Program Overview

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Social Work/Law (MSW/JD) Program

The Social Work/Law (MSW/JD) program is a dual degree offered jointly with the Loyola University Chicago School of Law. This program provides students with clinical skills and a broader understanding of the human concerns in legal interventions, enabling them to gain psychological and social perspectives that are essential when representing and advocating for children, families, women, and the elderly.

Overview

The MSW/JD program combines courses from the School of Law's JD program with courses from the School of Social Work's MSW program. Students are required to complete all foundation courses in the School of Social Work, as well as advanced practice courses according to their specialization area and electives.

Curriculum

The curriculum for the MSW/JD program includes:

• JD Requirements:
  • Civil Procedure (LAW 113)
  • Constitutional Law (LAW 122)
  • Contracts (LAW 132)
  • Criminal Law (LAW 140)
  • Property (LAW 152)
  • Torts (LAW 162)
  • Legal Writing I (LAW 190)
  • Basic Legal Research (LAW 190R)
  • Legal Writing II (LAW 192)
  • Evidence 1 (LAW 210)
  • Bar Exam Fundamentals 3 (LAW 232)
  • Business Organizations 1 (LAW 270)
  • Professional Responsibility (LAW 414)
  • Professional Identity Formation (LAW 424)
  • BCCR Elective
  • Law Electives
  • Law Experiential Learning Elective
  • Law Perspective Elective
  • Law Rigorous Writing Elective
• MSW Requirements:
  • Generalist MSW Courses:
    • Community Immersion Program
    • Life Span Development, Human Behavior, Trauma, & Theory (SOWK 500)
    • Assessment of Client Concerns in Context (SOWK 501)
    • Power, Oppression, Privilege, and Social Justice (SOWK 502)
    • Practice Skills with Individuals and Families (SOWK 503)
    • Group Work Practice in Social Work: Micro/Mezzo/Macro (SOWK 505)
    • Research and Evaluation in Social Work Practice (SOWK 506)
    • Integrated Micro, Mezzo, and Macro Practice (SOWK 508)
    • Social Work Policy and Community Intervention (SOWK 509)
    • Internship I & Simulated Experience (SWII 530)
    • Internship II & Simulated Experience (SWII 531)
    • Integrative Seminar (SWII 530S)
  • Specialized Courses:
    • Advanced Micro-Level Practice (SOWK 680)
    • Advanced Mezzo and Micro Practice (SOWK 682)
    • Internship Instruction III & Simulated Experiences (SWII 632)
    • Internship Instruction IV & Simulated Experiences (SWII 633)
    • Micro Practice Specialization
    • Advanced Clinical Practice Track

Specializations & Track

The Social Work/Law (MSW/JD) program offers the following specialization and track option:

• Micro Practice Specialization
  • Advanced Clinical Practice Track

Suggested Sequence of Courses

A suggested sequence of courses is provided to help students complete their coursework within four years. This sequence includes:

• Year 1:
  • Fall: Civil Procedure, Property, Torts, Professional Identity Formation, Legal Writing I
  • Spring: Contracts, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, Perspective Elective, Legal Writing II
  • Summer: Power, Oppression, Privilege, and Social Justice, Social Work Policy and Community Intervention
• Year 2:
  • Fall: Assessment of Client Concerns in Context, Practice Skills with Individuals and Families, Law Electives, Rigorous Writing Elective, Internship I & Simulated Experience, Integrative Seminar
  • Spring: Internship II & Simulated Experience, Life Span Development, Human Behavior, Trauma, & Theory, Group Work Practice in Social Work: Micro/Mezzo/Macro, Professional Responsibility, Law Electives
  • Summer: Integrated Micro, Mezzo, and Macro Practice
• Year 3:
  • Fall: Research and Evaluation in Social Work Practice, Advanced Micro-Level Practice, Law Electives
  • Spring: Law Electives, Advanced Mezzo and Micro Practice, Track Course
  • Summer: Law Internship
• Year 4:
  • Fall: Experiential Learning Elective, Track Course, Internship Instruction III & Simulated Experiences, Integrative Seminar, Law Electives
  • Spring: Internship Instruction IV & Simulated Experiences, Track Course, Law Electives
  • Summer: Study for Bar Exam

Competencies

The MSW program has the following competencies:

1. Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior: Social workers understand the value base of the profession and its ethical standards.
2. Advance Human Rights and Social, Racial, Economic, and Environmental Justice: Social workers understand that every person has fundamental human rights.
3. Engage in Anti-racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ADEI) in Practice: Social workers understand how racism and oppression shape human experiences.
4. Engage In Practice-Informed Research and Research-Informed Practice: Social workers use ethical, culturally informed, anti-racist, and anti-oppressive approaches in conducting research.
5. Engage in Policy Practice: Social workers identify social policy at the local, state, federal, and global level that affects wellbeing.
6. Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities: Social workers understand that engagement is an ongoing component of the dynamic and interactive process of social work practice.
7. Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities: Social workers understand that assessment is an ongoing component of the dynamic and interactive process of social work practice.
8. Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities: Social workers understand that intervention is an ongoing component of the dynamic and interactive process of social work practice.
9. Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities: Social workers understand that evaluation is an ongoing component of the dynamic and interactive process of social work practice.

Dual Degree Programs

Students in dual degree programs are responsible for abiding by academic policies and graduation requirements of both academic units to which they are enrolled. It is strongly recommended that students schedule regular meetings with academic advisors from both units to ensure timely degree completion.