Interdisciplinary Specialization in Social Work and Law
Purpose
The interdisciplinary specialization in social work and law will provide MSW students with an enriched program of study at GSSS that allows them to integrate content and skills in both a method and a specialized area of practice. Such a specialization will increase graduates’ marketability to employers who are looking for social work students who have the specialized knowledge and skills necessary to effectively advocate for clients involved with the legal system.
Concept
The interdisciplinary specialization in social work and law is an overlay on the existing curriculum, and can serve as an enhancement for the clinical, research or administration concentrations. The specialization incorporates content about selected client populations who face involvement with the legal system. Two populations that receive emphasis in the specialization due to their intensive interface with both social service and legal systems are families at risk of child abuse and neglect and families at risk of domestic violence. The specialization also explores the multiple legal and social service settings that serve these client populations and the ways social workers and lawyers can collaborate within and between these settings in order to assist clients in effectively meeting their social, psychological and legal needs. Students choosing this specialization will use their elective course choices; their advanced year fieldwork and the required seminar to deepen their knowledge and skills in preparation for a career focused on working with clients involved in the legal system. Upon successful completion of the designated package of courses and field requirements, students will receive a certificate of completion.
Requirements
· Field Practicum: Advanced year in a setting that involves interface with the legal system with specific learning goals and assignments related to legal advocacy, collaboration with lawyers and the legal system.
· Field Integrative Seminar: Two special sections for MSW advanced year students and law students placed in settings working with clients involved in:
1) the child protective service system and juvenile justice system
2) civil or criminal justice proceedings related to domestic violence
(All MSW students choosing this specialization must attend one of these specialized interdisciplinary field integrative seminars.)
· Interdisciplinary Electives: At least two of the following electives are required:
SW 6008 Law and Social Work
SW 6012 Interdisciplinary Responses to Child Abuse & Child Neglect
SW 6106 Domestic Violence: Law and Social Work
SW 6028 Child Abuse and Family Violence
Additional Points:
1. Faculty field advisors will be appointed who are experienced in law/social work collaboration and in working with clients and organizations involved in the legal system.
2. Students selecting the law and social work specialization will be required to enroll in classes at the times they are scheduled. For example, there will be limited number of sections of each of the seminar classes at the Lincoln Center campus only - - due to the fact that the law students also participate in this seminar.
2. Advanced year placements to be used for this specialization will be identified, developed and monitored by the Interdisciplinary Center for Family and Child Advocacy. The Center’s field placement/externship coordinator will meet with interested students and set up placement interviews, keeping in mind both the student’s prior experience and field learning needs and goals.
For further information, contact Payal Dalal at (212) 636-7787 or dalal@law.fordham.edu.
