Program overview

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 seeking a Master of Science in Social Work (MSSW) degree and a Juris Doctor (JD) degree. This interdisciplinary program allows individuals interested in social work and law 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 interested in acquiring the knowledge and skills pertinent to both disciplines. The program aims to prepare future professionals who are competent in both disciplines. The areas of work where 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 various 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.

*This program is only offered at our Knoxville campus.

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.

Non-Course Requirements

Students may not enroll in MSSW courses while completing the first year of the law curriculum or JD courses while completing the first year of the social work curriculum.

Students register through the College of Law during their first year in the JD program and as graduate students during their first year in the MSSW program. 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 they take 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