Offered jointly with the Loyola University Chicago School of Law, this dual degree gives clinical skills and a broader understanding of the human concerns in legal interventions to practicing lawyers. Students in this program gain psychological and social perspectives that come into play when representing and advocating for children, families, women, and the elderly.

Curriculum

MSW/JD Dual-Degree Program

The MSW/JD combines courses offered by the School of Law's JD program with courses offered by the School of Social Work's MSW program. In the School of Social Work, students are required to complete all foundation courses. In addition, advanced practice courses are taken according to specialization area and electives.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
JD Requirements
LAW 113	Civil Procedure	4
LAW 122	Constitutional Law	4
LAW 132	Contracts	4
LAW 140	Criminal Law	3
LAW 152	Property	4
LAW 162	Torts	4
LAW 190	Legal Writing I	2
LAW 190R	Basic Legal Research	0
LAW 192	Legal Writing II	2
LAW 210	Evidence 1	4
LAW 232	Bar Exam Fundamentals 3	2
LAW 270	Business Organizations 1	4
LAW 414	Professional Responsibility	3
LAW 424	Professional Identity Formation	1
BCCR Elective 2		2-3
LAW Electives		24-28
Law Experiential Learning Elective		6
Law Perspective Elective 4		2-3
Law Rigorous Writing Elective 5		2-3
MSW Requirements
Generalist MSW Courses
Community Immersion Program (1-Week Community Immersion Program)		0
SOWK 500	Life Span Development, Human Behavior, Trauma, & Theory	3
SOWK 501	Assessment of Client Concerns in Context	3
SOWK 502	Power, Oppression, Privilege, and Social Justice	3
SOWK 503	Practice Skills with Individuals and Families	3
SOWK 504	Integrated Micro/Mezzo/Macro Theory and Practice	3
SOWK 505	Group Work Practice in Social Work: Micro/Mezzo/Macro	3
SOWK 506	Research and Evaluation in Social Work Practice	3
SOWK 509	Social Work Policy and Community Intervention	3
SWII 530	Internship I & Simulated Experience	0.5
SWII 531	Internship II & Simulated Experience	0.5
SWII 530S	Integrative Seminar	1
Specialized Courses
Courses Required of All Students
SOWK 680	Advanced Micro-Level Practice	3
SOWK 681	Advanced Mezzo & Macro Practice	3
SWII 632	Internship Instruction III & Simulated Experiences	0.5
SWII 632S	Integrative Seminar	1
SWII 633	Internship Instruction IV & Simulated Experiences	0.5
Micro Practice Specialization		9
Advanced Clinical Practice Track
3 Track Courses
See Course Options for the Advanced Clinical Track 1
Total Hours		120

¹

This requirement only applies to students beginning their JDs in Fall 2023 or later.

²

This requirement only applies to students beginning their JDs in Fall 2022 or later. For students beginning their JDs in Fall 2023 or later, students must take this BCCR course before, concurrently with, or as part of their enrollment in any clinic or externship field placement. 

³

Students who have a GPA below 2.9 after their second, third, or fourth semester of law school must complete “BAR EXAM FUNDAMENTALS” (LAW 232) in order to graduate. This class should be taken in the Fall or Spring of their third year for full-time students, and in the Fall or Spring of their fourth year for Weekend JDs.            

⁴

2 or 3 credit hours in Spring semester of first year for full-time students; part- time students must take perspective elective after the first year.

⁵

At least one class with an RW designation after 1L year and before graduation. Prior completion of Legal Writing III will satisfy the RW requirement. A student cannot use their RW course to concurrently satisfy any other of their other graduation requirements.

BCCR Electives

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
LAW 107	Illinois Litigation Racism, Injustice & Poverty	2
LAW 143	Environmental Justice: Race, Class and the Environment	3
LAW 146	Mass Incarceration	2
LAW 156	Abolition and Movement Lawyering	2
LAW 166	Education Law Practicum	1-4
LAW 179	The Law of Jury Selection	2
LAW 193	Diversity and Inclusion: A Professional and Social Responsibility	2
LAW 202	Human Trafficking Seminar	2
LAW 209	Law, Life and Jesuit Spirituality	2
LAW 212	Civil Rights	2
LAW 214	Race and the Law	2-3
LAW 215	Domestic Violence Practicum	1-3
LAW 249	Human Trafficking: Advancing Protections for Children Practicum	1-2
LAW 265	Black Traditions in International Law	1-2
LAW 276	Criminal Law Practicum	1-3
LAW 294	International Human Rights	1-3
LAW 302	Intellectual Origins of "Othering" in the Law of Nations	2
LAW 312	Street Law	3
LAW 341	Educational Advocacy Lab	2
LAW 358	The Quest for Racial Justice in the Long 1960s	3
LAW 389	Public Interest Law Seminar	1-2
LAW 402	"Say Her Name:" Intersectional Feminism & Police Violence	4
LAW 408	Restorative Justice Workshop	1
LAW 440	Criminal Procedure Capstone	3
LAW 447	Federal Indian Law	3
LAW 483	Federal Tax Clinic I	2-4
LAW 486	Federal Tax Clinic II	1-2
LAW 504	Lawyers as Leaders	2
LAW 525	Law, Politics, and Society	2
LAW 538	Critical Race Theory	2
LAW 539	Affordable Housing Law & Policy	2
LAW 555	Children and the Law	2
LAW 590	Wrongful Conviction Seminar	1-2
LAW 601	Child, Family, and the State	2
LAW 606	Legislation and Policy Clinic	2-4
LAW 608	Juvenile Justice	2
LAW 620	Civitas ChildLaw Clinic	1-4
LAW 730	Health Justice Policy Practicum	2-3
LAW 745	Access to Health Care	2-3
LAW 755	Health Justice Project	3-4

Experiential Learning Electives

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
LAW 166	Education Law Practicum	1-4
LAW 173	Advanced Education Law Practicum	1-4
LAW 215	Domestic Violence Practicum	1-3
LAW 246	Advanced Mediation Advocacy Practicum	1-4
LAW 249	Human Trafficking: Advancing Protections for Children Practicum	1-2
LAW 276	Criminal Law Practicum	1-3
LAW 341	Educational Advocacy Lab	2
LAW 470	Immigration Practicum Advancing	1-4
LAW 483	Federal Tax Clinic I	2-4
LAW 486	Federal Tax Clinic II	1-2
LAW 493	Disabled Adult Guardianship Project	3
LAW 518	Advanced Mediation and Courthouse Practicum	1-3
LAW 540	Community Law Center Clinic III	2
LAW 554	Family Law Practicum	1
LAW 584	Mediation Certification & Courthouse Practicum	4
LAW 586	Community Law Center Clinic Veterans Practicum	2-4
LAW 595	Community LawCtr Clinic I	4
LAW 596	Community Law Center Clinic II	3
LAW 599	Externship Intensive Field Placement	1-3
LAW 606	Legislation and Policy Clinic	2-4
LAW 617	Policy Practicum: Issues in Childlaw	1-3
LAW 620	Civitas ChildLaw Clinic	1-4
LAW 730	Health Justice Policy Practicum	2-3
LAW 745	Access to Health Care	2-3
LAW 755	Health Justice Project	3-4
LAW 757	Advanced Health Justice Project	2-4
LAW 825	Business Law Center Clinical & Seminar	2-4
LAW 826	Business Law Clinic II	1-3

Perspective Elective 

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
LAW 127	Law and Psychology	2
LAW 185	Business and the Law	2
LAW 208	Advanced Criminal Law	2
LAW 262	Genetics Law and Policy	2
LAW 265	Black Traditions in International Law	1-2
LAW 294	International Human Rights	1-3
LAW 319	Jurisprudence I	3
LAW 339	Biodiversity and Ecosystem Management	2
LAW 341	Educational Advocacy Lab	2
LAW 348	Law & Poverty	3
LAW 388	Global Access to Medicine: A Patent Perspective	3
LAW 459	Intro to English Legal Profession	1
LAW 461	Education Law and Policy	2-3
LAW 522	Election Law	2-3
LAW 525	Law, Politics, and Society	2
LAW 538	Critical Race Theory	2
LAW 558	Comparative Freedom of Speech	1-2
LAW 564	Animal Law and Policy	2-3
LAW 597	The Use of Force in International and Domestic Law	2
LAW 601	Child, Family, and the State	2
LAW 608	Juvenile Justice	2
LAW 745	Access to Health Care	2-3

Rigorous Writing Elective

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
LAW 145	Gender Based Violence: Law, Practice, and Policy	2
LAW 146	Mass Incarceration	2
LAW 176	International Trade Law	1-3
LAW 194	Bar Exam Writing Skills	1-2
LAW 293	Advanced Writing for Legal Practice	1-3
LAW 302	Intellectual Origins of "Othering" in the Law of Nations	2
LAW 361	Insurance Law	2
LAW 407	Immigration Litigation: Admin Law Challenges to Immigration Policy	2
LAW 417	Advanced Business Law	3
LAW 419	Business Skills in Sports and Entertainment Law: The Introductory Skill Set	2
LAW 455	Appellate Advocacy-Intellectual Property	2
LAW 516	Prisoner Constitutional Rights Litigation	3
LAW 556	Alternative Dispute Resolution	2-3
LAW 712	Legal Writing for Medical Malpractice Trial: The Expert	2
LAW 739	Health Information Privacy and Technology	1-2

Specializations & Track

The Social Work/Law (MSW/JD) program has the following specialization and track option:

• Micro Practice Specialization
  • Advanced Clinical Practice Track

Suggested Sequence of Courses

The below sequence of courses is meant to be used as a suggested path for completing coursework.  An individual student’s completion of requirements depends on course offerings in a given term as well as the start term for a major or graduate study.  Students should consult their advisor for assistance with course selection.

The following course templates offer a guide on how to complete all course requirements within four years:

Full-Time MSW/JD Student Template 

Plan of Study Grid

Year 1
Fall		Hours
LAW 113	Civil Procedure	4
LAW 152	Property	4
LAW 162	Torts	4
LAW 424	Professional Identity Formation	1
LAW 190	Legal Writing I	2
	Hours	15
Spring
LAW 132	Contracts	4
LAW 122	Constitutional Law	4
LAW 140	Criminal Law	3
Perspective Elective		2-3
LAW 192	Legal Writing II	2
	Hours	15
Summer
SOWK 502	Power, Oppression, Privilege, and Social Justice	3
SOWK 509	Social Work Policy and Community Intervention	3
Law: law elective (optional)		0-2
	Hours	6
Year 2
Fall
SOWK 501	Assessment of Client Concerns in Context	3
SOWK 503	Practice Skills with Individuals and Families	3
Law	Law Electives 1	4
Law	Rigorous Writing Elective	2-3
SWII 530	Internship I & Simulated Experience	0.5
SWII 530S	Integrative Seminar	1
	Hours	13.5
Spring
SWII 531	Internship II & Simulated Experience	0.5
SOWK 500	Life Span Development, Human Behavior, Trauma, & Theory	3
SOWK 505	Group Work Practice in Social Work: Micro/Mezzo/Macro	3
LAW 414	Professional Responsibility	3
Law	LAW Electives 1	5
	Hours	14.5
Summer
SOWK 504	Integrated Micro/Mezzo/Macro Theory and Practice	3
	Hours	3
Year 3
Fall
SOWK 506	Research and Evaluation in Social Work Practice	3
SOWK 680	Advanced Micro-Level Practice	3
Law	LAW Electives	8
	Hours	14
Spring
Law: LAW Electives		8
SOWK 681	Advanced Mezzo & Macro Practice	3
SOWK	Track Course	3
	Hours	14
Summer
Law: LAW Internship		0
	Hours	0
Year 4
Fall
Law	Experiential Learning Elective 1	4
SOWK	Track Course	3
SWII 632	Internship Instruction III & Simulated Experiences	0.5
SWII 632S	Integrative Seminar	1
Law	LAW Electives	4
	Hours	12.5
Spring
SWII 633	Internship Instruction IV & Simulated Experiences	0.5
SOWK	Track Course	3
Law: LAW Electives		9
	Hours	12.5
Summer
Study for Bar Exam in June and July
	Hours	0
	Total Hours	120

• JD = 77 Credit Hr. Required (Plus 9 hrs. transfer in from MSW to equal 86 JD hours)
• MSW = 49 Credit Hr. Program (43 MSW credits on template, plus 6 hrs. transfer in from JD equals 49 MSW hours)
• This template is only a suggestion, but the order and the semester in which courses can be taken can vary. Please consult with MSW Advisor and JD liaison to the School of Social Work before making changes.
• Child Law Fellows need to work with their child law advisors to determine required Law classes and schedule.
•  Any Law students seeking a specialization certificate need to meet with an administrator from the specialization program to determine required courses and schedule.

Dual Degree Programs

Students in dual degree programs are responsible for abiding by academic policies and graduation requirements of both academic units to which they are enrolled. It is strongly recommended that students schedule regular meetings with academic advisors from both units to ensure timely degree completion. Dual degree programs may have slightly different degree requirements from the standard for one or both of the degrees earned. Students should closely read through all degree requirements and ask for clarification as needed.

Graduate & Professional Standards and Regulations

Students in graduate and professional programs can find their Academic Policies in Graduate and Professional Academic Standards and Regulations under their school. Any additional University Policies supersede school policies.

MSW PROGRAM SPECIALIZED MICRO LEARNING OUTCOMES 

Competency 1: Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior

Social workers have an obligation to conduct themselves ethically and to engage in ethical decision-making. Social workers are knowledgeable about the value base of the profession, its ethical standards, and relevant law. Social workers recognize and manage personal values in a way that allows professional values to guide practice; make ethical decisions by applying standards of the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics and, as applicable, of the International Federation of Social Workers/International Association of Schools of Social Work Ethics in Social Work, Statement of Principles. Social workers tolerate ambiguity in resolving ethical conflicts and apply strategies of ethical reasoning to arrive at principled decisions. Advanced practitioners in clinical social work are knowledgeable about ethical issues, legal parameters, and shifting societal mores that affect the therapeutic relationship.

1. Demonstrate professional use of self as a social worker, reflecting knowledge of personal professional strengths, limitations, challenges, and cooperatively resolving interpersonal conflicts.  
2. Demonstrate ethical use of advanced modalities in practice and any related technological applications. 
3. Demonstrate capacity to fulfill ethical obligation for advocating for social justice for clients, specifically anti-oppressive practice. 
4. Be able to recognize and manage ethical violations and resolve conflicting ethical obligations.  

Competency 2: Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice

Social workers understand how diversity characterizes and shapes the human experience and is critical to the formation of identity. The dimensions of diversity are understood as the intersectionality of multiple factors including age, class, color, culture, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity and expression, immigration status, political ideology, race, religion, sex, and sexual orientation. Social workers appreciate that, as a consequence of difference, a person’s life experiences may include oppression, poverty, marginalization, and alienation as well as privilege, power, and acclaim. Social workers recognize the extent to which a culture’s structures and values may oppress, marginalize, alienate, or create or enhance privilege and power; gain sufficient self-awareness to eliminate the influence of personal biases and values in working with diverse groups; recognize and communicate their understanding of the importance of difference in shaping life experiences; and view themselves as learners and engage those with whom they work as informants. Advanced practitioners are knowledgeable about many forms of diversity and difference and how these influence the therapeutic relationship and clients’ presenting issues. Advanced practitioners are knowledgeable about the ways in which various dimensions of diversity affect (a) explanations of illness, (b) help-seeking behaviors, and (c) healing practices (Cal-SWEC, 2006). Advanced practitioners are cultural beings and understand how clinical practice choices can be culture-bound.

1. Demonstrate understanding of discrimination patterns in society and how macro, mezzo and micro-level oppression impacts micro-level social work practice with regard to race, class, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, ability, age and any other social categories in which oppression occurs. 
2. Demonstrate understanding of the impact of intersectionalities of marginalized identities and associated oppressions and plans practice accordingly. ​
3. Consistently uses self-reflexivity to examine and manage one’s own biases based on oppressive patterns in society. 

Competency 3: Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice

Upon completion of a learned understanding of advanced human rights, social, economic and environmental struggles of people, advanced micro practice social work students are able to identify their own roles in advocating for change. Identifying ways in which they can respect the dignity of others, honor social justice, and demonstrate ideals based on evidence-based practice research, students are able to present their critical thinking skills for individuals in the micro field of social work practice.

1. Understands the human rights perspective as a way to integrate systemic change into micro-level practice, including global economic, ecological, human rights, and migratory patterns as they impact client systems. 
2. Ability to articulate human rights violations the client and client’s system are experiencing, including environmental and economic issues that endanger the health of the client system. 
3. Demonstrates the ability to formulate how the practice is advancing the client and client system’s human rights. 

Competency 4: Engage In Practice-Informed Research and Research-Informed Practice

Students at the advanced level of micro practice are able to evaluate diverse clinical models and evaluate applicable research methodologies in order to make the best determination of applicability to particular client needs.  Practice-informed research includes qualitative and quantitative ways of understanding what constitutes effective practice, considering the positionality of the clinician researcher and the social/political/historical context of the research.

1. Demonstrate understanding of and be able to contribute to the evaluation of social research regarding advanced practice. 
2. Be able to critically evaluate and select potential practice models relevant for the clients’ systems.  

Competency 5: Engage in Policy Practice 

Social workers understand that human rights and social justice, as well as social welfare and services, are mediated by policy and its implementation at the federal, state, and local levels. Social workers understand the history and current structures of social policies and services, the role of policy in service delivery, and the role of practice in policy development. Social workers understand their role in policy development and implementation within their practice settings at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels and they actively engage in policy practice to effect change within those settings. Social workers recognize and understand the historical, social, cultural, economic, organizational, environmental, and global influences that affect social policy. They are also knowledgeable about policy formulation, analysis, implementation, and evaluation. Social workers:  

1. Communicate to stakeholders and policymakers the implications of policies and policy change in the lives of clients.  
2. Conduct and design a plan of organizational analysis and change, working with relevant constituencies, to evaluate interventions that impact clients and communities utilizing best practice models reflecting social work values, ethics, and the mission of the organization.  
3. Collect, maintain, interpret, and analyze data from both internal and external organizational environments, the community of stakeholders and diverse client groups to identify and prioritize social problems.  
4. Recognize how oppression and social injustice affects client groups, organizations and communities and being proactive in intervening for human rights and justice.  
5. Understand strategies and techniques for advocating at local, state, and federal levels in policy development.  

Competency 6: Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities

At the specialized level social workers build on their generalist understanding of engagement by practicing with a variety of cases involving individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities both in the classroom and in the field. Social workers critically analyze their knowledge of human relationships within a social/political/historical context applying an ecological perspective to advance practice effectiveness.

As they deepen their grasp of how their personal experiences and affective reactions impact their ability to effectively engage with diverse clients and constituencies, they are able to apply their skills in relationship-building and inter-professional collaboration to facilitate engagement with clients, constituencies, and other professionals as appropriate. This includes taking into consideration the effects of the macro environment, such as issues around migration and its impact on client systems at the micro levels.

1. Implements and describes the use of reflective listening tools when needed to engage and empower members of families, and groups.  
2. Applies culturally appropriate resources available to assist with problem solving. 
3. Recognizes and describes self-reflective competency in identifying bias, countertransference, and potential microaggressions when engaging diverse client systems. 

Competency 7: Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities

Once social workers understand that assessment is an ongoing component of the dynamic and interactive process of social work practice within a diverse and antiracist framework, they can use their relational skills to select and apply theories of human behavior taking into consideration the social/political environment. In addition, they can critically evaluate and apply this knowledge to facilitate assessment of needs with clients and constituencies, including individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Social workers relate methods of assessment with diverse clients and constituencies to advance practice effectiveness. Social workers integrate the larger practice context in the assessment process such as migration and other factors and include interprofessional collaboration as relevant. Social workers are self-aware and can articulate the ways in which their personal experiences and affective reactions may influence their assessment and decision-making, including social dimensions of privilege. Social workers at the specialized level also:

1. Collect and organize data to support their professional decision-making as well as demonstrate critical thinking to interpret information from clients and constituencies. 
2. Illustrate knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, person-in-environment, and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks in the analysis of assessment data from clients and constituencies understanding the lack of political neutrality in their work.  
3. Exemplify a process in which mutually agreed-on intervention goals and objectives are generated based on the critical assessment of strengths, needs, and challenges within clients and constituencies in their social environment; and  
4. Convey a deeper understanding of how to select appropriate intervention strategies informed by assessment, research knowledge, and values and preferences of clients and constituencies through the exercise of antiracist practice principles. 

Competency 8: Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities

Social workers understand they have a plethora of treatment models from which to choose in tailoring interventions to be maximally effective with clients. Remaining up to date about the multiple forms of available evidence concerning the effectiveness of these models for client systems, social workers choose models that are most suited to advance the client’s self-determination and to empower the client in relation to larger social systems that often are oppressive. Social workers co-formulate intervention goals with clients, ensuring those are revised as the client accomplishes one goal and seeks to move on to the next. Social workers consider how the client responds to different ways social workers use themselves (active expressions empathy v. quiet listening, degrees of self-disclosure and reticence for instance) and examine how the client responds so as to offer the client a relationship that fosters engagement and client progress.  Social workers attend to the powerful meaning the relationship can have for the client, understand dynamics of transference, relate using cultural humility so as to learn from clients about cultures different than the social worker’s, refrain from words or actions that can hurt the client, and carry out treatment respectfully to advance the client’s dignity and resilience.

1. Self-reflective understanding of the professional use of self in interventions with diverse types of client systems in order to understand and challenge oppressive social forces as well as to avoid perpetuating racist biases, microaggressions, and disempowerment of clients.  
2. Using supervision and consultation appropriate to developing skills for advanced and interdisciplinary practice.   
3. Demonstrating an ability to intervene collaboratively and collectively with clients in choice of treatment plans and their implementation. 

Competency 9: Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities

• Social workers understand that evaluation of practice is an ongoing activity. Social workers plan ahead for evaluating the treatment by reflectively articulating choice of intervention theory and model, formulating intervention goals that are amenable to evaluation, and planning how to keep notes that foster reflection about client progress. Social workers understand evaluation is participatory -- it occurs with clients in various ways both spontaneous and planned -- and so the social worker pays attention to client’s opinions about whether and how the intervention is helpful. Social workers make use of a diversity of models for evaluating treatment, such as participatory consumer evaluation interviews with groups, organizations, and communities; process notes with individual clients, families, and groups; engaging communities and smaller systems in reflecting on those relationship processes that bring about desired changes. Social workers understand that interventions can unintentionally include discriminations (microaggressions) and continually evaluate their practice with an eye to remedying and avoiding those discriminations.   

1. Demonstrate understanding of the logic and method of single case evaluation of practice from diverse theoretical and methodological perspectives. 
2. Competently demonstrate case evaluation, including identifying problems and their resolution, the fulfillment of goals co-identified with client, and managing systemic problems that impinge on client well-being. 
3. Demonstrates competence in incorporating client feedback processes in planning and carrying out the intervention plan.