Accredited Social Work Education at Grambling
Grambling State University appears in our ranking of the 36 Most Affordable Accredited MSW Programs in the South East.
Since 1986, the College of Professional Studies has housed a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work for Grambling State University undergrads to get entry-level generalist jobs resolving community problems affecting human functioning. Directed by Prof. Clarence Williams, the 120-credit degree emphasizes the unique needs of African Americans across rural northern Louisiana. Required courses, such as Black Families, Social Welfare Policy, Biology, and Interviewing Skills, have a 20:1 student-faculty ratio. Quality academics continue into the Master of Social Work launched in 1989 for advanced careers serving at-risk groups. Led by Dr. Carolyn Hester, this 60-credit degree features the built-in Direct Practice Concentration with customized electives from Diagnostic Systems to Child Neglect. BASW graduates meeting the 3.0 average enter the 36-credit Advanced Standing track instead. Practicum requirements range from 240 to 960 hours at agencies like Monroe Area Guidance Center, Domestic Abuse Resistance Team, Lincoln General Hospital, and Ruston Behavioral Health. Other opportunities are pledging Phi Alpha, joining Life Change, venturing to Costa Rica, entering the Cole Honors College, minoring in Kinesiology, and attending Constitution Day.
About Grambling State University
Grambling State University was founded in 1901 by the North Louisiana Colored Agriculture Relief Association with help from Charles P. Adams, one of Booker T. Washington's pupils. By 1905, it developed the current 590-acre Ruston Metro campus. Twenty-three years later, it was chartered to award two-year associate degrees as a state junior institution. The Grambling State University name was adopted in 1946 to honor the Houston sawmill owner who donated land. First accredited in 1949, Grambling expanded to liberal arts education and added graduate studies by 1974. Placed on the National Register of Historic Places, Grambling State now carries a $7.2 million endowment to enroll 4,504 Tigers, including Social Work majors, and employ 259 professors. Linked to 18,344 LinkedIn alumni, Grambling State University has trained Erykah Badu, Charles Blow, Bo Curtis, Buck Buchanan, and more.
The U.S. News & World Report ranked Grambling State as the 201st best social work school and 45th top historically Black college nationally. On Niche, Grambling boasts America's 44th best Greek life, 117th best dorms, 167th most liberal academics, and 310th top dining. College Factual noticed Grambling State for the 193rd most popular social work program with the 333rd highest-paid alumni. PayScale calculated a mid-career median wage of $68,200 for Grambling State University grads. WalletHub crowned Grambling the 146th best Southern value. Washington Monthly picked Grambling State as the 79th top master's institution and 37th most service-oriented school. College Choice deemed Grambling the 18th best Louisiana option for 68 percent graduation. The American Council of Trustees and Alumni also graded Grambling State University "B" overall.
Grambling State University Accreditation Details
In 2010, Grambling State University satisfactorily surpassed the standards of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to receive Level V institutional accreditation for 10 more years under its 10th president, Dr. Rick Gallot, who earned the 2017 HBCUGrow Best Leadership Award. Based eight hours east via Interstate 20 in Decatur, this mid-sized 11-state Deep South accreditor is authorized by the U.S. Secretary of Education to continually evaluate practices in Grambling's one doctoral, 14 master's, and 27 baccalaureate majors. The School of Social Work also underwent an in-depth review by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) in June 2011.
Grambling State University Application Requirements
Enrolling at Grambling State University is labeled "non-competitive" by Peterson's despite the 45 percent acceptance rate that allowed entry to just 2,862 of the 6,340 Fall 2017 candidates. First-year Tigers clawing into the Bachelor of Arts in Social Work must finish the Louisiana Core 4 curriculum or its equivalent. This includes English, Geometry, Chemistry, Civics, and more. At a minimum, freshmen need a 2.0 high school GPA, 20 ACT score, or 1020 SAT composite mark. Out-of-state benchmarks rise slightly to 23 and 1050 respectively. Undergrad transfers need 18+ college credits, including Composition, graded "C-" or higher. MSW cohorts must culminate their accredited bachelor's curriculum with at least 36 liberal arts credits. Introductory Statistics and Human Biology are prerequisites. Advanced Standing relies on CSWE-accredited training within the past six years and a minimum "B" average.
Grambling State University set priority bachelor's program deadlines of June 1st for Fall, December 1st for Spring, and May 1st for Summer. MSW students are only considered once yearly until February 1st. Hopeful entrants easily submit the Grambling and School of Social Work applications online. Some documents are accepted by mail to 403 Main Street in Grambling, LA 71245 also. Please contact [email protected] or (318) 274-2617 for more details. The Office of Admissions generally seeks the following:
- $20 fees by credit card, money order, or check
- Official mailed or faxed academic transcripts
- Immunization proof and TB Questionnaire
- Highest ACT, SAT, or GRE score achieved
- Two to three professional reference letters
- Type-written autobiographical statement of merit
- Personal interview with social work faculty
Tuition and Financial Aid
For 2018-19, Grambling State University is charging BASW majors from Louisiana $215 per credit or $2,570 each term full-time. Non-resident undergrads pay $376 per credit or $4,511 by semester. Budgets include the $120 academic excellence fee, $60 technology fee, $66 operational fee, $506 university fee, and $100 health fee. Living at the Lincoln Parish campus' dorms like Drew Hall adds $2,566 each term for housing. Meal plans for McCall Dining Hall cost $1,659 extra. Annual bachelor's attendance equals around $26,091 in-state and $35,389 out-of-state. The Master of Social Work bills Louisianans $284 and non-residents $501 per credit. Total graduate pricing ranges from $10,224 to $30,060 based on location and previous training.
According to the NCES College Navigator, the Office of Student Financial Aid gifts $21.02 million combined yearly for 85 percent of full-time Grambling Tigers to reap $6,369 on average. Institutional funds include the Charles Grier Spirit Award, Debbie Robinson Scholarship, Crescent City Chapter Scholarship, Ward Robinson Finish Line Scholarship, Perry E. Thompson Scholarship, Bernadene Coleman-Pope Scholarship, Dr. Maya Angelou Scholarship, and Abdulalim A. Shabazz Scholarship. The GAP Fund presents up to $800 to fulfill unmet need. Submitting FAFSA applications coded 002006 by the preferred April 15th deadline brings Federal Pell and FSEOG Grant eligibility. Louisiana residents claim the Go Grant, Leap Grant, Taylor Opportunity Award, and Taylor Honors Award. Grambling partners with Nelnet Campus Commerce for monthly payment plans. Work-Study jobs are arranged for around $725 each undergrad semester. Limited graduate assistantships are available with minimum 3.0 GPAs. College Factual also records mean yearly debt of $6,400 from Perkins, Direct, Plus, and alternative loans.
Learn more about Grambling State University at the School of Social Work website.