NC State, Campbell Law School Partner to Offer Dual Graduate Degree in Social Work, Law

NC State’s Department of Social Work and Campbell Law School have formed a new dual degree program that enables students to earn a Master of Social Work and a Juris Doctor simultaneously. The new JD/MSW program, which will admit its first students in fall 2018, marks NC State’s fourth dual degree program with Campbell Law and the second with NC State’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences.

“We are pleased to partner again with Campbell Law to provide students the opportunity to obtain high levels of expertise in law and in social work,” says Jeff Braden, dean of NC State’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences. “This dual JD/MSW degree approach is a well-respected model around the country. And it’s fully in keeping with NC State’s ‘think and do’ mantra.

“Students will graduate with professional credentials for a diverse range of careers in law, government, nonprofit organizations, teaching and research. They will be well prepared for careers that contribute to the legal and social welfare of citizens. And they will be able to identify and address problems faced by individuals, families and communities.”

Campbell Law Dean J. Rich Leonard concurs. “Campbell Law prepares its graduates to successfully serve their communities with legal skill, ethical conviction and intellectual leadership,” he says. “The law school develops lawyers who possess moral conviction, social compassion and professional competence, and who view the law as a calling to serve others and create a more just and merciful society. We are dedicated to creating compassionate lawyers who are fully prepared for the challenges of the real world. This dual degree will further our mission.”

Karen Bullock heads the Department of Social Work. She says the department is eager to launch the dual degree program. “Our program emphasizes professional ethics, social justice, diversity and community engagement,” she says. “We prepare practitioners to address the social, economic, cultural, demographic and political changes that shape our society at large. We are confident that this dual degree will further our capacity to improve lives and create a more just society.”  

The JD/MSW program enables students to earn both degrees in four years of full-time study, rather than the usual five. Students must apply and be accepted to both universities. They will typically spend the first two years of study  at Campbell, the third year at NC State, and the fourth year at Campbell.

In addition to the JD/MSW dual degree, NC State and Campbell Law also offer a Juris Doctor/Master of Public Administration dual degree program through NC State’s School of Public and International Affairs, and two dual degrees with NC State’s Poole College of Management.