 215-572-2925.
Federal Loans
Graduate students are eligible to borrow through the Federal Direct Stafford Loan and Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan programs provided they are taking at least 6 credits per semester (in the summer, 6 credits over all summer sessions combined satisfies this requirement). For more information, visit www.arcadia.edu/finaid.
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