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social work students working together in student union

MSSW/MLS Dual Degree

This program offers individuals interested in social work and law the opportunity to obtain MLS and MSSW degrees in two academic years (including summers), rather than the three academic years needed if pursued separately. Like the existing Graduate Certificate in Forensic Social Work offered by the College of Social Work, this program would provide background for social workers concerning the legal system. But this master’s level program would enable social workers to gain a broader and deeper understanding of particular legal issues impacting their work. 

The College of Social Work and The College of Law offer a combined program of study in graduate level social work and legal studies to students who seek to earn both a Master of Science in Social Work (MSSW) and a Master of Legal Studies (MLS). 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 MSSW program seeks to prepare its graduates to make demonstrable improvements in the quality of life of at-risk and vulnerable populations of individuals, families, groups, organizations, communities, the state of Tennessee, the nation, and internationally.  The MLS program is designed for professionals whose fields intersect with the law and who would benefit from legal studies but do not wish to pursue the JD or practice law.

The program stresses an interdisciplinary approach, which values collaboration and communication skills. Alumni of the dual degree program in social work and legal studies at The University of Tennessee will go on to work in a variety of settings, including as social workers, program directors, and therapists.

Students must apply separately for admission to the two colleges.

 

Ragan Schriver teaching a class

Program Curriculum

Summary of Academic Requirements

  • Required Credit Hours:  75
    • 30 credit hours for the MLS, including six credit hours from the MSSW, for 24 credit hours.
    • 60 credit hours for the MSSW, including nine credit hours from the College of Law, for 51 credit hours.
  • Curriculum:
    • Year I : Year I of the program is ordinarily undertaken completely at the University of Tennessee College of Social Work and consists of the traditional first-year curriculum.
    • Year I Summer:  Students will complete MSSW and MLS courses.
    • Year II : Year II of the program consists of courses taken at both colleges.
    • Year II Summer:  Students will complete MSSW and MLS courses.

Admissions Standards/Procedures

  • Applicants for the MLS-MSSW program must make separate application to, and be independently accepted by, each of the following:
    • the College of Law for the MLS degree,
    • the Office of Graduate Admissions and the College of Social Work for the MSSW degree, and
    • the Dual Program Committee.
  • Students who have been accepted by both colleges may apply for approval to pursue the dual program at any time prior to or after matriculation in either or both colleges.
    • Such approval will be granted, provided that dual program studies are started prior to entry into the last 10 credit hours of College of Law course work and prior to the third semester of the MSSW program.
  • Students interested in entering the dual degree program should submit a letter of application to the Dual Degree Program Committee. Upon receipt of the application, the Dual Degree Program Committee will determine eligibility and assign students to advisors who will be responsible for course approval and supervision of the student’s progress through the dual program.

Academic Standards

  • The College of Law will award up to six credit hours for MSSW courses that have been approved by the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, provided the student has earned a B grade or higher.
  • The College of Social Work will award up to nine credit hours for law courses that have been approved by the student’s advisors, provided 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

  • 75 credit hours
    • 30 credit hours for the MLS, including six credit hours from the MSSW, for 24 credit hours.
    • 60 credit hours for the MSSW, including nine credit hours from the College of Law, for 51 credit hours.

Required Courses

  • Law: See the requirements for the Master of Legal Studies.
  • Social Work: See the requirements for the Master of Science in Social Work.
    • Law courses may satisfy the Advanced Policy requirement for the MSSW, subject to approval by the student’s advisors

Non-Course Requirements

  • Students may not enroll in MLS course work while completing the first year of the social work curriculum.

Proposed Learning Outcomes for UT Graduate Catalog Submission:  The learning outcomes for each program remain unchanged.

Sample Program of Study – MSSW/MLS

*Counts only as LAW

**Counts only as Social Work

Year One – Generalist MSSW Program of Study 
FallSpring
First-Year Required Courses – 15**First-Year Required Courses – 15**
 CUMULATIVE MSSW: 30**
CUMULATIVE MLS: 0*
Summer Session  
(3) Treatment with Adult Individuals (SOWK 562)/Resource development (SWOK 545)**(3) Structure and Operation of the American Legal System (LAW 988)*
  
SEMESTER HOURS:  6CUMULATIVE MSSW: 33**
CUMULATIVE MLS: 3*
Year Two 
FallSpring
(3) Introduction to Legal Reasoning and Communication (LAW 986)*(3) Law electives (Counts toward the MSSW)* (also counts as advanced policy MSSW)
(3) First-year JD curriculum class*(3) Program Evaluation(SWOK 549)/ Clinical Evaluation (SOWK 563)**
(3) First-year JD curriculum class (also counts as advanced policy MSSW)*(3) Law Elective*
(1) Law Elective*(1) Law Elective*
(3) Treatment with Groups (SOWK 560)/Organizational behavior (SWOK 548)**(6) Concentration Field Education (SOWK 586)**
(3) Concentration Field Education (SOWK 584)** 
SEMESTER HOURS:  16SEMESTER HOURS: 16
CUMULATIVE MSSW: 48**
CUMULATIVE MLS: 20*
Summer Session  
(3) Concentration Field Education (SOWK 584)**(1) Directed Research or Independent Study*
(3) Law Elective* 
SEMESTER HOURS:  7SEMESTER HOURS: 15
CUMULATIVE MSSW: 48**
CUMULATIVE MLS: 24*
Totals 
MSSW- 51 Credit hours (MSSW)**           
+ 9 MLS Credit hours (MSSW + MLS)           
= 60 Credits Master of Science in SW**
MLS- 24 Credit hours (MLS)*
+ 6 MSSW Credit hours (MSSW + MLS)
= 30 Credits Master of Legal Studies*

Program Contact

Ragan Schriver

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.