MSW Program 

The Master of Social Work degree attests to the graduate’s preparation for social work practice and achievement at a level of competence sufficient to serve as a basis for a professional career. The LSU School of Social Work is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) and has been offering graduate education since 1937. The MSW degree requires 60 hours of study and students admitted to the MSW program must elect to enter either on campus or online.

The first 30 hours of the program is termed the generalist year, and the second 30 hours of study is termed the specialized year. The generalist year of the program is structured to provide the knowledge, skills, and values required for all social work practice. This includes courses in social work practice, social work history, research methods, social policy, human diversity, human behavior in the social environment, and generalist-year field internship. The specialized year provides instruction in advanced direct practice, advanced social policy, program evaluation, twelve hours of electives, and specialized-year field internship.

The School of Social Work has an Advanced Generalist Practice concentration in the specialized year to allow our students to work with many populations in a variety of social work settings. The field education office places students in an internship that will provide a good educational experience in a supervised setting for both the generalist and the specialized years. The period of study for the MSW cannot exceed four years. No academic credit is granted for work or life experiences.

The Baton Rouge on campus MSW program has a priority application deadline date of February 1 for the Advanced Standing, Full-time and Part-time programs. Applications received after February 1 and/or incomplete by February 1 will be considered on a space-available basis. Applications will be accepted until May 15th, and the field internship placement may be delayed. The MSW Online program has six admission dates throughout the year. The deadline for receipt of online applications is 2 months prior to the start date of the module.

MSW Information Sessions/Appointments

Join one of the fastest growing professions and attend an MSW Information Session to find out how you can become a social worker. These sessions cover information on full time, part time, online and advanced standing programs, overview of admission requirements and the admissions process, exit requirements, internship placements, and licensure. These sessions are informal and last about one hour. If you are unable to attend an Information Session, you can make a phone or video appointment.

Sign Up Now for An Information Session

 

 

Professional Licensure Requirements

(Updated 12/17/2024)

The LSU School of Social Work’s (SSW) MSW program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), the only body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation to accredit social work education programs in the United States. The MSW program meets CSWE’s curriculum and field education standards for the MSW degree.

The following states have additional entry-level licensure requirements that the SSW provides. However, applicants from these states must notify the SSW of their location upon admission so that a program of study can be created to include these licensure requirements. Likewise, current students who relocate to these states during the program, or who intend to relocate to these states following graduation, must notify the SSW immediately so their program of study can be adjusted, if possible. Applicants and students from these states who fail to notify the SSW in a timely manner may miss the coursework and/or field experience needed to meet their state’s licensure requirements. It is ultimately the applicant’s/student’s responsibility to ensure that their coursework and field experiences meet the professional licensure requirements of the state in which they intend to seek licensure.

• Florida:
  clinical field placement during the specialized (i.e., second) year
• Michigan:
  training on identifying victims of human trafficking
• Missouri:
  2 hours of training on suicide assessment, referral, treatment, and management
• Nebraska:
  300 clock hours of direct client contact under supervision
• New Mexico:
  3-hour seminar or course on New Mexico cultures
• New York:
  2-hour training or coursework on the identification and reporting of child abuse
• Pennsylvania:
  3-hour training on child abuse recognition and reporting
• Virginia:
  600-hour clinical practicum that focuses on diagnostic, prevention, and treatment services
   

California residents: Please note that California has additional advanced (LCSW) licensure requirements that the LSU School of Social Work does not fully provide. Contact the California Board of Behavioral Sciences for a complete list of LCSW coursework requirements.

Find your state’s licensing board

All applicants and students are encouraged to refer to their state licensing board for more information about current licensure requirements. State licensing boards can be found by visiting the Association of Social Work Boards.

 

More information and filing a complaint

For information on LSU’s compliance with federal regulations, please visit the Office of Academic Affairs’ Licensure Requirements website.

 

For information on the institutional process for filing distance education appeals as well as contact information for each state's SARA (State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement) portal, please visit LSU’s Complaint Procedures website.