Social Work/Juris Doctor Dual-Degree

About This Program
	Apply Inquire
	Admissions Contact Tessa Dowd Graduate Admissions Counselor tdowd2@springfield.edu (413) 748-3729 Make an appointment Western New England University School of Law Rachel Szostak Assistant Dean of Law Admissions Western New England University School of Law rachel.szostak@law.wne.edu (413) 782-1286 Are you an International Student? Please contact intladmissions@springfield.edu Make an appointment
	Program Contact Lisa Watson Chair and Associate Professor Department of Social Work lwatson@sprinfield.edu (413) 748-3045
	Curriculum and Delivery 122-125-credit program Courses are offered on campus or online at Springfield College and on campus at WNEU Springfield College 100% online asynchronous and synchronous classes offered Monday evening, Wednesday evening, and Saturday 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Springfield College on campus classes are held weekday or evening Taught by expert faculty practitioners Program curriculum
	Start Dates and Duration Start in September (fall semester) Complete in 4 years
	Practicum Education First Internship, First Year – 400 hours, 14.50 hours per week for 14 weeks for two semesters Second Internship, Fourth Year – 500 hours, 18 hours per week for 14 weeks for two semesters Practicum placement information
	Graduate Success and Careers Explore the career outcomes
	Social Work Licensure Licensure preparation and requirements
	Paying for Your Education Tuition and fees Fellowships and scholarships Financial Aid
	Looking for other degrees in Social Work? Master of Social Work MSW: Advanced Standing Program
	Upcoming Events Master's Degrees in Social Work Information Session Thursday, October 30, 2025, at 6:00 PM Register Fall Open House Thursday, November 20, 2025 12:00 PM or 5:00 PM Register Tips and Pointers for Applying to Graduate School Monday, November 24, 2025, at 6:00 PM Register

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

Fight for Equity With Dual Expertise.

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 Arts and Sciences at (413) 748-3713 or the WNE School of Law.

Mission:
Through the teaching of social work knowledge and practice, the Masters in Social Work program at Springfield College prepares individuals to meet universal human needs in order to engender mutually beneficial interaction between individuals and societal systems at all levels, based on principles of economic and social justice, dignity, and human rights.

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How to Apply:

Admissions Requirements

Complete the online application: Once your application form is processed you will receive an email with your application portal login credentials and instructions for submitting supplemental materials as listed below.
Essay: Once your application form is processed you will receive an email with your application portal login credentials. Once you login to your application portal you'll be able to upload your essay.
Resume: Please include any college activities, out-of-school leadership experiences, work history, and community involvement to support your interest in or qualifications for graduate study.
Two letters of recommendation: Two letters of recommendation from a faculty member or direct supervisor: Recommenders will receive an email when you submit your application and will be able to upload your letter to your application.
Transcripts: An official transcript from each college/university you have attended is required. In order to be considered official, transcripts must be received directly from the original source, by email to graduate@springfield.edu or mailed to the college address:

Springfield College
Office of Graduate Admissions
263 Alden Street
Springfield, MA 01109

International Applicants

$100 non-refundable International Application fee

In addition to the above admissions requirements, all international applicants from non-English-speaking countries are required 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 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:

Fall Start

On Campus - Priority Application and Supporting Materials Deadline: April 24, 2026
Online - Priority Application and Supporting Materials Deadline: July 1, 2026

International Students:

Fall Start

Priority Application and Supporting Materials Deadline: April 24, 2026

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

MSW/JD 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.

Lead Correctional Counselor, Hampden County Sheriff's Office

Andrea Berte ’10, G’15

"The weekend program allowed me the flexibility to work, take care of my son, and continue my education. I think Springfield College did a really excellent job of emphasizing not only authenticity, but professionalism. I left Springfield College feeling prepared.”

Read Andrea's Story

Winifred Brown, MSW’23

“Coming from a country whose child protection system was not well suited to the current needs of its citizens ignited a flame in me that required knowledge and skill to help me become an instrument of change. Springfield College has given me the platform to acquire academic training with its generalist program. I gained knowledge, skills, and values at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels. I gained so much confidence in myself and professional skills using group experience from field placements and project presentations.”

MSW and JD

Jenna Stadulis, MSW’23

“I have always had a passion for wanting to help people with substance use disorders. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to do that in a legal or social work capacity which is why I decided to get both degrees. The best part of my time in the MSW program has been my fieldwork experiences, from my first placement at a methadone clinic to my placement at the Committee for Public Counsel Services. I have learned so much from working in the field and have loved being able to connect what I am learning in the classroom to the real world.”

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

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Fellowships and scholarships

International Student Scholarships

Employee Partnerships

Employees of our partnerships are eligible to receive 15% off tuition.

Employee Partnerships

Graduate Financial Aid

Most of our students are eligible for some type of aid, whether a grant, scholarship, or loan.

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