MSW Programs in Louisiana

Looking to get your MSW degree in Louisiana? The state needs social workers now more than ever. Louisiana ranks third in the nation with 35.9% of its population facing obesity challenges. Mental illness affects 20.63% of its residents, which exceeds the national average of 19%.

Students can choose from five CSWE-accredited universities that offer Master of Social Work programs. These include Grambling State University, Louisiana Christian University, Louisiana State University (LSU), Southern University at New Orleans (SUNO), and Tulane University. Each school provides traditional MSW paths and advanced standing options for BSW degree holders. LSU’s MSW program stands out with its specialized tracks and flexible learning formats. The online MSW programs in Louisiana make it easier for working professionals to advance their careers.

The job market looks bright for social workers in Louisiana. About 4,410 social workers earn an average of $50,091 yearly. Healthcare social workers enjoy better pay at $55,060 per year. The field shows strong growth potential – mental health and substance abuse social work jobs should increase by 12% from 2016 to 2026. Students gain practical experience through 900 hours of required field education in all CSWE-accredited programs.

Grambling State University MSW Program

Grambling State University runs a detailed MSW program with accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Students learn advanced direct practice skills they can use in many social work settings. The program maintains high academic standards with a strong focus on teaching, research, professional practice and community service.

The MSW program matches Grambling’s dedication to educational excellence. The program puts social justice, equality and respect for individual dignity at its core – fundamental values in social work. Students learn about social and human realities that affect at-risk populations through carefully designed environments. Special attention goes to African Americans and rural residents in North Central Louisiana.

MSW specializations

Students at Grambling State’s MSW program become skilled at advanced direct practice with individuals, families and groups. After completing foundation courses, students focus on direct practice concentration. The program lets students pick elective courses to build specialized knowledge in several important areas:

• Substance abuse and mental health
• Family and couples treatment
• Child welfare and protective services
• Rural social work practice
• Health care practice
• Direct practice with African Americans

These specializations help achieve the program’s goal to provide knowledge and skills for social service delivery in a variety of settings. Students choose electives that match their career interests and professional goals. The specialized courses include:

• SWK 651: Substance Abuse and Mental Health
• SWK 652: Families and Couples in Social Work Treatment
• SWK 671: Diagnoses and Interventions in Child Welfare
• SWK 672: Rural Social Work Practice
• SWK 674: Issues and Practice in Health Care
• SWK 676: Direct Practice with African Americans

Each area prepares students to handle unique challenges faced by different populations. Students can also take courses in supervision, consultation, resource development, assessment systems, ethical decision making and independent study options.

Program format

Students can choose from three program formats based on their education and schedule needs:

Full-Time Program (2-Year): This classic format needs 63 semester hours spread over four semesters. Students complete about 15 credit hours each semester and combine classroom work with field education. Students progress logically from foundation to advanced direct practice courses.

Part-Time Program (4-Year): Working professionals can finish the same 63 semester hours over eight semesters. Class schedules work around full-time jobs. Students must complete their first 30 semester hours within two years of starting and finish everything within six years.

Advanced Standing Program: This fast-track option suits students with a BSW degree from a CSWE-accredited program earned in the last six years with a minimum 3.3 GPA. Students complete 39 semester hours during one summer (two sessions) and two full semesters (fall and spring).

First-year courses cover foundation knowledge like human behavior, social environment, welfare policy, research methods and foundation practice. Second-year focuses on advanced direct practice, specialized field education and career-focused electives.

Students get both theory and hands-on experience through a balanced curriculum. The program structure helps students build competence step by step in all social work practice areas.

Fieldwork requirements

Field education stands as a crucial part of Grambling’s MSW program. Students get real-life experience in professional settings. They must complete at least 900 clock hours of field instruction during their program. This extensive practice makes graduates ready for professional work.

Main field education requirements:

1. Students work minimum two days weekly, eight hours daily for four semesters at approved sites
2. Each semester needs 225-240 clock hours minimum
3. Field placements happen in healthcare facilities, mental health centers or social service agencies
4. Field instructors must be qualified social work practitioners meeting specific criteria
5. Each field education course has a $50 fee

Students attend classes while doing their field practicum in a concurrent placement model. The Director of Field Education oversees placement arrangements. Students can’t set up their own placements – all sites need prior approval.

Students might need to drive up to an hour one way to reach field sites in North Central Louisiana. They must arrange their own transportation. The program tries to place students close to home when possible, without affecting placement quality.

Field education does much more than apply classroom learning. Students build professional community relationships, understand local resources, confirm their interests and abilities and develop commitment to social work’s Code of Ethics.

Students work with different populations, learn administrative processes and develop professional relationships during field experience. Agency field instructors and faculty liaisons provide guidance throughout.

Applicants to the MSW program need a bachelor’s degree with a 3.0 GPA, 36 credit hours in liberal arts, GRE scores, three reference letters, an autobiographical statement and must complete a personal interview. Advanced Standing applicants need a BSW earned within six years with a minimum 3.3 GPA.

Program graduates become experts in advanced direct practice with individuals, families and groups. They’re ready to work in child welfare, healthcare, mental health, substance abuse and gerontology settings. Grambling’s MSW program gives students all the knowledge, values and skills they need for successful social work careers.

Louisiana Christian University MSW Program

Louisiana Christian University’s MSW program stands out with its unique focus on healthcare/behavioral health and its foundation in biblical worldview principles. The program, previously known as Louisiana College, has CSWE accreditation that ensures graduates meet professional standards. Students learn to blend social work values with Christian faith principles, preparing them to serve people in a variety of practice settings.

Specializations

Students can choose between two concentration paths during their advanced/second year:

Healthcare/Behavioral Health Concentration: This 15-hour specialized track prepares students for careers in medical and mental health settings. Students can receive a special stipend of $3,000 ($150 per semester) during their advanced standing/second year. They must commit to work in behavioral health within Central Louisiana’s 9-parish region after graduation.

Advanced Generalist Practice Concentration: Students develop foundation-level skills that prepare them for practice in settings of all types. They learn advanced capabilities that apply to various social work contexts.

Students must meet these requirements to complete either concentration:

• Take 9 credit hours of elective courses in their chosen specialization area
• Complete both advanced year field placements in settings that match their concentration (either healthcare/behavioral health agencies or advanced generalist practice settings)

Program documentation shows both specializations match regional workforce needs. A 2016 needs assessment revealed MSW-trained workers with LCSW credentials ranked among the top five needed professions in Central Louisiana’s nine-parish region.

Program format

Students can choose from flexible program formats based on their educational background and life circumstances. The program structure has three main pathways:

The standard MSW curriculum has 60 graduate credit hours, combining coursework and field experiences. Full-time students finish in two years, while part-time students take three to four years.

BSW graduates can take the Advanced Standing option, an accelerated 30-credit hour path completed in one year of full-time study. Advanced Standing requirements include:

• A baccalaureate degree from a CSWE-accredited BSW program
• B or higher grades in all undergraduate core social work courses
• Meeting all standard program admission requirements

Face-to-face courses run primarily on Mondays and Tuesdays. This schedule lets students arrange their field practicum experiences on other weekdays for better time management.

Students complete a non-thesis track instead of traditional thesis work. Their final semester involves a comprehensive examination and a capstone paper about integrating social work values and Christian principles.

Program admission requires:

• An undergraduate degree from an accredited institution
• Official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended
• Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA for traditional track (2.5 GPA may qualify)
• Three recommendation letters
• Current resume
• Admissions essay and interview
• Proof of immunizations and major medical coverage
• 9 hours of social science courses and 9 hours of humanities courses from undergraduate work

Fieldwork requirements

Field education is a vital part of LCU’s MSW program that provides hands-on professional experience. Practicum requirements vary by program track:

Traditional Students: Must complete four 233-hour field practicums, totaling 932 hours of field education.

Advanced Standing Students: Must complete two 233-hour field practicums, totaling 466 hours of field education.

Program guidelines state fieldwork must happen during normal working hours as agreed with the placement agency. Some agencies might offer evening or weekend hours, but the program cannot guarantee placements outside standard business hours.

Field practicum follows this structure:

• Face-to-face students attend classes on Mondays and Tuesdays
• Field placements run on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and/or Fridays
• Students must work 16 hours weekly (two 8-hour days) at their placement site

The placement process involves these steps:

1. Students submit field applications with placement preferences
2. University conducts student background checks
3. Field Director finds potential placements matching student preferences
4. Students receive agency and supervisor details for interviews
5. Students tell Field Director about interview results
6. Field Director reviews background checks and finalizes agency agreements

Field practicum helps develop practitioners who understand social work knowledge and values, apply knowledge effectively, and assess outcomes for improvement. Students get opportunities to:

• Apply professional values, ethics, and Christian principles
• Boost self-awareness and critical thinking
• Experience professional socialization
• Develop communication skills with diverse populations
• Learn about social welfare systems and policies
• Work with at-risk and culturally diverse groups
• Combine theory with practice
• Refine core social work skills
• Participate in research and policy practice
• Work effectively within organizations

The program provides field education in a safe, supportive learning environment without physical, verbal, or psychological threats. This detailed approach ensures graduates have both theoretical knowledge and practical skills for successful social work careers.

Louisiana State University MSW Program

LSU’s School of Social Work, 86 years old, stands as one of the region’s oldest social work education programs. The CSWE-accredited MSW program blends challenging academic coursework with real-world field experience. LSU’s program stands out from other MSW programs in Louisiana with its flexible formats and specialized training paths that work for students with different needs.

LSU MSW specializations

LSU School of Social Work builds its MSW program around an Advanced Generalist Practice concentration in the specialized year. This lets graduates work well in social work settings of all types. Students learn versatile skills they can use with many different populations and practice settings.

The MSW program gives students four graduate specializations to choose from:

• Children & Youth Services – This path helps professionals work with one of social work’s biggest client groups. Children need special protection as a vulnerable population, making this work a top social priority.
• Gerontology – More qualified social workers are needed in older adult services. The National Institute on Aging shows we’ll need 70,000 social workers in older adult services by 2020.
• Social Work Practice in Schools – Schools want highly trained social workers as they face bigger challenges with student mental health. These include suicide, self-harm, bullying, anxiety, and depression.
• Policy & Macro Practice – Students become skilled at macro practice basics. They learn to support smart policy making and run programs in many areas like child welfare, healthcare, gerontology, mental health, immigration, and criminal justice.

Students build on their foundation year with specialized courses. The first year covers everything in social work practice, history, research methods, social policy, human behavior, and field internships.

Program format

Students can choose from several program formats:

The online MSW at LSU uses 7-week modules instead of regular semesters. Students can start at six different times throughout the year. They can finish coursework at their own pace with set deadlines. The program runs all year with short 1-2 week breaks between modules.

Every format has two main phases:

1. Generalist Year (first 30 hours) – Students learn the basic knowledge, skills, and values they need for social work practice. This includes core courses in practice, history, research methods, policy, and human behavior.
2. Specialized Year (second 30 hours) – Students focus on advanced direct practice, advanced social policy, program evaluation, electives, and specialized field internship.

Students with a BSW from a CSWE-accredited program earned in the last five years can apply for advanced standing. This lets them transfer 27 hours toward their MSW degree. These students start with a Differential Diagnosis course (3 hours) before moving to advanced coursework.

The online program costs $599 per credit hour whatever your residency status. Students must keep an overall GPA of 3.00 with no more than two C grades to graduate.

Fieldwork requirements

Field education is the heart of social work education at LSU. Students get hands-on experience that blends theory with real practice. Field education hours vary by program track:

Traditional MSW Students complete 960 clock hours of field education in four courses:

• Foundation Field Internship I & II (SW 7007/7008): 480 hours during the generalist year
• Advanced Field Internship I & II (SW 7502/7503): 480 hours during the specialized year

Advanced Standing Students finish 480 hours through Advanced Field Internship I & II courses.

Online students can do their field placements in their local areas. They can choose between two formats:

• Block placements: 40 hours weekly in a shorter timeframe
• Concurrent placements: 16-18 hours weekly spread over four modules

Students must complete all internships during regular business hours. Night and weekend placements aren’t available. Full-time workers need to plan ahead for these requirements.

LSU’s field education helps students build professional skills step by step. They start with basic knowledge and grow into specialized experts. Students work with many different clients and services. This helps them blend theory with practice while strengthening their social work values and professional identity.

Students can do their internship at their current workplace through the Employment-Based Placement option. This requires moving to a new service area and having separate internship supervision from regular work duties.

LSU MSW graduates leave with complete knowledge and real experience they need for successful careers in social work settings of all types. The program’s long history of excellence and flexible learning options makes it a top choice among online MSW programs in Louisiana.

Southern University at New Orleans MSW Program

Accredited by the Council on Social Work Education since 1985, the Southern University at New Orleans (SUNO) MSW program makes advocacy and transformation its foundation. Students learn generalist practices first and then move into specialized work in different settings. SUNO’s curriculum builds on each student’s strengths to help them meet both individual and community needs.

MSW specializations

SUNO gives students two practice areas to choose from in their advanced year:

1. Children, Youth, and Families (CYF) – Students who want to work with young people and families choose this path. The coursework has specialized classes in practice issues, ways to strengthen communities, and diversity training.
2. Health/Mental Health (H/MH) – This path gets students ready for healthcare and mental health careers. The coursework includes practice issues, health-focused community work, chemical dependency, and mental health practice.

Students pick their specialization when they finish their first year. Each path needs specific courses in the second year. The program looks at problems, assessment, and solutions through an eco-systems lens in both areas.

Program format

Students can choose from three study options that fit their schedule:

Full-time students follow a set curriculum over four semesters starting in fall. They take about 15 credit hours each semester and spend at least 16 hours weekly in field practicum.

Part-time students take 6-9 credit hours during regular semesters. This option starts in fall and needs summer courses in the first two years. Students begin their field work in fall of year two and continue through spring of year three, spending about 16 hours each week in the field.

BSW graduates can finish the advanced standing option in just three semesters. This fast-track needs 36 credit hours and doesn’t allow any C grades. Students must have earned their BSW from a CSWE-accredited program in the last six years.

Classes happen on campus during the day, evening, and Saturday. Students must finish prerequisite courses before taking advanced ones.

Fieldwork requirements

Field education lets students apply what they learn in class. Each program format has different requirements:

• Full-time students: Need four semesters of field placement with 225 hours each semester, adding up to 900 hours.
• Part-time students: Start field work in year two, completing 450 hours in foundation year and another 450 in concentration year.
• Advanced standing students: Complete 450 hours over two semesters during their concentration year, about 16 hours weekly.

Students build professional connections in communities through field placements. They learn about local resources, discover their interests in social service, and develop a strong commitment to social work’s Code of Ethics.

SUNO’s field education looks at people as whole beings rather than just their challenges. This matches the program’s goal to fight human oppression and help share society’s resources fairly.

Students graduate after finishing 60 credit hours with no more than two C grades. They must also complete a Capstone Project in SOWK 701 Research with at least a B grade and pass the SOWK Competency Achievement Review. SUNO graduates leave ready to tackle complex social challenges in Louisiana’s communities.

Tulane University MSW Program

Tulane University runs the South’s oldest social work program and delivers a unique MSW curriculum that blends clinical and community-based training. The program values human diversity and champions social justice through responsive, community-based knowledge while putting relationships at the center of its practice.

Specializations

Students can choose between two focus areas at no extra cost:

Disaster and Collective Trauma (DaCT) – This specialization stands out as one of the few disaster-focused programs nationwide. Students learn to help communities deal with psychological impacts of crises. The coursework covers theories of collective trauma, trauma adaptation, and disaster mental health that prepare social workers to support affected communities.

Mental Health, Addiction and the Family – This focus area helps students understand healing within relationships. Students get a chance to learn from national experts and participate in community projects. The requirements include two qualifying electives and attendance at journal club meetings or educational events related to the focus area.

Each specialization requires students to complete specific electives and internships in their chosen focus area.

Program format

The program comes with several flexible options:

Online students attend evening classes (Central Time) that work well for professionals. Students on campus complete their degree in just 16 months, and many receive job offers from their practicum sites.

Fieldwork requirements

Students must complete 900 hours of practicum education as a key part of their training. They stay with the same internship site throughout the program to build strong community connections.

Full-time students spend 24 hours weekly at their practicum site for three semesters (316 hours per semester). Part-time students complete six semesters at 12 hours weekly. Tulane helps students find placements in their local communities by connecting them with suitable agencies across the country.

The program shows excellent results – 97% of graduates land jobs within six months of finishing their degree.

Choose an MSW Program in Louisiana

This complete review of MSW programs in Louisiana will help you learn about the five CSWE-accredited options in the state. Each program has its own advantages while following core professional standards needed for quality social work education.

You can choose from several great options. Grambling State University focuses strongly on direct practice. Louisiana Christian University takes a unique biblical worldview approach. LSU offers a flexible online format. Southern University at New Orleans has an enabling-centered curriculum. Tulane specializes in trauma and mental health tracks. Any of these choices will give you the skills to address Louisiana’s pressing social needs.

On top of that, most programs let BSW graduates finish their master’s degree in much less time through traditional and advanced standing paths. Field education requirements differ slightly between schools, but you’ll graduate with plenty of hands-on experience – usually 900 hours or more of supervised practice.

The career outlook looks promising for MSW graduates in Louisiana. Healthcare social workers earn better pay, with average annual salaries of $55,060. Mental health and substance abuse positions are expected to grow by 12%, creating more job opportunities. The state’s high rates of obesity, mental illness, and other social challenges show how important social workers are to community wellbeing.

Pick a program that matches your career goals, preferred specialization, and personal situation. Some programs are great for flexibility with online or part-time options. Others have unique concentrations you won’t find anywhere else. Without doubt, an MSW from any of Louisiana’s accredited programs will help you make a real difference in the lives of individuals, families, and communities across the state.