Program director
Kimberly Freeman
Loma Linda University's motto, "To make man whole," provides a powerful context for integrated practice. Both social work and criminal justice—within a behavioral health framework—emphasize recovery, healing, and restoration.
A multidisciplinary approach considers the biological, psychological, social, and spiritual well-being of victims, offenders, and communities, and provides a deeper understanding of crime and the struggle of the modern criminal justice system in a behavioral health context. This combined degree program offers a unique opportunity for individuals interested in working in settings such as mental health court, detention centers, forensic inpatient programs, and forensic outpatient behavioral health systems.
The mission, program goals, and objectives build on elements from the M.S.W and M.S. in criminal justice degrees. Please refer to each of these programs for this content.
The combined M.S.W./M.S. in criminal justice program is a seven-quarter, full-time curriculum that begins with the social work core coursework required for all students. Coursework during the first year of study includes the generalist practice curriculum, which is grounded in the liberal arts and the person-in-environment framework. Within this framework, students learn to promote social well-being, and build on the strength and resiliency of all human beings through a range of prevention and intervention practice methods when working with diverse individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. During their second year, students complete a clinical practice specialization along with specialized courses and practicum in forensic behavioral health. Students choosing this area will focus on the needs of individuals in the criminal or juvenile justice systems who experience severe mental illness and who may also present with co-occurring substance use. Students will gain knowledge and skills in treatment programming. In addition, students will be prepared to assess and provide expert testimony regarding continued institutionalization versus readiness for community treatment.
Students gain knowledge and skills in treatment programming within a forensic mental health framework. This context prepares students to assess and provide expert testimony regarding continued institutionalization versus readiness for outpatient psychosocial rehabilitation, including the development and implementation of recovery and resiliency-informed treatment plans. An integrated practicum and seminar class in criminal justice typically begins in the Summer Quarter of the second year.
The combined degrees emphasize a thoughtful reflection about integrated issues in both social work and criminal justice, providing students with a deeper understanding of practice issues affecting the field.
M.S.W. and criminal justice curricula are built on a liberal arts perspective. Individual applicants whose undergraduate degree does not reflect this perspective may be asked to enroll in additional courses, which must be completed before advancement to candidacy (prior to beginning the advanced curriculum).
Unit values are stated as quarter units. Content from multiple courses may be used to meet most requirements.
Alternate program options have been designed to address the varying needs of students: namely, a full-time, two-year option; a three-year, part-time option; and a four-year, part-time option.
Due to the use of online and hybrid teaching formats, visas are not available to international students; therefore, international students cannot not be accepted into the M.S.W./M.S. Criminal Justice Program.
Students are required to have a laptop computer. For computer specifications, see the department website.
Students wishing to take the dual degree must be admitted to both the M.S.W. and the M.S. in Criminal Justice programs separately. Applicants should refer to the admissions criteria for each program.
The 90-unit curriculum for the M.S.W. and M.S. degrees in Criminal Justice provides a mix of academic, experiential, and research activities essential for practice. Students must maintain a grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 point scale (a letter grade of B) in order to progress successfully through the program and complete the degree. In addition, students must meet the knowledge, skills, and professional performance competencies outlined by the program. Students must meet both course and cumulative G.P.A. standards and course repeat expectations set by the School of Behavioral Health in the general regulations section of this CATALOG.
| Generalist curriculum | ||
| SOWK 510 | Diversity Theory in Practice and Research | 3 |
| SOWK 513 | Human Behavior in a Culturally Diverse Environment | 4 |
| SOWK 514 | Social Welfare History and Policy | 4 |
| SOWK 517 | Practice I: Individuals | 4 |
| SOWK 518 | Practice II: Groups | 3 |
| SOWK 519 | Practice III: Organizations and Communities | 3 |
| SOWK 520 | Practice IV: Families 1 | 3 |
| SOWK 548 | Research Methods | 5 |
| SOWK 574 | Practice V: Administration, Management, and Supervision | 3 |
| SOWK 578 | Field Orientation 1 | 0 |
| SOWK 585 | Legal and Ethical Aspects in Health and Behavioral Health Services | 3 |
| Required cognates | ||
| RELR 540 | Wholeness and Health | 3 |
| Core criminal justice courses | ||
| CRMJ 515 | Crime and Society | 3 |
| CRMJ 517 | Criminal Procedure and Rules of Evidence | 3 |
| CRMJ 519 | Expert Testimony: Procedure and Practice | 2 |
| CRMJ 574 | Theories of Crime and Restitution | 3 |
| Clinical specialization and forensic behavioral health | ||
| CRMJ 620 | Forensic Mental Health | 3 |
| SOWK 584 | Special Topics in Social Work | 2 |
| SOWK 613 | DSM: Diagnosis, Diversity, and Differences | 4 |
| SOWK 617 | Social Justice and Global Practice | 3 |
| SOWK 620 | Psychopharmacology in Clinical Practice | 2 |
| SOWK 647 | Integrated Behavioral Health Practice | 3 |
| SOWK 648 | Co-occurring Processes and Interventions | 3 |
| SOWK 659 | Recovery in Behavioral Health | 2 |
| SOWK 661 | Psychodynamic Therapies | 4 |
| SOWK 662 | Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies | 4 |
| SOWK 663 | Crisis and Trauma Interventions | 3 |
| SOWK 681 | Behavioral Health Policies and Systems | 2 |
| Degree completion options | 6 | |
| Non-thesis option: 6 | ||
| Advanced Research Methods | ||
| Advanced Research Methods | ||
| Advanced Research Methods | ||
| Thesis option: 2 | ||
| Applied Research | ||
| Thesis | ||
| Practicum and seminar 5 | ||
| Advanced Professional Practicum and Seminar | ||
| Generalist Practice Consultation 3,7 | ||
| Generalist Practice Consultation 3,7 | ||
| Generalist Practice Consultation 3,7,8 | ||
| Clinical Practice Consultation 4 | ||
| Clinical Practice Consultation 4 | ||
| Clinical Practice Consultation 4 | ||
| Total Units | 90 | |
Not eligible for waiver.
Thesis option is available for students meeting program criteria.
Hours: 160 + 20; Not eligible for waiver
Hours: 200 + 20
700-numbered courses are not calculated into the total didactic units required for the degree.
SOWK 695 ABC is equivalent to SOWK 695.
SOWK 678 substitutes 757ABC for Advance Standing students with approval of the program
Students not passing the Qualifying Review at the completion of SOWK 757C must take SOWK 595.
Seven (7) academic quarters (includes didactic courses and practicums) — based on full-time enrollment; part time permitted
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