The College of Social Work and The College of Law offer a combined program of study in graduate level social work and law to students who seek to earn both a Master of Science in Social Work (MSSW) degree and Juris Doctor (JD). This interdisciplinary program offers individuals interested in social work and law the opportunity to obtain graduate degrees in both programs in four academic years, rather than the five years needed if pursued separately.
The program consists of an integrated curriculum specifically designed for those who are interested in acquiring the knowledge and skills pertinent to both disciplines. The goal of the program is to prepare future professionals who are competent in both disciplines. The areas of work in which both fields play significant roles are often complex and require expertise in counseling, administration, and policy-making, beyond the underlying substantive knowledge. The program stresses an interdisciplinary approach, which values collaboration and communication skills.
The dual degree program is challenging but rewarding. A dual degree student in social work and law studies the skills and material of both disciplines and enters field placements, summer internships, and eventually the workplace with a unique skill set and valuable practice experiences. Alumni of the dual degree program in social work and law at The University of Tennessee will go on to work in a variety of settings in law and social work. Some alumni will choose to practice law, while others will find employment as social workers, program directors, and therapists.
Students must apply separately for admission to the two colleges.
*The MSSW/JD is only offered for our Knoxville Campus
Explore The MSSW Program
Program Curriculum
- Year I : Year I of the program is ordinarily undertaken completely at The University of Tennessee College of Law and consists of the traditional first-year law curriculum.
- Year II : Year II of the program is undertaken largely in the College of Social Work and basically follows the traditional first year MSSW curriculum. (Year I and Year II are interchangeable)
- Years III and IV: Years III and IV consist of courses taken at both colleges.
Field Practicum
Social work practicums are required in Years II and III. The Year III practicum for students in this program allows students to study under professionals in both fields. The Year III practicum involves enrollment in (a) a six-credit course as part of the College of Law’s Legal Clinic, (b) the College of Law’s six-credit Public Defender Externship, or (c) a six-credit field placement that is approved by the appropriate representatives at both colleges.
Academic Standards
- The College of Law will award up to nine credit hours for MSSW courses that have been approved by the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and in which the student has earned a B grade or higher.
- The College of Social Work will award up to nine credit hours for JD courses that have been approved by the student’s advisors and in which the student has earned a 2.30 or C+ grade or higher.
- A dual program candidate must satisfy the graduation requirements of each college.
- Students withdrawing from the dual program before completion of both degrees will not receive credit toward graduation from either college for courses in the other college, except as such courses qualify for credit without regard to the dual program.
Credit Hours Required
- 131 credit hours
- 89 credit hours of the JD accepts nine credit hours from the MSSW, for 80 credit hours.
- 60 credit hours of the MSSW nine credit hours from the JD, for 51 credit hours.
Required Courses
- Law: See the requirements for the Doctor of Jurisprudence.
- Social Work: See the requirements for the Master of Science in Social Work.
Non-Course Requirements
- Students may not enroll in MSSW course work while completing the first year of the law curriculum and may not enroll in JD course work while completing the first year of the social work curriculum.
During the first year in the JD program, students register through the College of Law. During the first year in the MSSW program, students register as graduate students. After the first two years, any term in which students take law courses or a mixture of law and graduate courses, they are classified and registered as law students. If taking only graduate courses, they are classified and registered as graduate students.
Sample Program of Study MSSW/JD
*Counts only as LAW
**Counts only as Social Work
| Year One – First Year Law Program of Study | ||
| Fall | Spring | |
| First-Year Required Courses – 16 Credit Hours* | First-Year Required Courses – 16 Credit Hours* | |
| CUMULATIVE MSSW 0** CUMULATIVE LAW 32* | ||
| Year Two – Generalist MSSW Program of Study | ||
| Fall | Spring | |
| (3) Introduction to Interpersonal Social Work Practice (SOWK 503)** | (3) Social Welfare Policy and Programs (SOWK 510)** | |
| (3) Interpersonal Social Work Skills Lab (SOWK 504)** | (3) Human Development in Context: Young Adulthood through Older Adulthood (SOWK 516)** | |
| (3) Social Work Practice with Organizational and Communal Systems (SOWK 511)** | (4) Constitutional Law (LAW 812)* | |
| (3) Human Development in Context: Pre-Natal through Adolescence (SOWK 515)** | (3) Social Justice and Anti-oppressive Practices (SOWK 538)** | |
| (3) Generalist Field Practice I (SOWK —)** | (3) Generalist Field Practice II (SOWK —)** | |
| CUMULATIVE MSSW 27** CUMULATIVE LAW 36* | ||
| Summer Session | ||
| (3) Foundations of Social Work Research (SOWK 519)** | (3) LAW Course* | |
| CUMULATIVE MSSW 30** CUMULATIVE LAW 39* | ||
| Year Three: Concentration Year Program of Study | ||
| Fall | Spring | |
| (3) Professional Responsibility (LAW 814)* | (3) LAW Course* | |
| (2) Planning & Drafting Course* | (3) Program Evaluation (SWOK 549)/ Clinical Evaluation (SOWK 563)** | |
| (2) Expository Writing Course* | (3) LAW Course* | |
| (3) Treatment with Adult Individuals (562/ Resource Management (SOWK 545)** | (6) Concentration Field Education/field experience (SOWK 584)** | |
| (3) Treatment with Groups (560)/Organizational Behavior (SOWK 549)** | ||
| (3) Concentration Field Education (SOWK 584)** | ||
| CUMULATIVE MSSW 48** CUMULATIVE LAW 52* | ||
| Year Four | ||
| Fall | Spring | |
| LAW Courses – 12 credit hours (including one Perspectives course)* (3) Concentration Field Education (SOWK —)** | LAW Courses – 16 credit hours (including 6 credit hours in a clinic or field placement)* | |
| Totals | ||
| MSSW – 51 Credit hours (MSSW)** + 9 JD credit hours (MSSW + JD) = 60 Credits hours (MSSW)** | JD – 80 Credit hours* + 9 MSSW credit hours (MSSW + JD) = 89 Credit hours (JD)* | |
Program Contact
Ragan Schriver
Director, MSSW Program (Knoxville)
and Associate Professor of Practice
Office: 302 Henson Hall
Campus: Knoxville
Phone: (865) 974-7513
Email: rschriv1@utk.edu.
