The joint Master's in Social Work and Juris Doctor program (MSW/JD) combines a law degree with the MSW with a concentration in Clinical or MACRO. Students are able to earn both degrees in, at most, four years of full-time study, rather than the usual five. Recipients of the joint J.D./MSW degrees hold professional credentials for a broad range of careers in government, consulting, teaching, research, and law. Course work, a minimum of 125 credits (51 MSW credits and 74 JD credits), includes core and specialized courses in both schools and field placements in social work settings. The JD program requirements during the first and fourth years of study are completed at Albany Law School. The second and third years combine courses from Albany Law School and the School of Social Welfare. The coursework leading towards this joint degree must begin at Albany Law School.

Each school's application procedures and admissions criteria are independent. Albany Law and the School of Social Welfare require that each student submit a complete application package and an application fee. Albany Law requires LSAT scores in addition to application material. Each university has an independent review process for the applications using their own criteria. Applicants are offered admission to each school independently. Admission into one program does not guarantee admission into the other program.

Sample Program

Year 1 - 0 credits SSW, 31 credits at Albany Law School

Full-time at Albany Law School - 31 credits

Fall
Legal Methods(1);
Contracts (3);
Property (3);
Intro to Lawyering (2);
Intro to Civil Procedure(3);
Torts (4);

Spring
Contracts (3);
Property II (3);
Criminal Law (3);
Intro to Lawyering (2);
Constitutional Law (4);

Year 2 - 31 credits SSW, 3 credits at Albany Law School

Full-time at School of Social Welfare

Fall
Ssw 600 Social Welfare Policy and Services (3);
Ssw 610 Human Behavior and Social Environment I (3);
Ssw 620 Micro Practice I (3);
Ssw 630 Macro Practice I (3);
Ssw 650 Field Instruction I (3);

Spring
Ssw 611 Human Behavior and Social Environment II (3);
Ssw 621 Micro Practice II (3);
Ssw 631 Macro Practice II (3);
Ssw 651 Field Instruction II (4);
Ssw 660 Introductory Research Methodology (3);

Spring or Summer at Albany Law School (Legal Profession/Professional Ressponsibility) (3)

Year 3 - 20 credits SSW, 11 credits at Albany Law School

Fall
Ssw 665 Research Methods in Social Work Management (3);
Ssw 790 Human Service Organizations in a Changing Environment (3);
Ssw 792 Community Building (3);
Ssw 7__ Advanced MACRO Course (3)
Ssw 752 Field Instruction II (4)

Spring
Ssw 753 Field Instruction IV (4);
Albany Law School - Electives (11) one course from Finance Options;

Year 4 - 29 credits at Albany Law School

Albany Law School - Electives (29);.