Are you interested in finding social work degrees in Louisiana to advance your professional knowledge and skills for serving at-risk and vulnerable populations? Well, you have certainly come to the right place. As the 31st most extensive and 25th most populous state situated in the southern region of the United States along the Gulf of Mexico, Louisiana is home to numerous social work degree programs that have been given the gold standard for excellence by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). The following are the 11 undergraduate and graduate degree programs that have been proven to prepare high-quality social work practitioners for serving the diverse inhabitants of the "Bayou State."
Online Social Work Programs For You
Grambling State University
School of Social Work
Founded in 1901 as a private industrial school to educate the African American citizens of north-central Louisiana within the University of Louisiana system, Grambling State University is situated on a 590-acre rural serene campus in the small city of Grambling outside of Ruston. GSU has a national reputation for being one of the United States' top producers of African American graduates according to the Diverse Issues in Higher Education. Furthermore, the School of Social Work is acclaimed for offering the 200th best graduate social work program in the nation by the U.S. News and World Report.
Bachelor Arts in Social Work (BASW)
Ideal for students whose career goals include working with special populations and social problems like child abuse, aging, mental illness, foster care, community services, probation, school social work, corrections, and residential facility care, the Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW) program offers a generalist approach to professional preparation for entry-level position in these public or private human services. With an emphasis on meeting the social service needs of the African American community and rural populations within north-central Louisiana, the program requires the completion of at least 120 credit hours in preparation for social work practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
Master of Social Work (MSW)
Committed to excellence in education with an emphasis on high academic standards, the Master of Social Work (MSW) program is focused on preparing advanced social work practitioners for promoting social justice, equality, and respect for individual dignity. Through the creation of appropriate student-centered classroom environments, the program sensitizes students to the social injustices that culminate in poverty and oppression for populations at-risk. After completing the 60-credit two-year full-time program, graduates are well-prepared for autonomous practice with diverse groups at all system levels in various agency settings.
Accreditations
- Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCC)
Contact Information
430 Main Street
Grambling, LA 71245
(318) 247-3811
[email protected]
Louisiana College
Division of Human Behavior
Situated on an 81-acre suburban setting in the heart of Pineville, Louisiana College is a comprehensive private Christian coeducational institution of liberal arts and sciences built upon the Southern Baptist principles of character and learning. According to the U.S. News and World Report, LC is ranked as the 60th best college in the South for 2014. Equipped with state-of-the-art technology in classroom and laboratory facilities, the Division of Human Behavior has the mission of preparing students for careers serving others in criminal justice, psychology, social work, and sociology with a unique Christian liberal arts approach.
Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)
Accredited by the CSWE since 1993 to enable graduates to become registered social workers in Louisiana or apply for advanced standing at graduate schools of social work nationwide, the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program is focused on preparing students for entry-level generalist social work practice within a nurturing Christian environment. Through an integration of faith and learning, the program produces graduates who are rooted in the liberal arts, the Christian and Baptist perspectives, and the NASW Code of Ethics. In addition to the 120 semester credits, the program also requires the completion of at least 410 clock hours of supervised social work practice in both public and private agency settings.
Accreditations
- Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
- North American Association of Christians in Social Work (NACSW)
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCC)
Contact Information
Alexandria Hall Room 258
1140 College Drive
Pineville, LA 71359
(318) 487-7164
[email protected]
Louisiana State University
School of Social Work
Located near the Mississippi River in the southeastern region of the state on a vast 2,000-acre urban campus in downtown Baton Rouge, Louisiana State University is the flagship public research institution that is among only 25 universities nationwide to hold both land-grant and sea-grant status. Home to a diverse community of more than 26,000 students, LSU is ranked as the 135th best college and 68th top public school in the nation by the U.S. News and World Report. Furthermore, the School of Social Work is nationally recognized for having the 79th best graduate social work program in the United States.
Master of Social Work (MSW)
Based on a framework for ethical and informed social work education, research, and service with a central person-in-environment concept for developing knowledge, the Master of Social Work (MSW) program prepares graduate students for achievement of a level of competence sufficient to serve as a basis for a professional career. For a total of 60 hours of graduate studies, the program covers 30 hours of theoretical foundations in social work and an additional 30 hours of advanced specialized instruction. Either on-campus or online, students can pursue the MSW degree full-time in two years, part-time in three to four years, or as Advanced Standing for just one year.
Accreditations
- Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCC)
Contact Information
311 Huey P. Long Field House
Baton Rouge, LA 70803
(225) 578-5875
[email protected]
http://www.socialwork.lsu.edu/html/academicprograms/mswprograms.html
Northwestern State University of Louisiana
Department of Social Work
Based in Natchitoches with satellite campuses in Shreveport, Leesville, and Alexandria as part of the University of Louisiana system, the Northwestern State University of Louisiana is a four-year comprehensive public institution committed to responsive student-oriented education. According to the U.S. News and World Report survey, NSU is currently ranked as the 92nd best college and 47th top public school in the South. Fully accredited by the CSWE, the Department of Social Work aims to prepare competent, experienced, and licensed social work practitioners to serve populations at risk in social work agencies in several surrounding Louisiana parishes.
Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)
Designed to develop solid beginning entry-level generalist social workers with an appreciation of human diversity, the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program is strongly focused on the values and ethics necessary for a professional career in social work in order to service populations at risk from oppression due to social and economic injustice. As a 120-credit hour undergraduate program, the curriculum covers topics in social welfare, human behavior, social work generalist practice, economics, social work research, statistics, child welfare, social policy issues, and cultural diversity. In the final year, students are required to complete a field experience with 16 to 32 hours per week of direct supervised field training in a social service agency.
Accreditations
- Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCC)
Contact Information
Kyser Hall Room 118
350 Sam Sibley Drive
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-5493
[email protected]
https://socialwork.nsula.edu/bsw-program-information/
Southeastern Louisiana University
Department of Health and Human Services
As the third largest comprehensive public institution in Louisiana and the second largest provider of distance education among state universities with more than 16,000 students, Southeastern Louisiana University is situated on a 365-acre rural campus in the heart of Hammond. For the third consecutive year, SEU has been named to the President's prestigious Higher Education Honor Roll for Community Service for providing more than 133,000 hours of voluntary service to local or national organizations. The Department of Health and Human Services offers programs that have CSWE Accreditation with an abundance of opportunities to grow personally and professionally in service to others.
Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)
Following a generalist practice model in which students are provided the knowledge and skills needed to work with clients with a multitude of social problems on multiple levels, the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program requires the completion of at least 120 semester credits and 430 clock hours in field internship experience at a social service agency. Since the university is seated in the predominantly rural Florida Parishes, the mission is to prepare students for entry-level practice with diverse at-risk populations in rural or small communities. Not only does the program prepare graduates for gaining employment in child welfare, mental health, domestic violence, healthcare, criminal justice, and other human services, but it also satisfies accreditation requirements for applying to graduate school with advanced standing.
Accreditations
- Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCC)
Contact Information
White Hall Room 108A
Hammond, LA 70402
(985) 549-2309
[email protected]
Southern University and A&M College
College of Sciences
Known for being part of the only historically black comprehensive public land-grant university system in the entire United States, Southern University and A&M College is situated in a hub of local, state, and national health outreach in the heart of Louisiana's capital in Baton Rouge. According to the Diverse Issues in Higher Education, Southern University produces more African American graduates than any other school in the nation. The College of Sciences aims to provide programs that will equip a diverse student population to be globally competitive in their professional studies and the workplace.
Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)
Designed to prepare competent, ethical generalist entry-level social work practitioners to provide services that enhance the well-being of all client groups with a particular focus on serving the poor, other at-risk vulnerable populations, and African Americans, the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program aims to enhance human rights for social and economic justice. Throughout the 120-credit hour program, students are engaged in an intensive curriculum on human behavior, social environment, generalist social work practice, statistics, research methods, psychology, social policy analysis, and field instruction. For completion of the BSW degree, students must complete a minimum of 60 clock hours of community service.
Accreditations
- Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCC)
Contact Information
P.O. Box 9231
Baton Rouge, LA 70813
(225) 771-4500
[email protected]
http://www.subr.edu/index.cfm/page/191/n/297
Southern University at New Orleans
School of Social Work
Primarily serving the educational and cultural needs of the Greater New Orleans metropolitan area on its 10-acre urban campus within blocks of the famous French Quarter, the Southern University at New Orleans is a comprehensive public institution based on a strong liberal arts education for broad intellectual development. Known for having the largest authenticated African American art collection in the entire South, SUNO has grown every year since Hurricane Katrina to have a thriving community of more than 3,100 students. According to the U.S. News and World Report, the School of Social Work is nationally acclaimed for having the 187th best graduate social work program in the United States.
Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)
Intended to provide a frame of reference through which undergraduate students integrate the values and ethics of the social work profession to address the themes of advocacy, empowerment, and transformation, the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program is focused on preparing entry-level generalist social workers for practice in private, non-profit, and public agencies in urban or rural communities. As an upper-level professional program, the curriculum incorporates general education in the freshman and sophomore years with social work major coursework in the junior and senior years for a total of 120 credits. Each student is also expected to complete two semesters of field practicum for a minimum of 225 clock hours.
Master of Social Work (MSW)
Focused on preparing competent and effective advanced specialized social workers who are committed to addressing the strengths and challenges of a diverse population in an ever-evolving global community, the Master of Social Work (MSW) program facilitates the acquisition of knowledge, values, and skills essential for professional social work practice at micro, mezzo, or macro levels. As a 63-credit program, students can pursue the degree full-time within four semesters or part-time within six semesters plus two summer sessions. For those who have received a BSW degree from an accredited social work program can also apply for Advanced Standing status to complete just 37 credits in one year.
Accreditations
- Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCC)
Contact Information
New Science Building 2nd Floor
6400 Press Drive
New Orleans, LA 70126
(504) 286-5376
[email protected]
http://suno.edu/administration/academic-affairs/colleges-and-schools/social-work/
Tulane University
School of Social Work
Divided between an Uptown and Downtown campus in the thriving city of New Orleans within just four miles from the popular tourist spot of the French Quarter, Tulane University is one of the nation's most respected comprehensive private research institutions. With many top-ranked projects in the academic and professional schools for an unparalleled education experience, Tulane is currently ranked as the 52nd best college, 14th top up-and-coming school, and 2nd best university for veterans in the nation by the U.S. News and World Report. Even more importantly, the School of Social Work is recognized for having the 44th best graduate social work program in the entire country.
Master of Social Work (MSW)
Offering a "clinical-community" curriculum based on relationship-centered practice, the Master of Social Work (MSW) program is designed to provide the best class of clinical and community training that addresses the unique needs of individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities in the greater New Orleans metropolitan area. Incorporating a variety of traditional and non-traditional learning experiences, students benefit from participating in team projects, creative simulation, problem-based learning, team teaching, supervised field practicum, and electronic learning exchanges for an enriching education. While the 60-credit program can be completed in four semesters full-time or eight semesters part-time, students also have the option to take additional credits for a joint JD or MPH degree concurrently.
Accreditations
- Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCC)
Contact Information
6823 St. Charles Avenue Building 9
New Orleans, LA 70118
(800) 631-8234
[email protected]
http://tulane.edu/socialwork/degrees/masters.cfm
University of Louisiana – Monroe
Department of Social Work
Formerly known as the Northeast Louisiana State College, the University of Louisiana at Monroe is a comprehensive public coeducational institution with a close-knit community of more than 9,700 students. Among all of the universities in the state school system, ULM is the largest institution in northern Louisiana in terms of enrollment with the greatest percentage of faculty holding terminal degrees and the largest number of nationally accredited academic programs. With a proud tradition of accredited social work education for more than three decades, the Department of Social Work is dedicated to student learning throughout involvement in community service outside of the classroom.
Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW)
Designed to provide undergraduate students with the essential body of knowledge, values, dispositions, and professional skills needed to become competent generalist social work professionals, the Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW) program seeks to train students for leadership roles in the social services to promote social and economic justice in effective community services. Based on a liberal arts perspective to blend well with the beliefs and ethics of generalist social work practice, the curriculum requires the completion of at least 123 credit hours of full-time study. In addition to more than 60 clock hours of community service, social work majors are placed in a social service agency setting for one semester in the senior year to complete at least 400 hours of supervised internship experience.
Accreditations
- Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCC)
Contact Information
Stubbs Hall Room 246
700 University Avenue
Monroe, LA 71209
(318) 342-1445
[email protected]
http://www.ulm.edu/socialwork/
As employment for social workers is expected to grow faster than average due to an increased demand for healthcare and social services, social work has been continually named one of the top occupation choices for job opportunities by the U.S. News and World Report. If you are interested in joining the nation's largest group of mental health service providers to help people solve their mental, behavioral, and emotional issues, it is highly recommended that you check out these top-notch social work degrees in Louisiana to get on the right track to a rewarding professional career.