JD/MSW (Social Work)
The JD/MSW joint degree program at the University of Kansas combines the three-year Juris Doctor (J.D.) program offered by the KU School of Law and the two-year Master of Social Work (MSW) program offered by the School of Social Welfare into a course of study designed to offer students a thorough academic grounding in both substantive areas.
Students may be able to complete both degrees within a continuously enrolled four-year period, depending on the availability of required courses and the student’s academic performance in both programs. Diplomas are awarded concurrently by each school when all requirements for each degree are completed.
Current national debates involve complex social welfare issues, suggesting that an important relationship exists between social policy and social work advocacy activities, including areas involving the interface of clinical practice and law. Lawyers who advocate for those challenged by social conditions and social policies must appreciate the unique perspective that social work brings to these circumstances.
Career opportunities for graduates of this combined degree are available in settings including law firms, health services delivery organizations, managed care organizations, private and public regulatory agencies, and in various governmental capacities.
Contacts for prospective law students:
- KU Law Office of Admissions, 785-864-4378 or admitlaw@ku.edu
- Program Coordinator Georgiana Spear, 785-864-0115 or gspear@ku.edu
Contacts for current students:
- Associate Dean Leah Terranova, law school
- Professor Nancy Jo Kepple, 785-864-0147 or njkepple@ku.edu
JD/MSW Program Information
Learn more about admission requirements, degree requirements and the typical program format for the JD/MSW joint degree program using the tabs below.
Students must conclude their joint degree program enrolled in courses offered in the law school. In all cases, students must receive their joint degrees concurrently.
Admission Requirements
To be admitted to the joint JD/MSW Program, an applicant must hold an earned baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university, meet the admission requirements and complete the admission processes required for both the School of Social Welfare’s MSW Program and the School of Law’s J.D. program, and be admitted by both the School of Social Welfare and the School of Law no later than the end of the first year of study in either program. Full-time study is required for the joint JD/MSW Program.
All applicants must submit either a reportable LSAT or GRE score along with their application.
An applicant or student who is interested in entering the joint degree program should discuss their plans with the Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs in the School of Law and the Director of Admissions for the MSW Program in the School of Social Welfare. No student may enter the joint degree program after completing more than the equivalent of two semesters of full-time enrollment in either the MSW or J.D. curriculum.
The catalogs for each school should be consulted for their separate admission requirements and procedures.
Degree Requirements
To complete the JD/MSW program, a student must successfully complete a minimum of 124 credit hours. Of these, at least 76 credit hours are required by the School of Law and at least 48 credit hours are required in the MSW Program.
Students in the joint degree program should note that while the School of Law requires a 2.0 grade point average in JD course work to remain in good standing and for graduation, the MSW Program requires a 3.0 cumulative grade point average for the MSW course work.
In planning their enrollments, students should inform themselves of course prerequisites and plan their course schedules accordingly.
J.D. Requirements
The following law courses are required for all J.D. candidates. Learn more about J.D. Program Degree Requirements.
| Course | Credit hours |
|---|---|
| First-Year Courses | |
| LAW 804 Civil Procedure | 4 |
| LAW 806 Introduction to Constitutional Law | 4 |
| LAW 809 Contracts | 4 |
| LAW 814 Criminal Law | 4 |
| LAW 820 Lawyering Skills I | 2 |
| LAW 821 Lawyering Skills II | 3 |
| LAW 826 Property | 4 |
| LAW 831 Torts I | 4 |
| Upper-Level Courses | |
| LAW 972 Professional Responsibility must be completed by the time a student finishes 60 hours. | 2 |
| 3 courses from among the following: | |
| LAW 892 Business Organizations | 4 |
| LAW 873 Commercial Law: Secured Transactions | 3 |
| LAW 881 Conflict of Laws | 3 |
| LAW 878 Criminal Procedure: Investigation | 3 |
| LAW 908 Evidence | 3 |
| LAW 909 Family Law | 3 |
| LAW 845 Jurisdiction | 3 |
| LAW 996 Trusts and Estates | 4 |
| In addition to all the JD/MSW program course requirements, students must satisfy the law school's Upper-Level Writing Intensive Course Requirements and the Experiential Course Requirements. | |
Students must complete all required first-year courses (29 credit hours) during their first year of law school enrollment. In addition to these course requirements, the School of Law has an upper-class writing requirement, a residence requirement, and a time limit for completion of the degree. Please refer to the current School of Law Catalog for details.
JD/MSW Joint Degree Candidate Requirements
In addition to the 43 credit hours of coursework required of all law students, students in the joint JD/MSW program must complete at least 12 additional hours of crossover or interdisciplinary course work, and also at least one semester of legal clinical work chosen from the following course offerings, in order to satisfy the educational rationale of both the law and social welfare programs.
| Course | Credit hours |
|---|---|
| Two of the following courses (4-6 credits) | |
| LAW 925 Employment Law | 3 |
| LAW 903 Employment Discrimination Law | 3 |
| LAW 965 Nonprofit and Tax-Exempt Organizations | 2 |
| Skill: One or more of the following courses (3-4) | |
| LAW 950 Administrative Law | 3 |
| LAW 860 Alternative Dispute Resolution | 3 |
| LAW 866 Civil Rights Actions | 3 |
| LAW 939 Labor Law | 4 |
| LAW 954 Legislation and Statutory Interpretation | 3 |
| Substantive: One or more of the following courses (2-3) | |
| LAW 850 Capital Punishment | 3 |
| LAW 909 Family Law | 3 |
| LAW 914 Federal Indian Law | 3 |
| LAW 847 Healthcare Regulation | 3 |
| LAW 920 Health Law and Policy | 3 |
| LAW 923 Immigration Law | 2 |
| LAW 931 Introduction to Elder Law | 2 |
| LAW 935 Juvenile Law | 2 |
| At least one semester of Legal Clinic (3-6) | |
| LAW 955 Legislative Simulation and Study | 3 |
| LAW 976 Public Policy Practicum | 3 |
| LAW 998 Tribal Judicial Support Clinic | 3 |
| Alternative Legal Clinic (if approved by MSW advisor) | |
| LAW 890 Criminal Prosecution Field Placement Program (only open to third-year law students) | 3 |
| LAW 901 Elder Law Field Placement Program | 3 |
| LAW 894 Field Placement Program (must have approval of both Law and Social Welfare schools) | 3-6 |
| LAW 952 Legal Aid Clinic (only open to third-year law students) | 6 |
| Medical-Legal Partnership Field Placement (register for LAW 894 Field Placement Program) | 3 |
| LAW 895 Project for Innocence and Post-Conviction Remedies | 4 |
MSW Requirements
Students admitted into the JD/MSW program will enter the full-time, two-year MSW program. Students admitted into the advanced standing MSW program are not eligible for the joint degree program.
Students who start their JD/MSW program by enrolling for their first year in the MSW program must earn a minimum of a 3.0 GPA in their first year in order to proceed in the joint degree program.
The following 32 credit hours of coursework and field practicum hours are required of all students for completion of the first year of the MSW program:
| Course | Credit hours |
|---|---|
| Fall Semester | |
| SW 701 Foundation Practicum | 7 |
| SW 710 Social Work Practice I | 3 |
| SW 713 Community and Organizational Practice | 3 |
| SW 720 Social Policy and Program Analysis | 3 |
| Spring Semester | |
| SW 701 Foundation Practicum | 7 |
| SW 711 Social Work Practice II | 3 |
| SW 730 Human Behavior in the Social Environment | 3 |
| SW 740 Social Work Research | 3 |
Social Work Administration and Advocacy Practice Concentration
Upon completion of the first year of both the MSW and JD programs, students enter the Social Work Administration and Advocacy Practice Concentration (SWAAP) and are required to take three of the five required courses in the concentration (listed below), for a total of 9 credit hours. In addition, SWAAP students must enroll in a School of Law clinical experience for at least one semester and are required to take one semester of an advanced level practicum in the SWAAP for 7 credit hours. Thus, SWAAP students are required to complete 16 advanced level credit hours, bringing the total number of social welfare credit hours to 48.
| Course | Credit hours |
|---|---|
| Fall Semester | |
| SW 804 SWAAP Field Practicum – Taken concurrently with SWAAP classes and may be completed over two semesters | 7 |
| SW 840 Designing Social Work Programs | 3 |
| SW 844 Advanced Policy and Programs | 3 |
| SW 849 Financial Management | 3 |
| Spring Semester | |
| SW 842 Assessing and Managing Outcomes | 3 |
| SW 843 Personnel Management, Team Building, and Workplace Diversity | 3 |
Students will work with a faculty advisor to select the required three courses. The extent of prior experience in a social service agency, Law School classes proposed and completed, the Law School clinical experience, and their career plans will all be considered in making this decision.
The policies of the two schools (Social Work and Law) and the University of Kansas Graduate School govern waivers, substitutions and all other degree requirements. Students should consult the respective associate deans if they have questions about degree requirements.
Admission Requirements
To be admitted to the joint JD/MSW Program, an applicant must hold an earned baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university, meet the admission requirements and complete the admission processes required for both the School of Social Welfare’s MSW Program and the School of Law’s J.D. program, and be admitted by both the School of Social Welfare and the School of Law no later than the end of the first year of study in either program. Full-time study is required for the joint JD/MSW Program.
All applicants must submit either a reportable LSAT or GRE score along with their application.
An applicant or student who is interested in entering the joint degree program should discuss their plans with the Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs in the School of Law and the Director of Admissions for the MSW Program in the School of Social Welfare. No student may enter the joint degree program after completing more than the equivalent of two semesters of full-time enrollment in either the MSW or J.D. curriculum.
The catalogs for each school should be consulted for their separate admission requirements and procedures.
Degree Requirements
To complete the JD/MSW program, a student must successfully complete a minimum of 124 credit hours. Of these, at least 76 credit hours are required by the School of Law and at least 48 credit hours are required in the MSW Program.
Students in the joint degree program should note that while the School of Law requires a 2.0 grade point average in JD course work to remain in good standing and for graduation, the MSW Program requires a 3.0 cumulative grade point average for the MSW course work.
In planning their enrollments, students should inform themselves of course prerequisites and plan their course schedules accordingly.
J.D. Requirements
The following law courses are required for all J.D. candidates. Learn more about J.D. Program Degree Requirements.
| Course | Credit hours |
|---|---|
| First-Year Courses | |
| LAW 804 Civil Procedure | 4 |
| LAW 806 Introduction to Constitutional Law | 4 |
| LAW 809 Contracts | 4 |
| LAW 814 Criminal Law | 4 |
| LAW 820 Lawyering Skills I | 2 |
| LAW 821 Lawyering Skills II | 3 |
| LAW 826 Property | 4 |
| LAW 831 Torts I | 4 |
| Upper-Level Courses | |
| LAW 972 Professional Responsibility must be completed by the time a student finishes 60 hours. | 2 |
| 3 courses from among the following: | |
| LAW 892 Business Organizations | 4 |
| LAW 873 Commercial Law: Secured Transactions | 3 |
| LAW 881 Conflict of Laws | 3 |
| LAW 878 Criminal Procedure: Investigation | 3 |
| LAW 908 Evidence | 3 |
| LAW 909 Family Law | 3 |
| LAW 845 Jurisdiction | 3 |
| LAW 996 Trusts and Estates | 4 |
| In addition to all the JD/MSW program course requirements, students must satisfy the law school's Upper-Level Writing Intensive Course Requirements and the Experiential Course Requirements. | |
Students must complete all required first-year courses (29 credit hours) during their first year of law school enrollment. In addition to these course requirements, the School of Law has an upper-class writing requirement, a residence requirement, and a time limit for completion of the degree. Please refer to the current School of Law Catalog for details.
JD/MSW Joint Degree Candidate Requirements
In addition to the 43 credit hours of coursework required of all law students, students in the joint JD/MSW program must complete at least 12 additional hours of crossover or interdisciplinary course work, and also at least one semester of legal clinical work chosen from the following course offerings, in order to satisfy the educational rationale of both the law and social welfare programs.
| Course | Credit hours |
|---|---|
| Two of the following courses (4-6 credits) | |
| LAW 925 Employment Law | 3 |
| LAW 903 Employment Discrimination Law | 3 |
| LAW 965 Nonprofit and Tax-Exempt Organizations | 2 |
| Skill: One or more of the following courses (3-4) | |
| LAW 950 Administrative Law | 3 |
| LAW 860 Alternative Dispute Resolution | 3 |
| LAW 866 Civil Rights Actions | 3 |
| LAW 939 Labor Law | 4 |
| LAW 954 Legislation and Statutory Interpretation | 3 |
| Substantive: One or more of the following courses (2-3) | |
| LAW 850 Capital Punishment | 3 |
| LAW 909 Family Law | 3 |
| LAW 914 Federal Indian Law | 3 |
| LAW 847 Healthcare Regulation | 3 |
| LAW 920 Health Law and Policy | 3 |
| LAW 923 Immigration Law | 2 |
| LAW 931 Introduction to Elder Law | 2 |
| LAW 935 Juvenile Law | 2 |
| At least one semester of Legal Clinic (3-6) | |
| LAW 955 Legislative Simulation and Study | 3 |
| LAW 976 Public Policy Practicum | 3 |
| LAW 998 Tribal Judicial Support Clinic | 3 |
| Alternative Legal Clinic (if approved by MSW advisor) | |
| LAW 890 Criminal Prosecution Field Placement Program (only open to third-year law students) | 3 |
| LAW 901 Elder Law Field Placement Program | 3 |
| LAW 894 Field Placement Program (must have approval of both Law and Social Welfare schools) | 3-6 |
| LAW 952 Legal Aid Clinic (only open to third-year law students) | 6 |
| Medical-Legal Partnership Field Placement (register for LAW 894 Field Placement Program) | 3 |
| LAW 895 Project for Innocence and Post-Conviction Remedies | 4 |
MSW Requirements
Students admitted into the JD/MSW program will enter the full-time, two-year MSW program. Students admitted into the advanced standing MSW program are not eligible for the joint degree program.
Students who start their JD/MSW program by enrolling for their first year in the MSW program must earn a minimum of a 3.0 GPA in their first year in order to proceed in the joint degree program.
The following 32 credit hours of coursework and field practicum hours are required of all students for completion of the first year of the MSW program:
| Course | Credit hours |
|---|---|
| Fall Semester | |
| SW 701 Foundation Practicum | 7 |
| SW 710 Social Work Practice I | 3 |
| SW 713 Community and Organizational Practice | 3 |
| SW 720 Social Policy and Program Analysis | 3 |
| Spring Semester | |
| SW 701 Foundation Practicum | 7 |
| SW 711 Social Work Practice II | 3 |
| SW 730 Human Behavior in the Social Environment | 3 |
| SW 740 Social Work Research | 3 |
Social Work Administration and Advocacy Practice Concentration
Upon completion of the first year of both the MSW and JD programs, students enter the Social Work Administration and Advocacy Practice Concentration (SWAAP) and are required to take three of the five required courses in the concentration (listed below), for a total of 9 credit hours. In addition, SWAAP students must enroll in a School of Law clinical experience for at least one semester and are required to take one semester of an advanced level practicum in the SWAAP for 7 credit hours. Thus, SWAAP students are required to complete 16 advanced level credit hours, bringing the total number of social welfare credit hours to 48.
| Course | Credit hours |
|---|---|
| Fall Semester | |
| SW 804 SWAAP Field Practicum – Taken concurrently with SWAAP classes and may be completed over two semesters | 7 |
| SW 840 Designing Social Work Programs | 3 |
| SW 844 Advanced Policy and Programs | 3 |
| SW 849 Financial Management | 3 |
| Spring Semester | |
| SW 842 Assessing and Managing Outcomes | 3 |
| SW 843 Personnel Management, Team Building, and Workplace Diversity | 3 |
Students will work with a faculty advisor to select the required three courses. The extent of prior experience in a social service agency, Law School classes proposed and completed, the Law School clinical experience, and their career plans will all be considered in making this decision.
The policies of the two schools (Social Work and Law) and the University of Kansas Graduate School govern waivers, substitutions and all other degree requirements. Students should consult the respective associate deans if they have questions about degree requirements.