Doctor of Jurisprudence
The School of Social Work and School of Law have established a dual degree that offers students an opportunity to integrate each profession's conceptual frameworks, knowledge bases, and practice skills through a program of study that would enhance their work as effective practitioners in today's complex legal and social service environments. This dual degree program expands and further enhances existing opportunities for collaboration between the School of Law and School of Social Work. The MSSW/JD dual degree program is designed so that students can earn an MSSW and JD degree in four years rather than the five years required to complete the two degrees independently.
The most challenging social problems facing the United States today often require an interdisciplinary approach in order to effectively respond to their complexity and multifaceted nature. Social work and law share much in common and represent one significant area of interdisciplinary convergence. In professional practice, the unique knowledge and skills of lawyers and social workers often converge in fields of practice such as child welfare, juvenile justice, mental health, family mediation, domestic violence, immigration, housing, and legal aid to the poor. Both social workers and lawyers have a deep and abiding professional commitment to client advocacy and social justice. And they often serve the same client populations; people who have been disenfranchised and oppressed by unfair public policies, personal circumstances, or the actions and inactions of others.
MSSW/JD Program Options
There are 4 program options for the MSSW/JD dual degree.
- 4 Year Full-time Program
- Post BSW Track 42 Hour Program (Spring Admission)
- Post BSW Track 42 Hour Program (Summer Admission)
- Post BSW Track 48 Hour Program
Programs of work for each program option are available for download in Word or PDF.
Application to the Dual Degree Program (MSSW/JD)
In addition to all of the materials required for admission to the MSSW program, applicants to the Dual Degree program must also apply and be accepted to Doctor of Jurisprudence Program at the Law School.