JD/MSW Dual-Degree Program

About

The Juris Doctor (JD) and Master in Social Work (MSW) Dual-Degree Program was initiated in 1996 in partnership with the School of Social Work at San Diego State University. It offers students the opportunity to earn the two degrees in four, rather than the usual five years. The program provides opportunities to focus on areas where law and social work regularly intersect such as child welfare, mental health, aging, and domestic violence.

The Program stresses an interdisciplinary approach that values collaboration and communication skills. The culminating experience for the student is the completion of either a thesis or a scholarly paper that would be suitable for publication in a law review journal or some other appropriate scholarly publication.

Program Description

The schedule of coursework for the JD/MSW Dual-Degree Program immerses the student in the programs at each school.

• The first year of the four-year program is spent entirely at California Western School of Law. Students participate in the first year curriculum just as all first-year law students do. There are opportunities to meet with other students who are in the program, with alumni, and with Program faculty and administrators.
• The second year of the program is spent entirely at the School of Social Work at San Diego State University (SDSU). Students participate in a 16-hour/week practicum as part of the first year of the M.S.W. program.
• The first semester of the third year is spent at both institutions. Students take two courses at SDSU and the remainder of their courses is at California Western. Students begin work on their theses or scholarly writing alternative at this time. This master’s requirement is an interdisciplinary work jointly supervised by professors at both institutions.
• The second semester of the third year is spent entirely at California Western, where students receive ongoing supervision on their writing requirement. Many students participate in our Clinical Externship Program, spending up to 40 hours per week working in a real law office or agency.
• The fourth year of the program is spent at both institutions. Students participate in another practicum through the School of Social Work, in a placement selected for its interdisciplinary practice, working with attorneys and social workers. Students complete their written work requirement.

There are several interdisciplinary courses in the California Western curriculum. These courses are helpful in integrating the two disciplines. For example, the Child Welfare course provides students an opportunity to examine child welfare issues from several professional perspectives. Students receive guidance from their faculty advisors regarding appropriate coursework.

Credit Transfer

• Students transfer 12 credits of coursework from SDSU to California Western toward their graduation requirements.
• They transfer 6 units of credit from California Western courses related to the Social Work curriculum to SDSU.
• Students receive 3 units of Independent Study at California Western for work on their master’s written work (thesis or “law review” alternative).
• Students may also earn up to 5 units of credit at California Western for their fourth-year field placement at which they are gaining legal as well as social work experience.
• The written work required for the SDSU master's degree also satisfies the scholarly writing requirement at California Western.

Apply

Students must apply separately to California Western School of Law and San Diego State University.

Once admitted to both schools, applicants will be selected for participation in the program by a special admissions committee consisting of representatives from both institutions. Admissions to the Dual-Degree Program will be based on the applicant's undergraduate GPA, LSAT score, relevant practice, and other criteria.

Students should apply for Financial Aid through California Western.

California Western School of Law is committed to using the law to solve human and societal problems. Our mission is to train ethical, competent and compassionate lawyers, representative of our diverse society, who can use the law effectively and creatively.

We recognize that, in the 21st century, the rapid rate of change will accelerate and create further problems. We also recognize the pervasive perception, and partial reality, that the legal system and lawyers have helped to create, rather than solve, the problems our evolving society confronts.

While continuing to graduate lawyers well-equipped to practice law, we also seek to graduate creative problem solvers committed to the improvement of our legal system and society. Our graduates will not merely react to problems, but will anticipate them and be ready to devise innovative and responsible solutions to serve the needs of their clients and the broader community.

Further, by contributing to legal scholarship, participating in public deliberations about legal matters and serving as a community legal education resource, California Western School of Law will make significant, measurable contributions to the solution of problems in our community, our society and our world.