::JD-MSW

JD/MSW Dual Degree Program Contacts

Juris Doctor/Master of Social Work (JD/MSW)

The Gonzaga University School of Law and the School of Social Work at Eastern Washington University are pleased to offer the Juris Doctor-Master of Social Work (JD/MSW) degree.

• The JD/MSW joint degree program is designed to prepare law and social work professionals to practice either profession competently.
• This four-year program (three years for students with advanced standing in social work) will lead successful students to a JD from Gonzaga University School of Law, and a Master's in Social Work from Eastern Washington University.
• Graduates of the JD-MSW joint degree program will be well-prepared to make significant contributions in areas such as public benefits, mental health services, children's services, services for people with disabilities, education, elder law and services, and public health.
• The program meets all applicable American Bar Association and Council on Social Work Education accreditation guidelines.
• During the third and fourth years of study, students in the joint degree program are required to enroll in a colloquium focusing on ways law and social work intersect, and how their interdisciplinary education is equipping them to meet their career goals. 
• Practicum experiences in legal and social work settings during the third and fourth years of the program are also required.
• The faculty members of Gonzaga University School of Law and Eastern Washington University will teach the curriculum at each school's respective campuses.

What To Expect

Joint degree students must meet the academic requirements of both programs. 

• Gonzaga University School of Law will accept the equivalent of 10 semester credit hours from a student's course work at Eastern Washington University towards the JD degree requirements, provided the student earns a grade of C or better.
• The Eastern Washington University School of Social Work will accept 12 semester hours of Gonzaga Law School credits toward its requirements for the MSW.
• During the third and fourth years of study, students in the dual-degree program are required to enroll in a colloquium focusing on the ways that law and social work intersect, and how their interdisciplinary education is equipping them to meet their career goals.
• Practicum experiences in legal and social work settings during the third and fourth years of the program are also required.

Admission

Admission to the program is highly selective, and is currently limited to a maximum of four students per year. 

• Students must apply and be admitted to both Gonzaga University School of Law and the Eastern Washington University School of Social Work.
• A candidate's application to the joint degree program will be considered only after a candidate is admitted to both schools' programs.
• Acceptance is based on meeting each school's established admissions criteria, including qualifying scores on standardized tests, such as the Law School Admission Test (LSAT).
• You must apply to both schools separately. 
• Once admitted to both programs, you are a dual degree student.
• Admission into one school does not automatically grant you admission into the other, regardless of your intent to pursue a joint degree. 
• You must apply to both schools for graduation by notifying the staff member in charge of graduation at each school.

Tuition and Financial Aid

• Tuition: Dual-degree students will pay tuition for law school courses at the rate charged by Gonzaga University School of Law, and tuition for social work courses at the rate charged by Eastern Washington University.
• Financial Aid: Gonzaga University will process all applications for financial aid for students enrolled in this joint degree program, pursuant to a Consortium Agreement with Eastern Washington University.
• You will be charged tuition based on the course you are taking. Contact Joan Henning at the School of Law and Student Accounts on main campus.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does registration work?

• You may only be able to use Zagweb to register for classes at the law school.
• Always try to register for all your classes first, if you have problems then proceed to the next step. 
• To register for MSW classes, email the registrar and include the CRN(s) for the classes, your student ID, and note that you are a MBA/JD or MAcc/JD student. 

Are both schools on the same academic calendar?

No. The Law School starts a week earlier in both the fall and spring semester. Both schools have 15-week semesters, but the Law School has two weeks of finals, whereas the business school has just one week of finals.

• Finals end for both schools at the same time; however, the Law School starts a week earlier than the Graduate School of Business.
• Be aware that the final week of the Business School semester may conflict with the first week of Law School finals and may require a schedule adjustment.
• Law School summer sessions start a week later than business school summer sessions.
• Florence summer program students should be aware of start/end schedule discrepancy before making travel plans.
• The Memorial Day holiday is observed on Memorial Day at the law school; however, the graduate school of business observes it a few weeks later due to the school start date.