Social Work MSW / Criminal Justice and Criminology MS MSW, MS
This coordinated program gives criminal justice and criminology master’s degree students the opportunity to include social work practice curriculum in their studies. Our program is highly complementary to criminal justice inquiry and study.
This coordinated program combines the strengths of two graduate programs. It provides students with theoretical and practical exposure to professional practice in the criminal justice and social work fields.
Students develop the knowledge base and skills for effective practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities involved in the criminal justice system.
Program Type
Master’s
Program Format
On Campus, Online
Admission requirements are consistent with those specified by the UWM Graduate School, the Master of Social Work (MSW) and the Master of Science in Criminal Justice and Criminology program in the Helen Bader School of Social Welfare.
This coordinated master’s program includes 34 credits in social work and 30 credits in criminal justice and criminology.
Students who have a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree earned within the past seven years from a CSWE-accredited social work program are exempted from the 22 credits of foundation coursework.
The total credits for the coordinated MSW and Master of Science in Criminal Justice and Criminology 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 who doesn’t complete the requirements for the coordinated degree program would need to complete all requirements for an individual program in order to receive a degree.
| Coordinated with Foundation Curriculum | Credits |
|---|---|
| Foundation Curriculum | 22 |
| Advanced Curriculum | 28* |
| Criminal Justice Curriculum | 30 |
| Total | 80 |
| Coordinated with Advanced Curriculum | Credits |
|---|---|
| Advanced Curriculum | 28* |
| Criminal Justice Curriculum | 30 |
| Total | 58 |
The Master of Social Work (MSW) component includes 56 credits of MSW courses. This consists of 22 credits in the foundation curriculum and 34 in the advanced curriculum.
Students who have a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree earned within the past seven years from a CSWE-accredited social work program are required to complete the 34 credits in the advanced curriculum. Students without a BSW are required to complete the 56 credits in both the foundation and the advanced curriculum.
| Course Type | Credits |
|---|---|
| Foundation Curriculum | 22 |
| Advanced Curriculum | 34 |
| Total | 56 |
Social Work without a BSW (Foundation)
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| SOC WRK 604: Social Systems and Social Work Practice | 3 |
| SOC WRK 662: Methods of Social Welfare Research | 3 |
| SOC WRK 665: Cultural Diversity and Social Work | 3 |
| SOC WRK 705: Individual Behavior and Social Welfare | 3 |
| SOC WRK 750: Social Welfare Policy Development and Implementation | 2 |
| SOC WRK 708: Social Work Methods I: Individuals and Families | 3 |
| SOC WRK 709: Social Work Methods II: Groups, Organizations and Communities | 2 |
| SOC WRK 721: Foundation Field Instruction | 3 |
| SOC WRK 711: Direct Social Work Practice I | 3 |
| SOC WRK 712: Advanced Practice and Leadership in Organizations and Communities | 3 |
| SOC WRK 795: Evaluation of Social Work Practice and Programs | 3 |
| SOC WRK 851: Social Issues and Policy Analysis: Advanced Social Policy | 3 |
| SOC WRK 721, 821, 822: Graduate Field Education | 9 |
| Social Work Electives | 7 |
| Shared electives with Criminal Justice and Criminology* | 3 |
| Total | 53 |
Social Work with a BSW (Advanced)
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| SOC WRK 711: Direct Social Work Practice I | 3 |
| SOC WRK 712: Advanced Practice and Leadership in Organizations and Communities | 3 |
| SOC WRK 722, 821, 822: Graduate Field Instruction | 9 |
| SOC WRK 795: Evaluation of Social Work Practice and Programs | 3 |
| SOC WRK 851: Social Issues and Policy Analysis: Advanced Social Policy | 3 |
| Social Work Electives | 7 |
| Shared electives with Criminal Justice and Criminology* | 3 |
| Total | 31 |
Criminal Justice and Criminology
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| CRM JST 773: Criminological Perspectives | 3 |
| CRM JST 743: Proseminar: Administration of Criminal Justice Systems | 3 |
| CRM JST 756: Proseminar: Analysis of Criminal Justice Research | 3 |
| CRM JST 713: Measuring Crime and Analyzing Crime Data | 3 |
| CRM JST 920: Criminal Justice Master’s Capstone Seminar | 3 |
| Electives | |
| Select 12 additional credits within the criminal justice & criminology program. | 12 |
| Shared electives with Social Work* | 3 |
| Total | 30 |
Field Courses
Foundation students without a BSW earned within the past seven years are required to complete four semesters of field placement. Foundation students will complete two consecutive semesters of field at two separate field sites, for a total of four semesters.
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| SOC WRK 721: Field Instruction I* | 3 |
| SOC WRK 722: Field Instruction II | 3 |
| SOC WRK 821: Field Instruction III | 3 |
| SOC WRK 822: Field Instruction IV | 3 |
| Total | 12 |
Electives
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| Social Work electives | 7 |
| Selected from among successfully completed criminal justice courses in consultation with faculty advisor | 6 |
| Total | 13 |
Social Work
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| SOC WRK 562G: Child and Family Services | 2 |
| SOC WRK 564G: Concepts, Controversies, and Critical Policies for Older Adults | 3 |
| SOC WRK 630G: Families and Poverty | 3 |
| SOC WRK 680G: Death and Dying | 3 |
| SOC WRK 685G: Social Gerontology | 3 |
| SOC WRK 690G: Mindfulness and Community Building | 3 |
| SOC WRK 753: Adult Psychopathology | 3 |
| SOC WRK 754: Child and Adolescent Psychopathology | 2 |
| SOC WRK 771: Development of Family Over the Lifespan | 3 |
| SOC WRK 774: Trauma Counseling I: Theory and Research | 3 |
| SOC WRK 775: Trauma Counseling II: Diagnosis and Treatment | 3 |
| SOC WRK 791: Current Topics, subtopics: AODA; Criminal Justice Practice and Policy; Exploring Institutional Racism: School Social Work; Issues in Child and Family Welfare; School Social Work Practice; Suicide Prevention: A Life Course Perspective; Technology in Social Work Practice | 3 |
| SOC WRK 811: Direct Practice II, subtopics: Child and Family Welfare; Mental and Behavioral Health | 3 |
| SOC WRK 818: Treatment of Co-Occurring Disorders | 3 |
| SOC WRK 820: Seminar in Social Work Practice, subtopics: Motivational Interviewing; Treatment of Substance Misuse and Family: Adults; Treatment of Substance Misuse and Family: Adolescent; Working with Violent and Traumatized Individuals and Families | 2 |
| SOC WRK 855: Practice Skills and Concepts for Aging and Health | 3 |
Criminal Justice and Criminology
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| CRM JST 421G: Cyber Crime | 3 |
| CRM JST 422G: Cyber Crime, Law and Policy | 3 |
| CRM JST 423G: Investigating the Dark Web | 3 |
| CRM JST 424G: Sex Crimes, Human Trafficking and the Internet | 3 |
| CRM JST 480G: Criminal Evidence and Investigation | 3 |
| CRM JST 490G: Drugs, Crime and Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CRM JST 520G: Analysis Oriented Technology: Spatial Data Analysis; Crime Mapping; ArcGIS | 3 |
| CRM JST 671: Juvenile Justice | 2 |
| CRM JST 795: Issues in Law Enforcement Practice & Policy | 3 |
| CRM JST 830: Intervention Strategies for Correctional Clients | 3 |
| CRM JST 840: Philosophical Foundations of Policing | 3 |
| CRM JST 850: Issues in Correctional Practice & Policy | 3 |
| CRM JST 970: Readings in Criminal Justice Research, subtopics: HELPER program; Intimate Partner Violence; Policing Diverse Communities; Victimology; Women and Criminal Justice | 3 |
- MSW Senior Advisor, College of Community Engagement & Professions
- chartra2@uwm.edu
- 414-251-6198
- Enderis Hall 1013
- Assistant Professor, Criminal Justice & Criminology
- Graduate Program Coordinator, Criminal Justice & Criminology
- asheeran@uwm.edu
- 414-251-8687
- Enderis Hall 1135
Field Programs
Applications Open: Oct. 1, 2026
Priority Deadline: Jan. 3, 2027
Final Deadline to Apply: April 15, 2027
MSW Program Director
414-229-4983
kirby@uwm.edu
Alyssa Sheeran, PhD
Assistant Professor and Graduate Program Coordinator
414-251-8687
asheeran@uwm.edu