Social Work / Law, M.S.W. / J.D.
Admissions
The College of Social Work and the School of Law participate in a combination degree program that allows individuals to complete both the Master of Social Work and Juris Doctor degrees in less time than completing the two degrees separately. Application to the M.S.W. Program is made through the USC Graduate School and application to the J.D. Program is made through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). Application reviews, including required supplemental application materials required by the programs, and admission recommendations are made independently by the College of Social Work and by the School of Law. Official notification of admission into the M.S.W. Program will be made by the Graduate School. Students enrolled in both Master of Social Work and Juris Doctor courses in any term may be subject to fees for both programs.
Students enrolled in either the M.S.W. or J.D. Program beyond their first year of graduate study cannot apply for the combination degree program. Advanced Standing social work students enrolled beyond the summer bridge term cannot apply for the combination degree program. The Juris Doctor degree is not offered as a part-time program; therefore, students enrolled in the part-time M.S.W. Program are not eligible for the combination degree program.
Degree Requirements M.S.W (60 Hours) / J.D. (90 Hours)
Students must complete the combination degree program by starting in the J.D. Program. Each program offers a typical sequence of courses; through academic advisement with a combination degree coordinator in each program, students select specific courses to satisfy the requirements for each degree. All curriculum and hour requirements must be satisfied in order to graduate from the combination degree program. Students in the combination degree program must complete the program within seven academic years. See the Social Work, M.S.W. and the J.D. bulletin for additional information.
The J.D. Program accepts up to nine (9) hours of social work courses as electives in its program and the MSW Program accepts up to six (6) hours of law courses towards the MSW degree. Thus the 60-credit hour MSW degree and 90-credit hour J.D. degree can both be completed with a total of 135 credit hours. However, according to the American Bar Association (ABA), the J.D. Program cannot accept any social work credits earned prior to matriculating in the law program. The first year of law studies must be completed at one time. Students enrolled in the dual degree M.S.W/J.D. program must be enrolled concurrently in SOWK courses and at least three (3) credit hours of LAWS courses in the semester during which they plan to share SOWK credit hours toward the J.D. degree.
The table below reflects the plan of study for a full-time student who begins the dual degree program in law. Note that the courses beyond the first year of law studies may be adjusted due to program or accreditation changes.
Law course descriptions are found in the School of Law Bulletin
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| LAWS 500 | Introduction to the Legal Profession | 1 |
| LAWS 504 | Contract Law | 4 |
| LAWS 524 | Criminal Law | 3 |
| LAWS 529 | Torts | 4 |
| LAWS 533 | Legal Research, Analysis and Writing I | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| LAWS 509 | Property | 4 |
| LAWS 523 | Constitutional Law | 4 |
| LAWS 534 | Legal Research, Analysis and Writing II | 3 |
| LAWS 544 | Civil Procedure | 4 |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Summer | ||
| LAWS Law Course 1 | 3 | |
| LAWS Law Course 1 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| SOWK 712 | Human Behavior and the Social Environment I | 3 |
| SOWK 714 | Diversity and Social Justice Issues for Social Work Practice | 3 |
| SOWK 716 | Human Behavior and the Social Environment II | 3 |
| SOWK 781 | Field Instruction I: Generalist Social Work Practice | 3 |
| SOWK 791 | Social Work Research Methodologies | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| SOWK 722 | Social Work Practice with Individuals, Families and Small Groups | 3 |
| SOWK 732 | Social Work Practice with Organizations and Communities | 3 |
| SOWK 742 | Social Welfare Policy Analysis | 3 |
| LAWS Law Course 1 | 3 | |
| SOWK 782 | Field Instruction II: Generalist Social Work Practice | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Summer | ||
| Students must take SOWK 775 over the summer. Students may choose to take additional courses during the summer in order to meet curriculum requirements upon approval of the combination degree coordinator in each program: | ||
| SOWK 775 | Advanced Social Work Practice with Groups | 3 |
| LAWS Law Course 1 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| SOWK 735 | Advanced Social Work Practice with Individuals | 3 |
| SOWK 755 | Advanced Social Work Practice with Organizations | 3 |
| SOWK 792 or SOWK 793 | Evaluation of Social Work Practice or Evaluation of Social Work Programs | 3 |
| SOWK 783 | Field Instruction III: Advanced Social Work Practice | 3 |
| LAWS 554 | Problems in Professional Responsibility (shared course) | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| SOWK 718 | Systems Analysis of Social Work Practice (shared course) | 3 |
| SOWK 766 | Advanced Social Work Practice with Families | 3 |
| SOWK 776 | Advanced Social Work Practice with Communities | 3 |
| SOWK 784 | Field Instruction IV: Advanced Social Work Practice | 3 |
| LAWS Law Course 1 | 3 | |
| LAWS Law Course 1, 2 | 2 | |
| LAWS Law Course 1, 2 | 1 | |
| Credit Hours | 18 | |
| Summer | ||
| Students may select to take 2-3 LAWS courses, with approval of the JD Program Coordinator. These credits would vary depending on the courses taken. | ||
| Credit Hours | 0 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| LAWS Law Courses 1 | 15 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| LAWS Law Courses 1 | 15 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 135 | |
- 1
Law courses vary from 1 to 6 credit hours. Hours reflected in this program of study are the minimum needed for the minimum total hours for the combination degree program of 135.
- 2
Students may elect to take these courses during summer sessions in order to meet curriculum requirements upon approval of the dual degree coordinator in each program.
The minimum total hours for the combination degree program is 135.
The J.D. Program accepts up to nine (9) hours of social work courses as electives in its program. These courses are not predetermined, though for a MSW course to also receive credit in the JD Program, students must be taking courses from both programs concurrently.
The total credit requirement for the JD is 90 (81+9).
The MSW Program accepts up to six (6) hours of law courses as electives towards the MSW degree: LAWS 554 and three (3) credits of additional LAWS course(s) taken in a concurrent term with MSW courses.
The total requirement for the MSW is 60 (54+6)