JD/MSW Dual Degree
Students studying in the Law Library in O'Brian Hall
As part of the JD/MSW program, you'll develop an in-depth knowledge of social and legal systems in order to implement changes to improve the lives of individuals and communities.
Our curriculum statement articulates our commitment to the promotion of social justice, the protection of human rights, and the necessity of addressing structural oppression and inequities in power and resources.
Why UB for your MSW? [3:50]
Through our dual degree program, students earn a Juris Doctor (JD) degree from the SUNY Buffalo Law School and a Master of Social Work (MSW) from the UB School of Social Work. The collaborative program reduces the total time and credits compared to completing each degree separately. While there is a reduction in total credit hours for the dual degree program, you must meet all other requirements for both degree programs.
We offer two JD/MSW programs: Traditional and Advanced Standing.
Both JD/MSW course of study options are full-time and on-campus only and incorporate our signature trauma-informed and human rights perspectives.
Advanced Standing JD/MSW Program
- For students with a bachelor's degree in social work (BSW) from a CSWE-accredited program that meet the additional requirements
- Full-time (3 years) and on-campus only
- Law clinic that doubles as advanced field placement
- Students begin the program in the School of Law
Note that courses from Social Work that are counted towards the law degree cannot be online courses due to accreditation requirements from the American Bar Association.
First Year
Fall Semester
LAW 500 Legal Profession
LAW 501 Civil Procedure
LAW 503 Contracts
LAW 509 Torts
LAW 515 Legal Analysis, Writing and Research I
Spring Semester
LAW 500 Legal Profession
LAW 505 Criminal Law
LAW 507 Property
LAW 511 Constitutional Law 1
LAW 516 Legal Analysis, Writing and Research II
Summer Semester
Second Year
Fall Semester
SW 542 Perspectives on Trauma and Human Rights
SW Advanced Intervention (Choose one)
SW Advanced Topic Analysis (Choose one)
Law & Social Work Clinic (3 cr)
Law 564 Legal Ethics
JD/MSW Colloquium (1 cr)
Spring Semester
SW Advanced Topic Analysis (Choose one)
JD/MSW Colloquium (1 cr)
Law and Social Work Clinic (3 cr)
Law Electives (Choose two)
Third Year
Fall Semester
Law Seminar
Law Electives (Choose four)
Spring Semester
Law Electives (Choose five)
JD/MSW Tuition Structure
JD/MSW students will be billed the MSW tuition rate during the semesters they are only taking social work courses.
During the semesters where students are taking all Law courses OR coursework from both departments, they will be billed the full-time Law tuition rate to cover all of their classes that semester.
