MSW JD Dual Degree

The LSU Law Center and the LSU School of Social Work offer a concurrent degree program through which a student may receive both a Juris Doctor (JD) and a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree. Students successfully completing the concurrent degree program receive two separate degrees: a JD awarded by the Law Center and a MSW awarded by the School of Social Work.

Students wishing to participate in this program must meet the admission requirements for both the Law Center and the School of Social Work. Students must apply separately to the LSU Graduate School and the LSU Law Center, with appropriate test scores—GRE and LSAT—provided.

To complete the required credit hours in four academic years, students must normally enroll in approximately 15 hours per regular semester and complete substantial summer coursework. The faculties of the Law Center and the School of Social Work expect that summer coursework will normally involve field work and/or thesis research, both of which are substantial components of the MSW program.

Students may begin this concurrent degree program at either the LSU School of Social Work or the LSU Law Center. Students must complete the first-year curricular requirements for both the MSW and the JD during the first two years of study. As discussed above, both the School of Social Work and the Law Center have prescribed first year curricular requirements. During the 1L year at the Law Center, students may not enroll in any electives during either the fall or spring semesters. However, the requirements of the Foundation Year at the School of Social Work allow students to enroll in up to three hours of elective credit in each of the fall and spring semesters.

Students who begin their training at the Law Center will enroll in the prescribed 1L curriculum during the fall and spring semesters of their first year of study. During the summer following the 1L year, students may earn elective credit in either the Law Center or the School of Social Work. (The School of Social Work permits students to earn up to six hours of elective credit toward the MSW during the summer preceding the Foundation Year.) During their second year of study, students will enroll in the prescribed Foundation Year curriculum at the School of Social Work. In addition, students may enroll in up to three hours of elective credit in each of the fall and spring semesters of the Foundation Year. These elective credits may be earned in either the School of Social Work or the Law Center. During the summer following the second year of study, students will be encouraged to complete the Foundation Field Internship requirements of the School of Social Work. Students must complete these requirements before they can enroll in Social Work advanced-year courses.

Students who begin their training at the School of Social Work will enroll in the prescribed Foundation Year curriculum during the fall and spring semesters of their first year of study. These students may earn elective credit toward the MSW during the summer following the Foundation Year, an option that is available to all social work foundation-year students. During their second year of study, students will enroll in the prescribed 1L curriculum in the fall and spring. During the summer following the second year, students may earn elective credit in either program.

During the final two years of study, students may allocate their time between the School of Social Work and the Law Center in any manner provided that they meet the degree requirements of each program. All students completing the concurrent degree program will be required to complete a thesis (as opposed to a non-thesis capstone) in the School of Social Work.