Program Overview

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Master of Arts / Master of Social Work in Criminal Justice / Social Work

Program Overview

The dual master’s in criminal justice and master’s in social work program provides excellent preparation for clinical or managerial social work careers within the United States criminal justice system, or in community-based programs focused on crime prevention.

Program of Study

The program offers two concentrations: clinical and management macro practice. In both tracks, coursework focuses on topics including micro and macro practice in social work, research design, theories of crime and social welfare policy. Students can customize their curriculum with an elective concentration like crime causation, prevention and intervention or justice systems to match their career goals.

Social Work Curriculum

• Social Welfare Policy and Services
• Human Behavior and Social Environment I and II
• Micro Practice in Social Work I and II
• Macro Practice in Social Work I and II
• Field Instruction I, II, III, IV
• Concentration courses in clinical practice or social work management

Clinical Practice Concentration Courses

• One Advanced Policy Course
• Three Advanced Clinical Practice Courses

Macro Practice Concentration Courses

• Human Service Organizations in a Changing Environment
• Managing Systems in Human Service Organizations
• Research Methods in Program Evaluation for Social Welfare Management

Criminal Justice Curriculum

• Applied Statistics I
• Research Design
• Theories of Crime
• Theoretical Foundations of Criminal Justice
• Master's Capstone Seminar in Criminal Justice

Concentration Electives

(9 credits) Pursue a variety of elective courses or focus in one of four concentration areas:

• Crime Causation, Prevention, and Intervention
• Information Technology (currently unavailable)
• Justice Systems
• Problem Solving Analysis

Internships

The master’s in social work program requires two 500-hour agency practicums under the supervision of an experienced and licensed field instructor.

Career Paths

This combined master’s program prepares students to succeed in social work jobs that require specialized knowledge of criminology and American systems of law enforcement, prosecution, adjudication, sentencing, and corrections.

Common employers include:

• Criminal, drug, juvenile, domestic violence, and family courts
• Prisons and jails
• Addiction treatment facilities and halfway houses
• Detention centers
• Parole and probation offices
• Protective services agencies
• Alternative and community corrections programs
• Restorative justice organizations

Sample Job Titles:

• Drug Court Social Worker
• Rehabilitation Program Director
• Inmate Substance Abuse Counselor
• Alternative Incarceration Administrator
• Youth Offender Probation Officer
• Reentry Transition Coordinator
• Crime Victim Assistance Clinician
• Detention Center Operations Supervisor
• Human Trafficking Trauma Therapist
• Protective Services Case Manager
• Child Forensic Interviewer Specialist

Admissions Requirements

Deadlines

• Departmental Assistantship Consideration: Fall (January 31 at 11:59pm), Spring (Not Available), Summer (Not Available)
• No Departmental Assistantship Consideration: Fall (January 31 at 11:59pm), Spring (Not Available), Summer (Not Available)

Required Application Materials

• Transcripts from all schools attended
• Resume/CV
• Three letters of recommendation
• Statement of Background and Goals

Special Notes

This program requires a practicum, field experience, study abroad component, or clinical experience requirement. Students who have previously been convicted of a felony are advised that their prior criminal history may impede their ability to complete the requirements of certain academic programs and/or to meet licensure requirements for certain professions.

Supplemental Degree Programs

Graduate students can typically request a supplemental degree in one or more subordinate degrees without needing to go through the full admissions process again.

Supplemental programs available with this degree:

• Africana Studies CGS
• Community College Leadership CGS
• Demography CGS
• Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity CGS
• International Education Management CGS