MSSP/Master of Social Work (MSSP/MSW) Program

This dual degree program allows students to complete both the Master of Social Work and Master of Science in Social Policy degrees in 22 courses. On its own, the MSW is a 16 CU degree, consisting of 11 required courses and 5 electives. On its own, the MSSP is a 10 CU program, consisting of 7 required courses and three electives (one of which must be an MSSP theory elective). When students complete the MSSP/MSW dual degree, up to four courses are cross-counted between the two degrees. Depending on course scheduling, students may be able to complete both degrees in two academic years and two summers. However, it is common for students to need five or six semesters (excluding summers) to complete the dual degree requirements. Ideally, students will apply to the MSW and MSSP degree at the same time, but students may also apply to the MSSP program during their first year in the MSW program.

Students work with their academic advisors in the MSW and MSSP programs to individualize their course of study, but the following four courses have been pre-approved for cross-counting and represent the standard course of study:

• MSSP 6310: Law and Social Policy: fulfills SWRK Policy Option
• MSSP 8970: Applied Linear Modeling OR MSSP 6300: Quantitative Reasoning: fulfills SWRK Research Option
• MSSP 6680: Economics for Social Policy: fulfills SWRK Elective
• Elective (SWRK or other department): Fulfills SWRK and MSSP Elective (with approval from both MSW and MSSP advisors)

Students complete the following 22 courses: (1) SWRK 6010, (2) SWRK 6020, (3) SWRK 6030, (4) SWRK 6040, (5) SWRK 6140, (6) SWRK 6150, (7) SWRK 7040 or 7080, (8) SWRK 7140 or 7180, (9) SWRK 7130, (10) MSSP 6280, (11) MSSP 6290, (12) MSSP 6300, (13) MSSP 6310, (14) MSSP 6320 (.5 CU) and MSSP 6330 (.5 CU), (15) MSSP 6680, (16) MSSP 8970, and (17-22) six electives (one of which must be an MSSP theory elective).

Students in the MSW clinical concentration must take SWRK 7600 as one of their electives.

The table below represents the course of study for students who wish to complete the degree in two academic years and two summers, provided they wish to take five course per semester in their second year and provided scheduling of classes and practicum placement permits. It is not always possible to complete the degree in this timeframe; in some circumstances students may finish the MSW at the end of the second year and the MSSP in the fall or spring of the third year. Students may choose to complete the MSW at the end of the second spring and graduate from the MSSP program the following semester or year.