The goal of the program is to make an evidence-based social work practice curriculum available to Master of Science in Criminal Justice students. Our program is highly complementary to criminal justice inquiry and study.

This coordinated program combines the strengths of two graduate programs and provides students with theoretical and practical exposure to evolving professional practice in the field of criminal justice, or social work with a focus on criminal justice.

The program aims at developing the requisite knowledge base and skills needed for effective practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities involved in the criminal justice system.

The school admits applicants only for the fall semester. The next opportunity to apply will be in October 2020, for a start date of Fall 2021.

Curriculum and Degree Requirements

The Masters of Social Work (MSW) component includes 56 credits of MSW courses

Course Type
Foundation Work 22 cr
Advanced Curriculum (below) 34 cr
Social Work Methods 8 cr
Field Work 11 cr
Concentration 5 cr
Research 4 cr
Electives 6 cr
TOTAL 56 credits
Social Work (with BSW)
SW 711 or 713, 811 or 915, 820: Social Work Methods 8 cr
SW 722, 821, 822: Graduate Field Instruction 11 cr
SW 793 and 794: Research Methods 4 cr
SW 851 and HBSE (771, 685, or 753) 851 is Social Issue Analysis; select HBSE course related to concentration 5–6 cr
Criminal Justice electives with Advisor’s Consent 6 cr
TOTAL 34 credits

Total Credits for the Joint Degree Program: 21*+28** = 49 cr
* (CRM JST 773) + (CRM JST 743) + (CRM JST 756) = 21 cr
** SW 711(or 713)+SW 811(or 915) +820=28 crs

SW 851 and HBSE (771, 685, or 753) Seminar is Social Issue Analysis; Select HBSE course related to concentration

Social Work (without BSW)
SW 604: Social Systems and Social Work 3 cr
SW 662: Social Welfare Research Methods 3 cr
SW 665: Cultural Diversity & Social Work 3 cr
SW 705: Individual Behavior & Social Welfare 3 cr
SW 750: Social Welfare Policy Development and Implementation 2 cr
SW 708: Social Work Methods I 3 cr
SW 709: Social Work Methods II 2 cr
SW 721: Foundation Field Instruction 3 cr
SW 711 or 713, 811 or 915, 820: Social Work Methods 8 cr
SW 722, 821, 822: Graduate Field Instruction 11 cr
SW 793 and 794: Research Methods 4 cr
TOTAL 44 Credits
Criminal Justice
CRM JST 773 Perspectives on Crime & the Criminal Justice System 3 cr
CRM JST 743 Administration of Criminal Justice Systems 3 cr
CRM JST 756 Analysis of Criminal Justice Research 3 cr
Criminal Justice Courses 12 cr
Required Courses with Advisor’s Consent 12 cr
TOTAL 33 Credits

* SW 604+ SW 662+……………SW 851=50 crs.

Program Coursework
    • The total credits for the coordinated program would typically be completed in both programs at the same time, rather than one program after the other. Degrees will be awarded simultaneously. A student not completing the requirements for the coordinated degree program would need to complete all requirements for an individual program in order to receive a degree.
Criminal Justice
CRM JST 713 Measuring Crime and Analyzing Crime Data 3 cr
CRM JST 773 Perspectives on Crime & the Criminal Justice System 3 cr
CRM JST 743 Administration of Criminal Justice Systems 3 cr
CRM JST 756 Analysis of Criminal Justice Research 3 cr
CRM JST 920 Criminal Justice Masters Capstone Seminar 3 cr
Criminal Justice Courses 6 cr
Required Courses with Advisor’s Consent 12 cr
TOTAL 33 Credits
Social Work Foundation Curriculum
SW 604: Social Systems and Social Work 3 cr
SW 662: Social Welfare Research Methods 3 cr
SW 665: Cultural Diversity & Social Work 3 cr
SW 705: Individual Behavior & Social Welfare 3 cr
SW 708: Social Work Methods I 3 cr
SW 709: Social Work Methods II 2 cr
TOTAL 17 Credits
Social Work Advanced Practice Curriculum
SW 711 Direct Social Work Practice I 3 cr 3 cr
or
SW 713 Community Organization, Planning and Human Service Administration I 3 cr
SW 811 Direct Social Work Practice II: (Subtitled) 3 cr
or
SW 915 Human Services Administration II 3 cr
SW 820 Seminar in Social Work Practice: (Subtitled) 2 cr
SW 775 Trauma Counseling II: Diagnosis and Treatment 3 cr
TOTAL 11 Credits
Field Courses
722 Field Instruction II 3 cr
821 Field Instruction III 4 cr
822 Field Instruction IV 4 cr
TOTAL 11 Credits
Human Behavior Content
SW 753 Psychopathology for Social Workers 3 cr
SW 771 Development of the Family Over the Life Span 3 cr
SW 685 Social Gerontology 3 cr
or
SW 774 Trauma Counseling I: Theory and Research 3 cr
TOTAL 9 Credits
Research
SW 793 Advanced Methods of Social Welfare Research 2 cr
SW 794 Advanced Research Methods: Evaluating Social Welfare Programs 2 cr
TOTAL 4 Credits
Social Policy
SW 851 Social Issue and Policy Analysis: (Subtitled) 2–3 cr
TOTAL 2–3 Credits
Electives
Selected from among successfully completed CJ courses in consultation with faculty advisor. 6 cr
TOTAL 6 Credits
TOTAL FOR PROGRAM 68 Credits
    • Total Credits: 68 (62 with CJ courses as electives) without a BSW or 46 (40 with CJ courses as electives), with BSW.
Admission Requirements
  • Admission requirements are consistent with those specified by the UWM Graduate School, the MS in Criminal Justice and the MSW program in the Helen Bader School of Social Welfare.
  • Students with a BSW from within the past five years from a CSWE-accredited social work program are exempted from the 22 credits of foundation coursework.
  • The coordinated program includes 33 credits in Criminal Justice and 34 in Social Work.