Western New England College School of Law and the Springfield College School of Social Work offer a combined JD/MSW degree program that allows interested students to save time and tutition by obtaining both degrees at the same time. The JD/MSW combined degree program prepares students for practice in areas where law and social work converge. The combined degree program is well-suited for students who contemplate careers in the social services or social policy. The knowledge and skills gained through the combined degree program may be especially useful in such practices areas as: representing the disabled, child welfare, family law, juvenile justice, mental health, social welfare policy, domestic violence, law enforcement, human rights, and legal aid services.
The sample curriculum is designed to permit full-time students to complete the requirements for both degrees in four years (including part-time course work during 2 summers). Ordinarily, the two programs taken separately would require five years of study. Under the combined degree program, twelve credit hours of law school courses will be accepted by the School of Social Work toward the Masters of Social Work degree, and twelve credit hours of graduate-level social work courses will be accepted by the School of Law toward the Juris Doctor degree.
