B. DUAL-DEGREE PROGRAMS
- Master of Social Work (M.S.W.)
- J.D./LL.M. in Energy and Sustainable Development Law The College of Law is not accepting applications during the 2024-2025 academic year.
B.1 Master of Social Work (M.S.W.)
A J.D./M.S.W. student may earn law school credit pursuant to the dual degree requirements approved by the faculties of the College of Law and the Eberly College of Arts and Science's School of Social Work. J.D./M.S.W. students receive six credits toward the J.D. degree if the M.S.W. degree is awarded concurrently with the J.D. degree. As a result, a student will need at least 85 J.D. credit hours are required. With the exception of the reduced number of J.D. credit hours, students must meet all other requirements for a Doctor of Jurisprudence in effect at the time the student starts at the college of Law. Grades earned outside of the College of Law do not affect the cumulative law school GPA. The College of Law's perspective requirement is met by completing the dual-degree.
Students with a baccalaureate degree in Social Work accredited by the Council on Social Work Education may apply for Advanced Standing toward the joint Master of Social Work degree; students; all other students would apply for the joint Master of Social Work degree with Regular Standing
B.2 J.D./LL.M in Energy and Sustainable Development Law
The College of Law is not accepting applications during the 2024-2025 academic year.
College of Law students may earn credit toward the College of Law's Energy and Sustainable Development LL.M. while finalizing their J.D. degree. College of Law students can apply for the program at the end of their 2L year (approximately May 1).
Current J.D./LL.M. students must complete their J.D. with an Area of Emphasis on Energy and Sustainable Development Law. Following completion and conferral of the J.D. degree and after completing the requirements for the Energy and Sustainable Development Area of Emphasis, students must complete an additional 14 credits of coursework that qualify for the LL.M. in Energy and Sustainable Development Law, including the LL.M. Seminar and LL.M. Capstone. Students seeking this J.D./LL.M. shall endeavor to obtain a clinical opportunity in an appropriate clinic or a relevant externship opportunity, and if unable to do so, shall enroll in such other experiential learning opportunity (including Business Transactions Drafting and Trial Advocacy), which is necessary to fulfill the requirements of the Energy and Sustainable Development Area of Emphasis.
Students from other law schools may apply for the program starting on February 1 each year. Applications to the J.D./LL.M program must be received by June 15.
In order to be admitted to the J.D./LL.M. program, at student must apply to attend WVU Law as a visiting student for their entire 3L year. Visiting students from other law schools should state the intent to pursue the J.D./LL.M. in Energy & Sustainable Development Law as the primary reason for seeking admission as a visiting student. A visiting student must include in his or her application to attend WVU Law a letter from the applicant's Dean (or equivalent) authorizing the student's attendance at WVU Law and stating that the home school will agree to transfer credits earned at WVU Law.
Visiting students must complete the coursework for the Energy & Sustainable Development Law Area of Emphasis in their 3L year while attending WVU Law. Some courses taken at a student's home institution may be approved to satisfy some area of emphasis requirements. Visiting students must take a minimum of nine credit hours in qualifying courses (related to the area of emphasis) while visiting at WVU Law, in addition to the required LL.M. courses. In addition to the coursework required, students will be required to complete all their LL.M. Degree requirements, including the research paper or field work requirement and the portfolio of work.