Social Work/Juris Doctor Dual-Degree | Springfield College

Social Work/Juris Doctor Dual-Degree

Master of Social Work/Juris Doctor
About This Program
Admissions Contact

Sean Mangan
Graduate Admissions Counselor
smangan@springfield.edu
(413) 748-3060
Make an appointment

Western New England University School of Law
Anthony Orlando
Assistant Dean and Director of Admissions
Western New England University School of Law
anthony.orlando@law.wne.edu
(413) 782-1406

Are you an International Student?
Please contact intladmissions@springfield.edu 
Make an appointment

Curriculum and Delivery
  • 122-125-credit program
  • Courses offered on campus in Springfield, Mass. at Springfield College and WNEU
  • Course requirements
Start Dates and Duration
  • Start in September (fall semester) 
  • Attend full time
  • Complete in 4 years
Paying for Your Education
Looking for other degrees in Social Work?
Upcoming Events

Graduate Open House
Tuesday, March 26 at noon or 5:30 p.m.
Register

Social Work Virtual Information Session
Thursday, April 11 at 6 p.m.
Register

Tips and Pointers for Applying to Graduate School
Monday, April 29 at 6 p.m.
Register

Springfield College School of Social Work graduate studies at the Brennan Center

The full time MSW/JD dual degree program is offered in a partnership between Springfield College and Western New England University School of Law. The program provides eligible students with the advantage of being able to complete the degrees in four years rather than the five years it would take if the degrees were pursued separately.

Acquiring both a social and legal perspective, as well as skills, effectively prepares graduates to meet the social work and legal challenges in many areas of practice, such as child welfare, education, mental health, individual and family practice, family mediation, services to the disabled, legal aid, criminal and juvenile justice, consumer protection, advocacy, employment, housing, community development, human rights, and evaluation of social service programs.

Those interested in this program must apply to each program separately. You may contact the Springfield College School of Social Work and Behavioral Sciences at (413) 748-3060 or the WNE School of Law.

Fieldwork Requirements:

  • MSW/Juris Doctor Program

    First Internship, First Year – 450 hours, 15 hours per week for 15 weeks for two semesters.
    Second Internship, Fourth Year – 600 hours, 20 hours per week for 15 weeks for two semesters.

LEARN MORE ABOUT FIELDWORK

How to Apply:

Admissions Requirements

International Applicants

All international applicants from non-English speaking countries are required, in addition to the items listed above, to submit:

  • Proof of English language proficiency by way of the TOEFL or IELTS. Other tests may be accepted on a case-by-case basis. Please refer to our language requirements for more information on acceptable tests, minimum scores, exemptions, and conditional acceptance. If your undergraduate degree was earned in the United States and you successfully completed college-level English, we will consider English language proficiency met.
  • Please note: Transcripts must be in English. If the transcript is not in English you will be required to submit a professional credential evaluation completed by any member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). For this we recommend SpanTran, with its customized portal for Springfield College applicants. World Education Services or Josef Silny & Associates, Inc. are also recommended for your credential evaluations.

The staff in the Office of International Admissions can assist you with questions you may have about enrolling at Springfield College as an international student by emailing intladmissions@springfieldcollege.edu.

Application Deadlines

Domestic Students:

  • Application and Supporting Materials Deadline: August 15

International Students:

  • Application and Supporting Materials Deadline: May 1

Applications received after the deadline will be considered only if space is available.

M.S.W./J.D. students must be full-time students and matriculated in both the Springfield College Master of Social Work program and the Western New England University School of Law. If accepted at the Springfield College Master of Social Work program first, students have until mid-March of the first year in the social work program to apply to the program at Western New England University School of Law. If accepted to the School of Law first, students have until mid-March of the first year at the School of Law to apply to the Master of Social Work program at Springfield College.

Accreditation

Springfield College is recognized as an institution of higher learning of collegiate rank by the Board of Collegiate Authority of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), which accredits schools and colleges in the six New England states. Membership in these associations indicates that the College has been carefully evaluated and found to meet standards agreed upon by qualified educators.

The Springfield College Master of Social Work program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), the official accrediting body for social work programs in the USA. This enables graduates to take professional social work licensure examinations in all fifty states.

The Western New England University School of Law, Springfield College’s partner in the MSW/JD dual degree program, is accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools (AALS).

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Michelle Tsang

MSW/JD, Class of 2017, Distinguished Graduate Student, 2016-17 Springfield College School of Social Work and Behavioral Sciences

Michelle Tsang, an outstanding student and scholar who completed the School of Social Work dual-degree program, was the 2016-17 Distinguished Social Work Graduate Student. 

The dual-degree program is a collaboration between the Springfield College School of Social and Behavioral Sciences and Western New England University School of Law. Tsang attained a 4.0 GPA in the School of Social Work and Behavioral Sciences and a 3.0 at the Law School.... 

Fellowships & Scholarships

Let us help you make your graduate education as affordable as possible.

Student Employment

Work on our campus to earn money while pursuing your graduate degree.

Employee Partnerships

Employees of our partnerships are eligible to receive a $5,000 or $10,000 partner grant.