Dual Degrees
MSW Dual Degree Programs: MSW/JD, MSW/MPH, MSW/MBA and More
What MSW Dual Degree Programs Are Available?
MSW dual degree programs pair the Master of Social Work with a second graduate degree, most often a JD, MPH, MBA or public administration degree, and let you count some courses toward both. Across verified school pages there are 247 dual degrees at 99 schools, including 43 MSW/JD programs. Most take three to four years and still require the full MSW field placement.
A dual degree makes sense when your career sits at the edge of social work and another field: family law, public health, nonprofit management, ministry or research. The list below draws on the dual degree pages of 99 schools, checked in September 2026, and on program pages that spell out credits and length.
What an MSW Dual Degree Actually Saves
A dual degree is two separate degrees earned together, with some courses counted toward both. The saving is real but smaller than people expect.
UNC Chapel Hill shows the math clearly. Its MSW/JD requires at least 74 law credits and 50 social work credits, including field education. On their own, the JD takes 86 credits and the MSW 62. The program typically takes four years for both degrees.
Three things do not shrink:
- Field education. CSWE requires at least 900 hours for every master’s program, and dual degree students complete it too. Tulane’s MSW/MPH, for example, keeps the 900 MSW practicum hours and adds 200 hours of public health practice.
- Admission to both schools. Most dual degrees require two applications and two acceptances.
- The license path. Your social work license still rests on the MSW and supervised experience after graduation.
Common MSW Dual Degree Programs, by Count
Here is how the 247 verified pairings break down. Counts come from school dual degree listings; a school appears more than once if it offers several pairings.
| Second degree | Pairings listed | Example schools |
|---|---|---|
| Public health (MPH) | 49 | Tulane, Boston University, Temple |
| Law (JD) | 43 | UNC Chapel Hill, University at Buffalo, Fordham |
| Business (MBA) | 25 | WashU, Aurora University, University of Chicago |
| Divinity, theology or ministry | 21 | Boston University, Texas Christian, Baylor |
| Public administration or public affairs | 19 | Cal State San Bernardino, UNC Chapel Hill, Ohio State |
| Public policy | 12 | UC Berkeley, UCLA, University of Maryland |
| Bachelor’s-to-MSW combined | 10 | Simmons, Ohio State, WashU |
| Social work PhD | 8 | Ohio State, University at Buffalo, University of Houston |
| Criminology or criminal justice | 8 | Florida State, Saint Louis University, University at Albany |
Some schools offer far more than others. The University of Denver and WashU each list nine pairings, and UT Arlington lists eight, including healthcare administration, human resources and special education. Texas has the most listings of any state, followed by New York and Illinois.
MSW/JD Dual Degree Programs
The MSW/JD draws the most search interest of any pairing. It fits you if you are aiming at work where legal training and social work judgment meet, such as child welfare cases, family court or public defense.
The verified programs follow a similar pattern:
- Length: four years full time at UNC Chapel Hill, Buffalo and WashU.
- Credits: 124 at UNC Chapel Hill and 125 at WashU.
- Sequence: UNC students usually complete two years of law first. Buffalo recommends starting in social work so you stay with your law cohort for the last three years.
- Field work: Buffalo pairs a 420-hour foundation practicum with a law clinic that doubles as the advanced practicum, a useful way to meet both schools’ practice requirements at once.
- Format: Buffalo’s JD/MSW is on campus only.
A few variations are worth knowing. Loyola University Chicago pairs the MSW with a Master of Jurisprudence in Children’s Law and Policy, a shorter law degree for people who want legal fluency without practicing law. The University of Denver offers an MSW/Master of Legal Studies on the same idea. UC Berkeley has paused MSW/JD admissions for Fall 2027.
MSW/MPH Dual Degrees, Including Online Options
The MSW/MPH is the most common pairing, at 49 listings. It suits people headed for hospital social work, health departments, community health programs and health policy, where population-level data meets direct practice.
| Program | Total credits | Typical length | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tulane MSW/MPH | 87 | Five semesters, including summer | 900 MSW practicum hours plus 200 MPH practice hours |
| Boston University MSW/MPH | 65 MSW plus 40 MPH | Minimum of 3 years | Up to 16 MPH core credits count toward the MSW; full or part time |
| WashU MSW/MPH | 86 | Three years | Separate MPH application |
Online options are scarce. Temple University offers its MSW/MPH on campus or online, in Social and Behavioral Sciences or Health Policy and Management. If you need a fully online program, compare single-degree online MSW programs and consider adding public health coursework later. For health-focused MSWs without a second degree, see the medical social work MSW programs.
Every MSW Dual Degree by State
247 dual degrees that pair the MSW with another degree, at 99 schools. Names are the schools' own.
From each school's own pages, September 2026. CSWE status is the school's MSW status in CSWE's directory.
MSW/MBA, MPA and MPP: Management and Policy Pairings
If you want to run an agency, manage programs or shape policy, the management and policy pairings fit better than law or public health. The listings include 25 MBA pairings, 19 in public administration or public affairs and 12 in public policy.
Details from verified program pages:
- WashU MSW/MBA: a three-year, 100-credit curriculum with separate applications to the Brown School and Olin Business School.
- Aurora University MSW/MBA: 84 credit hours, fully online in 8-week sessions, an estimated 4 to 5 years, at $650 per credit hour. Nine hours of the Leadership Administration track count toward both degrees.
- Cal State San Bernardino MSW/MPA: 72 to 73 units, on campus or online.
Nonprofit-focused alternatives include Case Western Reserve’s MSW/Master of Nonprofit Organizations, Penn’s MSW/Master of Science in Nonprofit Leadership and the University of Chicago’s dual degree in Social Work and Social Sector Leadership and Nonprofit Management. If macro practice is your main interest, the macro social work MSW programs page covers MSWs that teach administration and policy within a single degree.
MSW/PhD Paths for Research and Teaching
Eight schools list an MSW/PhD path, including the University of Alabama, University of Iowa, University at Buffalo, University of Houston and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Ohio State’s MSW plus PhD is the most detailed. It uses a single application. Bachelor’s-level applicants need a 3.5 GPA and a B- or better in research and statistics. Total time runs 4.5 to 7 years. Funding is part of the design: MSW-phase students can hold a 25% research associate position covering 50% of tuition with a stipend, and PhD students a 50% position with tuition coverage.
This path suits you if you want to teach or run research and want practice experience first. If you only want an advanced practice degree after the MSW, a DSW is the other route; the social work degree levels guide compares them.
Divinity, Education and Less Common Pairings
Theology and ministry pairings are common, with 21 listings at 16 schools. Boston University’s MSW/MTS typically takes three years and its MSW/MDiv four, both full time only. WashU’s MSW/MDiv runs 114 credits over four years with Eden Theological Seminary. Texas Christian University offers three pairings with Brite Divinity School.
Education pairings serve school and early childhood work. Boston University’s MSW/EdM takes at least 2.5 years and 83 credits. CUNY Hunter pairs the MSW with an MSEd in Infant and Parent Development through Bank Street College of Education.
Then there are the unusual ones: the University of Wisconsin-Madison pairs the MSW with an MD, DVM or PharmD; WashU offers architecture and urban design; Tulane offers an MS in Disaster Resilience Leadership; and the University of Louisville pairs its MSSW with couple and family therapy, Pan-African studies and health care ethics.
Certificates as a Lighter Alternative
A second degree adds a year or more. A certificate often adds nothing to your timeline, and 210 certificates at 111 schools give you plenty to choose from.
The most practical certificates lead to a second credential:
- School social work: California’s Pupil Personnel Services credential appears at San Diego State, San Francisco State and UCLA, and Illinois schools such as UIC and the University of Chicago offer Professional Educator License endorsements.
- Addiction counseling: Augsburg and the University of St Thomas offer MSW/LADC pathways in Minnesota; Stony Brook and Yeshiva offer CASAC programs in New York.
- Specialty practice: veterinary social work at Auburn, Cleveland State and Tennessee; play therapy at Sacred Heart and Monmouth; forensic social work at Long Island University.
For school-focused options, see the school social work MSW programs.
Who a Dual Degree Suits, and the Trade-Offs
A dual degree pays off when the job you want requires both credentials or rewards them clearly: a child welfare attorney, a health department program director, a hospital administrator with clinical training, a researcher who wants practice experience.
It is a poor fit if your goal is clinical licensure and therapy work. The LCSW path runs through the MSW, supervised hours and the clinical exam; a JD or MBA does not shorten it. See the LCSW requirements for what that path involves.
The trade-offs to weigh:
- Time: three to four years for the verified pairings above, against about two for a standalone MSW, or one with advanced standing.
- Cost: you pay two schools’ tuition for the length of the program. Check the MSW cost guide for social work rates, then add the other school’s.
- Admission risk: separate applications mean you can be admitted to one school and not the other.
- Format: most dual degrees are full time and on campus. Buffalo’s JD/MSW and BU’s theology pairings are full time only.
How to Choose an MSW Dual Degree
Use this checklist when you compare programs:
- Confirm the second degree matches a real job target. Look at postings for the role you want and check whether they ask for both credentials.
- Count the shared credits. UNC Chapel Hill’s MSW/JD saves a year; Aurora’s MSW/MBA shares nine hours. Ask for the plan of study.
- Check the application rules. Separate applications are the norm; Ohio State’s single application for the MSW/PhD is the exception.
- Map the field placement. Ask whether one placement can serve both degrees, as Buffalo’s law clinic does.
- Check CSWE status of the MSW. Licensure depends on it, not on the partner degree.
- Look at funding. Research paths like Ohio State’s include assistantships; professional pairings usually do not.
When you have a shortlist, the program matcher narrows MSW options by format and specialization, and the MSW admission requirements page explains what each school asks for. Browse programs by state on pages such as Missouri and Texas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do You Apply Separately to Each Program in an MSW Dual Degree?
Usually. UNC Chapel Hill says you must apply separately to law and social work and that acceptance into one does not guarantee the other, and WashU requires separate applications for each of its MSW pairings. Ohio State's MSW plus PhD is an exception, with a single application and admission process.
Are There Online MSW/MPH Dual Degree Programs?
A few. Temple University offers its MSW/MPH on campus or online, with Social and Behavioral Sciences or Health Policy and Management tracks. Online pairings also include Aurora University's MSW/MBA and MSW/MPA and Cal State San Bernardino's MSW/MPA, which runs 72 to 73 units on campus or online.
Does a Dual Degree Change the Social Work License Path?
No. The license depends on the MSW itself: CSWE notes that most state and territory requirements call for a degree from a CSWE-accredited program before you sit for a licensing exam. The second degree adds credentials such as bar eligibility, but the social work board looks at the MSW and your supervised experience.
Can You Add a Certificate Instead of a Second Degree?
Yes, and many students do. Verified school pages list 210 certificates at 111 schools, from school social work credentials and addiction counselor pathways to gerontology and nonprofit management. A certificate usually fits inside or alongside the MSW without adding a year.
Is a Bachelor's-to-MSW Program the Same as a Dual Degree?
Not quite. Combined programs such as Simmons University's BSW/MSW 3+1 or Ohio State's 4+1 BSSW/MSW link an undergraduate and a graduate degree to shorten the total time, rather than pairing two graduate degrees. Ten of the listed pairings are this type.
Keep Reading
- MSW SpecializationsThe main MSW specializations, how many verified programs offer each, and the jobs and licenses each one leads to
- Social Work Degree LevelsThe BSW, MSW and doctoral social work degrees, what each qualifies you for and how advanced standing links them
- MSW Admission RequirementsWhat MSW programs require for admission, with counts from verified program pages
- MSW Cost and Financial AidMSW tuition from verified programs, advanced standing savings, federal aid and loan forgiveness for social workers
- Social Work LicensingHow social work licensing works, the license tiers, the ASWB exams and where to find each state's rules
- How to Become an LCSWThe steps from MSW to clinical licensure, supervised experience requirements by state and the ASWB Clinical exam
Sources
- UNC Chapel Hill School of Social Work: MSW/JD dual degree
- University at Buffalo School of Social Work: JD/MSW dual degree
- Tulane School of Social Work: MSW/MPH dual degree
- Boston University School of Social Work: MSW dual degrees
- WashU Brown School: MSW dual degrees
- Ohio State College of Social Work: MSW plus PhD
- Aurora University: online MSW/MBA dual degree
- CSWE: 2022 Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS)
- CSWE: Accreditation
- Official program pages of each school listed, reviewed September 2026