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A dual master's degree to serve both social and spiritual needs

This year Augsburg College and Luther Seminary launched a pilot program offering a dual degree in social work (M.S.W.) and ministry (M.A. or M.Div.).

The dual degree focuses on meeting the educational interests of people planning to serve the spiritual and social needs of families, individuals and communities in both rural and urban settings.

Rosemary Link, professor of social work and dual degree program coordinator at Augsburg, states, "In developing this dual degree we are having dialogue across disciplines and institutions. Together we are learning ways to help students: to recognize the role of spirituality in finding meaning in people's lives, to support the expansion of faith-based human services and to equip students with the skills to pursue spiritual conversations.

The objectives of the dual degree are:

a. To educate practitioners in social work and ministry who can combine the values, skills and knowledge of both theology and social work to serve people in more holistic ways.

b. To generate the partnerships necessary to serve the complex needs of communities and people experiencing transition in their lives, including the change of government support for those in poverty.

c. To prepare practitioners to seek the strengths of interdisciplinary teams in the human service and pastoral settings.

Paul Berge, coordinator of the program at Luther Seminary, lauds the collaboration of the two disciplines and institutions. "It's exactly what we need to be about in the life of the church and community. In the dual degree program in social work and ministry we are establishing a relationship where we see ourselves not as competitors but colleagues in ministering to the whole person."

Students must be accepted into both Augsburg and Luther Seminary. Approximately 10 students have applied to date.

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