Program Contact: Amber Kelly 203-582-7843; Carolyn Kaas 203-582-3234
Students interested in earning both a JD degree and a Master of Social Work degree may earn both degrees on an accelerated basis by enrolling in the Dual-Degree JD/MSW program.
The two degree programs, if completed separately, require 146 credits – 86 for the JD and 60 for the MSW. Students in the dual-degree program are required to complete only 131 total credits. Dual-degree students earn 1) their JD with 77 law credits and 9 social work credits (from courses approved in advance by the law school associate dean for academic affairs); and 2) their MSW with 54 social work credits and 6 law credits (from courses approved by the MSW program director). The two programs, which require five years of study if taken separately, can be completed in 4½ years in the ordinary course, or in 4 calendar years if 11 law credits are earned during summer semesters.
Students must apply and be accepted separately to each program. Ideally, students would apply to both programs before starting either but a student enrolled in either program could, during the first year (and possibly later), apply for and be accepted to the other program. Upon admission to the dual-degree program, the enrolled student must meet with their MSW adviser and the law school associate dean for academic affairs.
Students may begin their study in either the MSW or JD program but must complete the first year in each program before any advanced courses can be taken in that program. Students will obtain each degree upon completion of all graduate requirements for that degree.
For more information on this program, see the Social Work page.
Dual-Degree JD/MSW Program of Study
The curriculum for the professional courses in the program are subject to modification as deemed necessary to maintain a high-quality educational experience and keep current with best practices in the profession.
Scheduling Options: Beginning with the MSW
MSW Generalist Curriculum (30 credits). Note: 3 of these credits also count toward the law degree.
Plan of Study Grid | First Year |
|---|
| Fall Semester |
|---|
| SW 500 | Generalist Field Education Practicum I () | 3 |
| SW 501 | Social Work Practice I: Social Work Practice with Individuals and Families | 3 |
| SW 504 | Social Welfare and Social Policy | 3 |
| SW 505 | Social Work Research | 3 |
| SW 511 | Human Behavior in the Social Environment I: Theories for Practice for Individuals and Families | 3 |
| | Credits | 15 |
| Spring Semester |
|---|
| SW 502 | Generalist Field Education Practicum II () | 3 |
| SW 503 | Social Work Practice Ii: Social Work Practice with Groups, Organizations and Communities | 3 |
| SW 507 | Issues of Diversity and Oppression | 3 |
| SW 512 | Human Behavior in the Social Environment II: Theories for Groups, Organizations and Communities | 3 |
| SW 580 | Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis | 3 |
| | Credits | 15 |
| Second Year |
|---|
| Fall Semester |
|---|
| 15 |
| | Credits | 15 |
| Spring Semester |
|---|
| 15 |
| | Credits | 15 |
| Summer Semester |
|---|
| |
| | Credits | 0 |
| Third Year |
|---|
| Fall Semester |
|---|
| |
| SW 600 | Specialized Practice Field Education Practicum in Health/Behavioral Health I | 3 |
| SW 601 | Social Work Practice III: Specialized Clinical Social Work Practice | 3 |
| SW 604 | Evaluation Research Work Programs and Practice | 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| | Credits | 15 |
| Spring Semester |
|---|
| SW 602 | Specialized Practice Field Education Practicum in Health/Behavioral Health II | 3 |
| SW 603 | Social Work Practice IV: Specialized Organizational Social Work Practice | 3 |
| 3 |
| 6 |
| | Credits | 15 |
| Summer Semester |
|---|
| |
| | Credits | 0 |
| Fourth Year |
|---|
| Fall Semester |
|---|
| 15 |
| | Credits | 15 |
| Spring Semester |
|---|
| 15 |
| | Credits | 15 |
| Summer Semester |
|---|
| |
| | Credits | 0 |
| | Total Credits | 120 |
Scheduling Option: Beginning with the JD
Course List| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|
| 30 |
| |
First Year: JD Required First-year Curriculum (30 credits).
Summer: Students may earn law credits during the first summer.
Second Year: MSW Generalist Curriculum (30 credits). Note: 3 of these credits will count toward the law degree.
Summer: Students may earn law credits during the second summer.
Third Year: JD Upper-level Curriculum, including all other graduation requirements (30 credits). Note: 6 of these credits will count toward the MSW.
Summer: Students may earn law credits during the third summer, if needed.
Fourth Year: MSW Specialized Curriculum (30 credits). Note: 6 of these credits will count toward the law.
Note: While it is possible to enroll for two years in one program and then two years in the other, an alternating schedule is recommended.
