Home > FAQs > FAQ: Are there any MSW programs in forensic social work?

Question: Are there any MSW programs in forensic social work?

Updated: December 21, 2022

Answer: Yes, there are currently 12 schools that offer MSW programs with formal specializations in forensic social work (also known as criminal justice social work). Of these 12 schools, 11 offer campus-based MSW programs in forensic social work, and three offer online programs. There are MSW programs with specializations in forensic social work, as well as MSW programs that offer an additional certificate program in forensic social work for their students. MSW programs in criminal justice social work prepare students to work with vulnerable populations who are subject to the criminal justice system.

Incarcerated individuals and others who are subject to the legal system can be among the most vulnerable people in society due to numerous factors, including racial and cultural prejudices, socioeconomic hardship, insufficient access to social services, and lack of adequate representation within the legal system. MSW programs in forensic social work or criminal justice social work prepare students to support people within the criminal justice system. To this end, these programs often feature courses on the American legal process and social work’s role within it, how to work with law officials and attorneys, and how to assess and support the mental and emotional health of their clients through diagnostic assessments, clinical therapeutic modalities, and case management services. In addition to MSW programs with a formal specialization in forensic or criminal justice social work, there are also clinical social work MSW programs that have a sub-specialization or track in forensic social work.

Clinical MSW programs with specializations or sub-specializations in forensic or criminal justice social work are not as common as other clinical MSW specializations (such as trauma, child and/or family therapy, mental health, and/or substance abuse), and at present very few schools of social work offer online MSW programs with a specialization or sub-specialization in forensic social work; however, as noted below, there are currently three online MSW programs that students may consider. In addition, there are online and campus-based MSW programs that offer courses in criminal justice social work or allow students to take interdepartmental electives in such areas as criminology, U.S. Constitutional law, sociology, and other subjects related to criminal justice social work.


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Students who are interested in the field of forensic social work should proactively review the curriculum options for their programs of interest. In addition, students should speak with a program administrator or admissions officer at these programs in order to determine whether they have the courses or interdepartmental elective options to provide them with the training they desire. Furthermore, once students have enrolled in an MSW program, they should advocate for their interests in criminal justice social work by speaking with their graduate academic advisor to design a program of study that fits their goals. Students should also consult their field education director to try and find field practicum placements that are related to forensic social work.

There are generally four types of programs designed for MSW students who are interested in forensic social work:

  • MSW Programs with a Specialization in Forensic Social Work: These programs have a formal concentration or specialization in Forensic Social Work, consisting of a set number of classes that cover essential topics and skills in forensic social work, such as navigating the criminal justice system, racial and cultural inequities in the legal system, policy advocacy for incarcerated individuals, trauma, and substance abuse treatment.
  • MSW Programs with a Sub-Specialization in Forensic Social Work: These programs have a formal specialization in a broader field, such as Clinical Social Work, Trauma and Mental Health, or Child and Family Welfare, but also offer a sub-specialization or track in Forensic Social Work. For example, an MSW program in Child and Family Welfare might have a sub-specialization that focuses on the experiences of juveniles in the criminal justice system.
  • MSW Programs with Forensic Social Work Electives: These MSW programs do not have explicit tracks or specializations in forensic social work, but they do offer a variety of criminal justice social work-related electives to help students tailor their program of study to their professional goals post-graduation.
  • Graduate Certificate in Forensic Social Work: Some MSW programs have a separate graduate certificate program that students can complete to gain skills in and knowledge of forensic social work. Depending on the program, students might take the courses for the graduate certificate program to fulfill their MSW elective requirements, or they might complete the graduate certificate separately from their MSW program (in which case this type of program might be referred to as a post-MSW graduate certificate in forensic social work).

Campus, Hybrid, and Online MSW Programs in Forensic Social Work

Most of the MSW programs offering a specialization or sub-specialization in forensic social work are on-campus, with students attending classes in-person. Currently, there are 12 schools that offer MSW programs in forensic social work, and of these 12 schools, 11 have campus-based programs, while three offer online MSW program options. In addition, two of the campus-based MSW programs in forensic social work offer some courses online, giving students the option to complete their degree in a hybrid format.

While the definition of a hybrid program differs by school and program, MasterofSocialWork.com defines programs that require three or more visits to campus annually as hybrid programs. Within this definition are hybrid programs that have some fully online courses and some on-campus courses, programs that have courses that feature a mix of on-campus and online instruction, and programs that require three or more campus intensives per year with the rest of the instructions occurring online. Students who are interested in hybrid program options should contact the admissions offices of their schools of interest in order to learn about the specifics regarding each program’s ratio of online and campus-based instruction.

MSW programs are defined as online MSW programs if they employ online instruction and require two or fewer visits to campus annually. Online MSW programs with a specialization or sub-specialization in forensic social work may offer substantial benefits in terms of time savings and scheduling flexibility, as they do not require students to commute to campus, and classes can be taken anywhere that a student has internet access. Furthermore, as many online MSW programs often accept out-of-state students, individuals who do not live near one of the 11 schools that offer an on-campus program have the option of pursuing their desired specialization without having to relocate.

At present, the three online MSW programs in Forensic Social Work are:

  • Aurora University’s Online MSW with a Track in Forensics: This program prepares students to work directly with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities to design and implement interventions that enhance people’s well-being and advance social justice and equality. Students take a generalist curriculum that combines courses in human development, micro-level practice with individuals and families, community practice, and social work research before they embark on their track-specific coursework. For the Forensics track, students take classes in criminal justice, working with vulnerable children and families, and conflict mediation
  • Northern Arizona University’s Online MSW with an Advanced Generalist Concentration and a Behavioral Science Cognate in Justice Studies: This program emphasizes a strengths-based framework for social work practice, and focuses on training culturally competent and compassionate social workers to help empower marginalized individuals and communities. Students take courses in social services and social welfare policy, human behavior and psychology, foundational social work practice, mental and behavioral health of children, and diversity and social justice before progressing to their Behavioral Science Cognate courses. For the Justice Studies Cognate, students take courses that cover topics such as the theories of criminality, justice administration ethics, critical issues in policing, and leadership for criminal justice professionals.
  • University of Tennessee at Knoxville’s Online MSSW with a Concentration in Evidenced-Based Interpersonal Practice (EBIP) or Organizational Leadership, and a Certificate in Forensic Social Work: This program allows students to concentrate in either micro or macro-level social work practices and principles. The EBIP concentration focuses on micro-level interpersonal social work practice with individuals and groups, and features a curriculum that gives students training in mental health assessments, relationship building, care coordination and case management, and the design of evidence-based interventions. The Organizational Leadership concentration trains students to assess and address large-scale barriers to social, economic, and racial justice on their communities through research, program development, and political advocacy. The Certificate in Forensic Social Work is available to students of either concentration, and features courses on the structure of the American legal system, legal research and writing, the fundamentals of forensic social work, and evidence-based interventions for incarcerated and vulnerable individuals.

Online MSW programs utilize two instructional modes: asynchronous and synchronous instruction. Asynchronous instruction encompasses all course components and assignments that students can view or complete on their own time (as long as they abide by assignment deadlines). Synchronous instruction, sometimes referred to as “live” online instruction, is all online course content, lectures, discussions, assignments, and exams that require students to attend a session in real-time (often using a computer camera so they can see peers and instructors). Asynchronous instruction is the most flexible type of online instruction, while synchronous instruction offers the benefit of approximating in-person interactions with course faculty and peers. For more information about asynchronous vs. synchronous instruction, please refer to our FAQ on Instruction Methods for Online MSW programs.

Note: Prospective students of online and hybrid MSW programs should note that, regardless of a program’s mode of didactic instruction (e.g., online, hybrid, or in-person on-campus), the field education requirements for MSW programs must be completed in-person at a qualifying social work agency or related site.

Curriculum Details for MSW Programs in Criminal Justice Social Work

The curricula for MSW programs in forensic or criminal justice social work typically combine clinical social work practices and principles with a macro-level understanding of how society and culture, government and law enforcement, and human services organizations collectively impact the experience of people in the criminal justice system. The first year of an MSW program in forensic social work typically covers essential social work practices, as well as foundational skills in social work research and advocacy. Second-year coursework for these programs may cover advanced clinical social work modalities, complex social work cases, and methods for working with vulnerable populations in the prison and criminal justice systems. Some MSW programs in forensic social work require or allow students to take classes outside of their school or department of social work, such as courses in law, sociology, education, criminology, and other related areas.

Below is a sample chart outlining the program requirements for an MSW program in forensic or criminal justice social work. Please note that these program requirements are for informational purposes only, and are not meant to exactly represent an existing MSW program.

Curriculum ComponentExample Courses and Field Education Requirements
Core Courses
  • Human Behavior and the Social Environment
  • Foundations of Social Work Practice
  • Social Work Policy and Advocacy
  • Social Work Research
  • Advanced Clinical Social Work Methodologies
Concentration Courses
  • Criminal Justice Policies in Social Work Practice
  • Criminal Procedures
  • The School-to-Prison Pipeline
  • Diversity and Incarceration
  • Trauma and Crisis Social Work for Individuals in the Criminal Justice System
  • Innovative Social Work Approaches to Community Reintegration
Elective Courses
  • Substance Abuse and Behavioral Addictions
  • Group Psychotherapy
Field Education Requirements
  • Foundational Field Practicum and Integrative Field Seminar
  • Advanced Field Practicum and Integrative Field Seminar

The courses that students might expect to take as part of a forensic social work MSW program may include but are not limited to:

  • Criminal Justice Policies in Social Work Practice: This course examines the root causes of the increase in the prison population in the United States over the last several decades, and the historical and contemporary government policies that impact this rise in imprisonment nationwide. Students learn how to work effectively with clients within the context of the larger American legal system. Three-strike legislation, discrimination, and re-entry and recidivism are among the topics discussed.
  • Criminal Procedures: This course provides an in-depth overview of criminal procedure and laws according to the United States Constitution. Students discuss the laws around search and seizure, interrogation, arrest, and the provision or deprivation of legal counsel. They also examine the impact that legal doctrine has had on a larger societal level, and key questions about the intersections of social and criminal justice are posed.
  • Diversity and Incarceration: This course investigates the roles that racial, sexual, cultural, and socioeconomic diversity and prejudice play in the criminal justice system. Students are also provided the opportunity to interact with incarcerated populations and to develop health education and mental health counseling programs that address the diverse needs of different inmate populations.
  • The School-to-Prison Pipeline: This course examines the punitive policies that target adolescents and young adults, and which result in their being absorbed into the criminal justice system. Students learn the historical and political contexts that contribute to this school-to-prison pipeline, and also learn ways to prevent youth from entering this pipeline through a combination of direct counseling, social work programs, and political advocacy.
  • Innovative Social Work Approaches to Community Reintegration: Students learn how to combine clinical social work needs assessments with principles of entrepreneurship and business development to design programs that support the reintegration of formerly incarcerated individuals back into society. Students take a hands-on approach by working with partnering agencies to build and/or improve upon programs.

Field Education for MSW Programs in Forensic Social Work

In general, MSW programs in criminal justice social work require that students complete one or both of their field practicums in a setting that is related to criminal justice. Such settings include prisons, a local county court, substance abuse rehabilitation centers, social work agencies that support incarcerated individuals and their families, criminal justice advocacy organizations, and community centers that help people who have recently been released from prison reintegrate into society.

MSW programs vary in terms of how they handle students’ field practicum placements. While some programs actively match students to field placement sites and supervisors based on their academic interests and career goals, other programs expect students to arrange their own field placements. Students with a specific interest in forensic or criminal justice social work should plan well in advance of their practicum so that they (and/or their program’s field education director and staff) can find a suitable criminal justice-related site well before the term during which they must complete their field education. For more information on field education, including the field placement process and how students can optimize their performance and experience during their practicums, please refer to our comprehensive Guide to Field Education.

All MSW Programs in Forensic / Criminal Justice Social Work

T Traditional programs, Advanced Standing programs, Campus programs, Hybrid programs (campus and online instruction), Hybrid-Online programs (3 to ~6 campus visits per year), Online programs (fully online to 2 campus visits per year)
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Alabama

Alabama State University

(Montgomery)
Department: Department of Social Work
CSWE Accreditation Status: Fully Accredited
Programs:

Arizona

Northern Arizona University

(Flagstaff)
Department: Department of Social Work
CSWE Accreditation Status: Fully Accredited
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Illinois

Aurora University

(Aurora, Woodstock)
Department: School of Social Work
CSWE Accreditation Status: Fully Accredited
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DePaul University

(Chicago)
Department: Department of Social Work
CSWE Accreditation Status: Fully Accredited
Programs:

The University of Chicago

(Chicago)
Department: Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice
CSWE Accreditation Status: Fully Accredited
Programs:

University of Illinois at Chicago

(Chicago)
Department: Jane Addams College of Social Work
CSWE Accreditation Status: Fully Accredited
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New Jersey

Seton Hall University

(South Orange)
Department: Department of Sociology, Anthropology, Social Work and Criminal Justice
CSWE Accreditation Status: Fully Accredited
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New York

Hunter College, City University of New York

(New York City (Manhatten))
Department: Silberman School of Social Work
CSWE Accreditation Status: Fully Accredited
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Long Island University Post and Long Island University Brooklyn Collaborative

(New York City (Brooklyn), Brookville)
Department: School of Health Professions and Nursing
CSWE Accreditation Status: Fully Accredited
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Pennsylvania

University of Pennsylvania

(Philadelphia)
Department: School of Social Policy & Practice
CSWE Accreditation Status: Fully Accredited
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Tennessee

University of Tennessee at Knoxville

(Knoxville, Nashville)
Department: College of Social Work
CSWE Accreditation Status: Fully Accredited
Programs:

Utah

The University of Utah

(Salt Lake City, St. George)
Department: College of Social Work
CSWE Accreditation Status: Fully Accredited
Programs:

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