Law and Social Welfare Graduate Certificate

The add-on graduate certificate in Law and Social Welfare is a partnership between the College of Law and the College of Social Work. The certificate is intended for current law students. This certificate provides students with the coursework and practical experience needed to provide legal representation to traditionally under-represented clients in a variety of settings including but not limited to prisons, juvenile justice settings, child welfare, public defender offices and legal aid, programming and policy development.

Campus Code

Knoxville Campus

Graduate Certificate Type

Add-On

Admissions Standards/Procedures

• Since graduate certificates are university credentials, a student must apply through the Office of Graduate Admissions to the graduate certificate program.
• Students must be admitted to the certificate program prior to completing six graduate credit hours toward the certificate.
• Students must maintain a minimum 3.00 graduate grade point average once in the program and complete the requirements of the certificate program as stated in the Graduate Catalog to be awarded the graduate certificate.
• Students must submit an application to the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs prior to the commencement of the student’s final semester.

Credit Hours Required

16 Law and graduate credit hours

Certificate Requirements

NOTE: At least three (3) graduate credit hours for the certificate must be earned outside of the requirements of the degree(s) and other certificates.

• Law Doctrinal Requirement:  At least three credit hours from among the following courses:
  • LAW 848   (3)
  • LAW 854   (3)
  • LAW 855   (3)
  • LAW 862   (3)
  • LAW 933   (3)
  • LAW 990  - Special Topics and other courses as approved by the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
• Social Work Doctrinal Requirement:  Students will take ONE three credit course chosen from:
  • SOWK 503   (3)
  • SOWK 511   (3)
• Students must also take at least three credit hours from among the following courses:
  • SOWK 510   (3)
  • SOWK 515   (3)
  • SOWK 531   (3)
  • SOWK 535   (3)
  • SOWK 538   (3)
  • SOWK 545   (3)
  • SOWK 564   (3)
  • SOWK 573   (3)
  • Other College of Social Work courses as approved by the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in consultation with the MSSW Program Director
• Law Experiential Requirement:  At least six credit hours from among the following courses:
  • LAW 905   (6)
  • LAW 908   (3)
  • LAW 911   (6)
  • LAW 951   (3)
  • LAW 953   (4)
  • LAW 948   (6)
  • LAW 992  - Field Placements (up to 6) as approved by the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
  • LAW 982  - Semester in Residence Placement (10) as approved by the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
• Law Skills/Perspective Requirement:  At least one credit hour from among the following courses:
  • LAW 914   (3)
  • LAW 929   (3)
  • LAW 906   (1)
  • LAW 990   (3)
  • LAW 993  - Directed Research Paper (1) as approved by the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
  • LAW 994  - Independent Study (1) as approved by the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs

Non-Course Requirements

To receive the certificate, students must:
1) complete the Graduate Certificate Course Verification Form (located on the Graduate School webpage under the Forms Central tab) and
2) through MyUTK, apply to graduate from the certificate program.