The goal of the Program is to graduate students who are competent in the disciplines of social work and law for advanced practice in a field of service, such as child welfare or mental health, where law and social work converge. Complex issues requiring this expertise arise in the context of family counseling, administration and policy-making, as well as in practice in juvenile, family and criminal courts, and in mediation. The Program stresses an interdisciplinary approach that values collaboration and communication skills. The schedule of coursework for the Dual Degree Program immerses the student in the programs at each school. The first year of the four year program is spent entirely at California Western School of Law.
Students participate in the first year curriculum just as all first year law students do.
There are opportunities to meet with other students who are in the Program and with Program faculty and administrators. The second year of the program is spent entirely at SDSU, School of Social Work . The first semester of the third year is spent at both institutions. Students take two courses at SDSU and the remainder of their courses will be at California Western. The second semester of the third year is spent entirely at California Western.