About the Dual Degree in Public Health (M.P.H.) and Counseling (M.A.C.)
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 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 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).
Program Goals and Objectives
Public Health (MPH)
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)
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 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 with 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.
Admission Requirements
Dual degree candidates must be admitted to each of the programs in order to enroll in the dual-degree program. The MPH program requires a Summer start (late May) but reviews applications in line with the MAC program. Thus, the Deadline for Fall admission is January 15. The deadline for Spring admission is November 1. If a student is accepted to the Fall start of the MAC program, they must enroll in the MPH the May prior to that start. If a student is accepted to the Spring start of the MAC program, they must enroll in the MPH summer session after their first Spring semester.
Program-Specific Admission Requirements
The following requirements must be met:
- A graduate application, including personal statements, to be completed online on our How to Apply to Graduate Programs page.
- A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution with a recommended GPA of 3.0 or better.
- One official transcript from each college, university, or professional school attended. Transfer credits included on a transcript must include grades earned; if not, an official transcript from the original school must be submitted. Transcripts must be sent from the issuing school in a sealed envelope and contain the appropriate signatures and seals to be considered official.
- Completion of at least three Psychology courses (must include Introductory Psychology) and an Elementary Statistics course, with grades of "B" or better in each.
- Three letters of recommendation. The letters must be of a professional, not personal nature and one from a health professional. If the student has been out of school five years or less, at least one letter must come from a professor.
- Knowledge of the Public Health profession through work or volunteer experience.
- An interview with the Counseling department (by invitation only).
- International applicants should visit our International page for detailed information on admission requirements and application procedures. Official results from the TOEFL or IELTS are required for all students for whom English is a second language except for non-native speakers of English who hold degrees or diplomas from post-secondary institutions in English-speaking countries (e.g. the United States, Canada, England, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand). A course-by-course evaluation of all transcripts by an independent evaluation service based in the United States also is required.
Expenses
2021-2022 Tuition
- $805 per credit for Counseling
- $795 per credit for Public Health
Fees
- Registration fees: $50 per semester
- Technology fees: $100 per semester
- Parking fees: $55 per semester (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 our Financial Aid page for information regarding available aid options, and visit our Graduate Financial Aid page 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 overall summer sessions combined satisfies this requirement). For more information, visit our Financial Aid page.
