Combined J.D./M.S.W. Program
Director: Professor Andrea Litvack
The J.D./M.S.W. program combines the law school’s inter-disciplinary teaching environment with its commitment to public interest law. Offered by the Faculty of Law and the Faculty of Social Work, the program gives students who wish to practise in the areas in which law and social work interact (for example, child welfare, mental health, social policy, human rights) an opportunity to participate in a coherent program leading to both the J.D. and M.S.W. degrees.
This integrated program allows students to complete the two degrees in four years, rather than the five it would take to pursue them independently. Students who enter with a B.S.W. may receive advanced standing in the program.
In the first year of the program students undertake the first year of the J.D. program. In the second year students undertake the first year of the master’s program in social work (in some circumstances permission may be obtained to reverse this order). In years three and four students take a number of courses selected from the curricula of both faculties.
In addition, students undertake two requirements that are unique to the program: a combined degree field placement and 8 "integrated credits" (3 of which are satisfied through participation in a specialized seminar for program students). The combined degree field placements enable students to work in a field setting for two days per week for an entire academic year. Students are placed with organizations whose work in some manner touches upon the disciplines and practices of both law and social work. Past placements have included the Office of the Children’s Lawyer, the special prosecutorial team assigned to child sexual abuse cases, the Advocacy Resource Centre for the Handicapped, and the Centre for Equality Rights in Accommodation.
Requirements
- Complete the first year of the J.D. program in the first year.
- Complete the first year of the M.S.W. program in the second year.
- Successfully complete 32 credits at the Faculty of Law in the third and fourth year (course selection depends on student's interests) of the program in courses approved by the Director.
- Successfully complete 4 half-courses at the Faculty of Social Work (courses depend on specialization) in the third and fourth year of the program in courses approved by the Co-Directors.
- Satisfy a practicum requirement (8 credits) in the third year of the program.
- Successfully complete 8 "integrated" credits over the third and fourth years of the program. Five of these credits through a directed research project and/or courses at law or social work that the student designates as an integrated course and is approved by the Director. The remaining three credits are satisfied through enrolment in a compulsory seminar Exploring the Intersections of Law and Social Work (LAW345Y1Y) for program students. For more details on this course see the Course List
Note: Notwithstanding the Faculty of Social Work's course selection process, students must meet the Faculty of Law course selection deadline.
Students must submit their proposed course selections for years three and four of the program to the Director prior to the applicable course selection deadlines in each year in each Faculty. Any changes must also be approved by the Director.
Students enrolled in joint programs MUST complete the requirements of both programs in order to graduate in a joint program. No diplomas will be awarded until all the requirements for a joint program are fulfilled.
Practicum Requirements
In the second year (M.S.W. year), students are required to complete a practicum in second semester. There is a wide range of choices for practicum locations and the exact placement depends on each student's individual interests.
The combined degree practicum in the third year of the program enables students to work in a field setting for two days per week from September to April for an entire academic year. Students are placed with organization whose work in some manner touches upon the disciplines and practices of both law and social work. Past placements have included the Office of the Children's Lawyer, the special prosecutorial team assigned to child sexual abuse cases, the Advocacy Resource Centre for the Handicapped, Justice for Children and Youth and the Centre for Equality Rights in Accommodation.
Summer Employment
In the past, students have found summer employment in various locations. Some students have worked at law firms of varying size and practice areas, others at community legal clinics, not for profit organizations or other community based organizations. Other students have done research with a professor, received a fellowship or completed an internship with a community of governmental agency.
Articling
Graduates from the combined program have articled at many places. For example, students have articled for the government, for mid to large size firms, for smaller boutique firms and with family law firms.
Admissions
Applicants to the J.D./M.S.W. program must apply for admission to both faculties independently within the time periods prescribed by the respective faculties. Students must meet the full admission requirements of both the Faculty of Law and the Faculty of Social Work. Students are admitted into the program upon successful admission into both faculties.
Students may also apply for admission to the combined degree program while enrolled in either the first year of the J.D. program or the first year of the M.S.W. program. To gain admission, students must meet the normal admission requirements of the other Faculty and, upon admission, must notify the faculty registrar at the Faculty in which they are presently enrolled.
Contact
For more information about this combined program, contact the:
Admissions Office
Faculty of Law
University of Toronto
84 Queen's Park
Toronto, Ontario
Canada M5S 2C5
Telephone: (416) 978-3716
Fax: (416) 978-7899
Also, application forms and/or calendars for the M.S.W. program can be obtained from:
For more information Contact
Andrea Litvack, M.S.W. Program Director
Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work
University of Toronto
246 Bloor Street West
Toronto, ON M5S 1V4
Tel. (416) 978-5826
Fax. (416) 978-7072
E-mail: andrea.litvack@utoronto.ca
Web site: http://www.socialwork.utoronto.ca/home.htm
Tuition for the J.D./M.S.W. Program
Students in the combined program pay J.D. tuition in the first, third and fourth years of the program, and M.S.W. tuition in the second year. For more information see: www.fees.utoronto.ca
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