-
Gretchen Bean
CLINICAL ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR -
Kelsey Boucher
CLINICAL ASSISTANT PROFESSOR -
Vernon Carter
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR -
Christie Davis
CLINICAL ASSISTANT PROFESSOR -
John DeJoie
LECTURER -
Ngozi Enelamah
Assistant Professor -
Chung Hyeon Jeong
Asst Professor -
BoRin Kim
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR -
Will Lusenhop
CLINICAL ASSISTANT PROFESSOR -
Joanne Malloy
RESEARCH ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR -
Katie McCoy
Clinical Assistant Professor -
Sherri Simmons-Horton
Assistant Professor -
Sheryl Thompson
Clinical Asst Professor -
Anita Tucker
PROFESSOR -
Melissa Wells
PROFESSOR -
Meredith Young
Clinical Assistant Professor
Social Work and Kinesiology Dual Degree (M.S./M.S.W.)
Social Work and Kinesiology Dual Degree (M.S./M.S.W.)

UNH’s dual degree in social work and kinesiology: outdoor education is one of the nation’s leading programs training mental health professionals to work in the expanding field of adventure therapy. This program unites the clinical training of UNH’s top-ranked social work degree and its pioneering outdoor education program. Graduates of the dual degree pursue successful, satisfying careers that bring counseling skills into challenging wilderness experiences for a therapeutic intervention that’s highly effective in promoting wellness and mental health, particularly among adolescents.
WHY GET YOUR DUAL MASTER’S DEGREE IN SOCIAL WORK AND KINESIOLOGY?
By getting the dual degree of an M.S.W. in social work and an M.S. in kinesiology with a concentration in outdoor education, you’ll be uniquely prepared to work in the expanding field of adventure therapy. One of the nation’s leading programs for mental health professionals, this graduate program unites the clinical training of UNH’s top-ranked social work degree and its pioneering outdoor education program. Graduates of the dual degree pursue successful, satisfying careers that bring counseling skills into challenging wilderness experiences for a therapeutic intervention that’s highly effective in promoting wellness and mental health, particularly among adolescents.
WHY STUDY SOCIAL WORK AND KINESIOLOGY AT UNH?
UNH’s social work and kinesiology graduate faculty are recognized leaders in their fields. The program emphasizes both classroom learning and hands-on learning in the lab and in the evidenced-based practices of the field. You will graduate prepared with the leadership skills and confidence needed to succeed in the workplace and emerge as a leader in your chosen area. Dual-degree social work and kinesiology students take classes simultaneously over the course of two and a half years in social work, kinesiology and outdoor education, including two internships, one of which concentrates on the utilization and application of adventure therapy in an agency setting.
POTENTIAL CAREER AREAS
- Adventure therapy
- Community centers
- Juvenile criminal justice
- Nonprofits
- Outdoor programs
- Public policy
- Schools
- Social work
- Youth programs
Contact
Michael Gass
Pettee Hall, 55 College Road
Durham, NH 03824 Phone: (603) 862-1799
Email: unh.socialwork@unh.edu
Curriculum & Requirements
Social Work and Kinesiology
Dual-degree Social Work and Kinesiology students take classes simultaneously over the course of two-and-and-half years in both Social Work and Kinesiology: Outdoor Education and complete a minimum of 78 credits for graduation. This includes two internships, one during their first year of study, and a second specialized block placement internship over the summer following the second year of study, which concentrates on the utilization and application of adventure therapy in an agency setting. This block placement internship may occur in New England or in other appropriate settings across the U.S. Students should be prepared to travel to their internships if needed. Students are also required to complete a teaching practicum supporting faculty teaching in the outdoor education program as well as an advanced studies project during their last year of study, which is supervised by faculty in Kinesiology: Outdoor Education and Social Work
Admission Requirements
Dual degree applicants in Social Work and Kinesiology: Outdoor Education must meet the requirements for both Social Work and Kinesiology: Outdoor Education. Applicants should check each program for their requirements which may be different; however, it is important to note that dual degree students are required for admission to have a minimum of 2 years of experience (post undergraduate) in the field of outdoor education with evidence of considerable leadership time with groups in outdoor settings, preferably with therapeutic populations. Applicants do not need to apply separately to each program but are instructed to apply online via the graduate school for the “Social Work: Dual Degree MSW and MS Kinesiology” option. Applicants only need to provide one well-constructed double-spaced essay of 4-5 pages. Please respond to the questions below: (1) How did you become interested in pursuing a dual degree in Social Work and Kinesiology: outdoor education? (2) What personal, academic, organizational, volunteer and/or paid work experiences have influenced your choice of social work combined with outdoor education as a profession? (3) Briefly discuss a current social issue of great concern or interest to you. (4) Describe some intellectual and personal attributes that you believe make you particularly suited for the profession of social work combined with outdoor education. No GREs required for admission.
Dual degree applications are due by February 1st.
For additional information regarding the Social Work/KIN dual degree admission requirements, contact Anita Tucker or Michael Gass.
Social Work and Kinesiology Dual Degree Program MSW/MS Courses
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
SW 820 | Social Welfare Policy I | 3 |
SW 830 | Social Work Practice I | 3 |
SW 831 | Social Work Practice II: Practice in Small Groups and Community Organizations | 3 |
SW 840 | Implications of Race, Culture, and Oppression for Social Work Practice | 3 |
SW 850 | Human Behavior and the Social Environment I (HBSE I) | 3 |
SW 851 | Human Behavior and the Social Environment II (HBSE II) | 3 |
SW 865 | Adventure Therapy: Facilitation and Processing of the Experience | 3 |
SW 880 | Field Internship I (seminar and concurrent twoday/week internship/academic year) | 3 |
SW 881 | Field Internship II | 3 |
KIN 882 | Therapeutic Applications of Adventure Programming | 4 |
KIN 883 | Psych Factors of Adventure Ed | 4 |
KIN 884 | Historical Foundations of Outdoor Experiential Education | 4 |
KIN 885 | Program Models and Evaluation in Outdoor Education | 4 |
KIN 886 | Organization and Administration of Outdoor Education Programs | 4 |
KIN 897 | Advanced Topics in Outdoor Education | 6 |
SW 926 | Social Welfare Policy II | 3 |
SW 930 | Advanced General Practice III: Clinical Assessment and Intervention | 3 |
SW 931 | Advanced Generalist Practice IV: Community and Administrative Practice | 3 |
SW 952 | Human Behavior and the Social Environment III | 3 |
SW 962 | Data Analysis and Statistics | 3 |
SW 982 | Field Internship III | 4 |
SW 983 | Field Internship IV | 4 |
KIN 993 | Teaching Practicum | 2 |
Total Credits | 78 |
Social Work (M.S.W) Student Learning Outcomes:
- Student demonstrates ethical and professional behavior.
- Student engages diversity and difference in practice.
- Student advances human rights and social, economic and environmental justice.
- Engage in practice informed research and research-informed practice.
- Engages in policy practice.
- Engage with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
- Assess individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
- Intervenes with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
- Evaluates practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
Kinesiology (M.S.) Student Learning Outcomes:
- Demonstrates mastery of major theories, approaches, concepts, and both current and classical theoretical findings within their selected field of study.
- Compiles and critiques current peer-reviewed research, practice of industry standards, and theoretical foundations to produce a paper or project of publishable quality that enhances existing knowledge or creates new knowledge in a specific area within the option.
- Demonstrates proficiency and mastery of specific skills within the profession, which is grounded in evidence-based practice.
- Displays professionally appropriate behaviors, ethical standards, sensitivity, compassion, tolerance of individual differences, and demonstrates the ability to work in a diverse and interprofessional work environment.
Deadlines
Applications must be completed by the following deadlines in order to be reviewed for admission:
- Fall: Feb. 1
- Spring: N/A
- Summer: N/A
- Special: N/A
Application fee: $65
Campus: Durham
New England Regional: ME MA RI CT VT
Accelerated Masters Eligible: No
New Hampshire Residents
Students claiming in-state residency must also submit a Proof of Residence Form. This form is not required to complete your application, but you will need to submit it after you are offered admission or you will not be able to register for classes.
Transcripts
If you attended UNH or Granite State College (GSC) after September 1, 1991, and have indicated so on your online application, we will retrieve your transcript internally; this includes UNH-Durham, UNH-Manchester, UNH Non-Degree work and GSC.
If you did not attend UNH, or attended prior to September 1, 1991, then you must upload a copy (PDF) of your transcript in the application form. International transcripts must be translated into English.
If admitted, you must then request an official transcript be sent directly to our office from the Registrar's Office of each college/university attended. We accept transcripts both electronically and in hard copy:
- Electronic Transcripts: Please have your institution send the transcript directly to grad.school@unh.edu. Please note that we can only accept copies sent directly from the institution.
- Paper Transcripts: Please send hard copies of transcripts to: UNH Graduate School, Thompson Hall- 105 Main Street, Durham, NH 03824. You may request transcripts be sent to us directly from the institution or you may send them yourself as long as they remain sealed in the original university envelope.
Transcripts from all previous post-secondary institutions must be submitted and applicants must disclose any previous academic or disciplinary sanctions that resulted in their temporary or permanent separation from a previous post-secondary institution. If it is found that previous academic or disciplinary separations were not disclosed, applicants may face denial and admitted students may face dismissal from their academic program.
Letters of recommendation: 3 required
Recommendation letters submitted by relatives or friends, as well as letters older than one year, will not be accepted.
At least one letter must attest to observed skills in an employment setting that would be indicative of success in the social work and outdoor education field.
In addition, if applying to the Exercise Science option, at least two of the letters must come from professors that you took classes from at your undergraduate institution.
Personal Statement/Essay Questions
Social Work & Kinesiology: Outdoor Education Dual Degree Personal Statement:
Applicants must provide one well-constructed double-spaced essay of 4-5 pages. Please respond to the questions below: 1) How did you become interested in pursuing a dual degree in social work and kinesiology: outdoor education? 2) What personal, academic, organizational, volunteer and/or paid work experiences have influenced your choice of social work combined with outdoor education as a profession? 3) Briefly discuss a current social issue of great concern or interest to you. 4) Describe some intellectual and personal attributes that you believe make you particularly suited for the profession of social work combined with outdoor education.
Resume
A current resume is required with your submitted application.
Important Notes
All applicants are encouraged to contact programs directly to discuss program-specific application questions.
Additional Department Requirements
Two years of full-time experience in the field is strongly recommended. Graduation from an accredited undergraduate institution with a broad liberal arts background is required.
International Applicants
Prospective international students are required to submit TOEFL, IELTS, or equivalent examination scores. English Language Exams may be waived if English is your first language. If you wish to request a waiver, then please visit our Test Scores webpage for more information.