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Become a Healthcare Advocate

In Dominican’s MSW health and well-being track, you’ll prepare to take a person-centered approach to health, to work collaboratively as a member of an interdisciplinary healthcare team, and to advocate for access to equitable healthcare resources for underserved communities.

At Dominican, we believe social work professionals can play a positive role in reducing health and healthcare disparities, which impact communities of color especially hard. Social determinants of health, such as poverty, unequal access to care, stigma and racism, contribute to these inequities.

The health and well-being track is designed to prepare you to make recommendations for ending such disparities and empowering the communities of color that are most affected by them.

• Gain hands-on experience through placements in health care and wellness settings
• Courses taught by leading faculty with real-world experience

What You’ll Learn

Social work professionals are an integral part of today’s complex, multifaceted healthcare systems and in the advocacy work surrounding health equity. At Dominican, you’ll prepare for both clinical and advocacy roles in the healthcare and wellness fields.

You’ll analyze and critique current social work frameworks, theories and interventions in health and mental healthcare with a focus on a holistic approach and trauma-informed care. The curriculum is designed to sharpen your analysis of the complexities of health disparities and social determinants of health.

The coursework includes options to explore areas such as substance abuse, crisis intervention and play therapy, which can be incorporated into your desired area of social work practice.

All courses are taught on campus and online by leading faculty who have real-world experience in medical, public health and clinical (behavioral health) social work settings. You’ll enjoy access to a variety of placement options in health settings. You’ll be ready to provide competent service to this important population and to advocate for change. .

Required Courses

Students in the health and well-being social work track are required to take the following courses in addition to the general MSW curriculum:

• Social Work and Health (SWK630)
• Health Disparities and Social Determinants of Health (SWK631)

What to Expect as You Earn Your MSW at Dominican

The º£½ÇÉçÇø experience is one that embraces unique viewpoints, values hands-on learning and fosters collaborative relationships—among faculty, students and the communities that we hope to influence through our values-centered degree programs. When you study for your Master of Social Work here, you’ll get the benefit of modern learning designed for working professionals as well as a relationship-focused atmosphere that will help you become a stronger leader in your field.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)