Blending degrees in these two fields isn’t all that unusual, as social work degrees in particular pair easily with many others, Mandy Weirich, a clinical instructor and the MSW online program coordinator at West Virginia University previously told Fortune. “You can do anything with a social work degree,” she says. “A lot of the skills are transferable to different lines of work.” 

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The MSW/MPH dual degree can prepare students for jobs as a health policy advocate, health agency administrator or in an integrated behavioral health setting as a care manager, health coach, patient advocate, counselor or team leader.

A dual MSW/MPH degree is one of many dual degree programs offered in the social work sector. Some of the other common social work dual-degree programs include the MSW/JD or MSW/MBA , while public health students may opt for dual MPH degrees with business or MPH/MD combos. The MSW/MPH is a natural combination of skillsets focused on personal and communal health, wellbeing, and support.

The value of the dual MSW/MPH degree lies in its ability to combine multiple interests, and ultimately multiple career opportunities, Mansoo Yu, a Professor in the department of public health and school of social work at the University of Missouri tells Fortune. 

“I want to say the mostbenefitof taking this dual degree program is that students will have the opportunity to integrate social work and public health in their own way,” Yu says. This particular dual degree program allows for a flexible intermixing of social work and public health, allowing students to uniquely prepare themselves for jobs that can utilize both skill sets to varying degrees, he adds. 

“One of the differences between the two is that social work is more like a micro level, whereas public health is a big picture, like a macro,” Yu explains, adding that the two fields sit on two opposite ends of an overlapping industry spectrum. “Students can integrate [learning] anywhere between the line—the benefit is that there are a lot of opportunities within the spectrum, depending on where students want to really focus on.”  

While dual offerings like MSW/MPH programs maximize efficiency, they are not for everyone, Yu says. Students should keep in mind that a condensed degree timeline means an “intensive curriculum.” Yu says students who can maintain an open mind and keep up with the workflow would be strong dual-degree candidates. 

Fortune’s comprehensive directory of online MSW programs offers a multitude of information for those looking to find a traditional social work program that best fits their lifestyle, and the best online master’s in public health ranking can help you explore public health programs. But if you’re in the market for specialized dual MSW/MPH programs, here are five to consider.

1. New Mexico State University

At New Mexico State University, students can pursue a dual MSW/MPH degree, with a concentration in health behavior and health promotion. Both programs offer an emphasis on cross-cultural content and social justice. Pursuing both degrees individually requires 108 combined credit hours, but the dual degree program allows students to obtain their MSW/MPH dual degree in only 96 credits. People who are interested in pursuing the joint program must submit separate applications to both programs and complete the necessary steps outlined by New Mexico State.

2. University of Utah 

At the University of Utah, students can pursue a dual MSW/MPH degree in three years in an on-campus program. Individuals who seek the dual degree gain the skills needed to work in multiple sectors across health care and social work, including the planning, management, and delivery of human and health services at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels. Students complete 23 fewer credit hours by participating in the dual degree program and it is mandatory for students to pursue the health area of focus on this degree track. Acceptance to both programs within the same application cycle is required to enroll.

3. Boston University

At Boston University, students can complete the dual MSW/MPH program in a minimum of three years while completing courses either part- or full-time. Students must complete about 93 total credit hours to complete both degrees, according to a school website, and a minimum of 40 credits must be completed in residence at the school of public health. The dual degree program teaches an integrated approach to preventing, addressing and solving health problems, drawing on elements of both social work and public health.

Prospective students aren’t required to apply to both the school of social work and public health simultaneously. Rather, applicants are admitted to one of the two schools first (typically the school of social work) and complete that school’s basic coursework. Before the end of the first year,students apply to the other school.

4. University of Oklahoma

At the University of Oklahoma, prospective students can enroll in a three-year accelerated dual degree MSW/MPH program. A total of 88 curriculum hours are required to complete both degrees. The program aims to equip graduates with the capabilities to advance the health of individuals, families, and communities and elevate the status of people, populations, or communities that experience considerable vulnerability and injustice within Oklahoma and the broader society, according to the program’s description.

Applicants must follow the application instructions outlined for both schools, and should apply and be admitted to both programs to be eligible for the program. 

5. University of Missouri

At the University of Missouri, students can pursue a dual MSW/MPH degree track with an emphasis in health and promotion. The program reduces the traditional study time by one academic year, or 27 credit hours. A total of 78 credit hours are required, with 25 credits “shared” between both programs, which takes eight or nine semesters to complete.

Prospective students must be admitted to the full-time, on-campus regular-standing MSW program and the MPH program before being accepted as a dual-degree student. Individual program application requirements and deadlines apply, and students must fill out a dual-degree completion intent form upon acceptance to both programs. 

Check out all of Fortune’s rankings of degree programs, and learn more about specific career paths.