Online Master of Social Work

Total credit hours per program: 60 credit hours

Cost per credit hour: $604

Total cost with fees: $36,240

How to Apply

Application to the School of Social Work is the same for all campus and online programs. Applicants must submit the following:

• Graduate School Application and Fee  
• Letter of Intent (instructions located within the application)
• Three letters of recommendation
• A total of three (3) recommendation forms are required for your admission file to be complete. A letter of support is optional.
• Two (2) recommendations must be Academic (college instructors, internship supervisors) and the remaining one (1) recommendation must be a Professional (Work/Volunteer) Reference.  Family friends, clergy, therapist and high school teachers are not appropriate.
• Applicants who have been out of school for 2 or more years and cannot ascertain academic references may substitute other professional recommendations for academic.
• For any applicant, if two are not academic recommendations and one is not professional, please include a statement with your application explaining the reason for the substitution.
• It is strongly recommended that if an internship was part of the degree program and the internship has been completed at the time of application, a recommendation from the internship supervisor be included as the professional recommendation.
• Current resume or vita.
• One official copy of all transcripts from all universities attended. Transcripts may be mailed in sealed envelopes to Graduate School, 114 David Boyd Hall, Baton Rouge, LA 70803 or sent electronically from a university (all transcripts are required, whether or not credit was earned or is desired). Official transcripts of work taken at LSU are not required.
• For international applicants whose native language is not English, scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).

Applicants with missing application materials by the School of Social Work deadline will not be considered. A completed application is the LSU Graduate School application, fee payment, letter of intent, three letters of recommendation, resume, and official transcripts. Note: Meeting minimum entrance requirements does not guarantee admission.

For further information about Advanced Standing and the Field Education Requirement please check out LSU School of Social Work.

Admission Requirements

School of Social Work admission requirements for ALL programs are the same. The following requirements must be completed prior to admission to the Full time, Part-time, Advanced Standing and MSW Online programs:

• A baccalaureate degree from a regionally-accredited college or university
• Demonstration of a liberal arts undergraduate preparation through completion of at least 12 credit hours in the social and behavioral sciences (psychology, sociology, anthropology, human geography, economics, political science, curriculum & instruction, etc.), and at least 9 hours in the humanities (literature, languages, history, women’s studies, art or music history, philosophy, cultural and comparative studies, communication studies, etc.)
• “C” or better in an introductory statistics course in any undergraduate department; this course cannot be taken concurrently with MSW courses
• A 3.0 cumulative grade point average on undergraduate course work or in the final 60 credit hours or at least 9 hours of any graduate work already completed with appropriate grades for regular admission.
• Evidence that the applicant possesses the personal qualities and aptitudes essential for the social work profession
• A genuine interest in people and emotional stability
• Meeting minimum entrance requirements does not guarantee admission

Additional information about LSU Graduate admission requirements are located here.

• Private Practice Therapist
• Child and Family Social Worker 
• Group Social Worker
• Health Care Social Worker 
• Gerontology Social Worker 
• Hospice Social Worker
• Mental Health Counselor
• School Counselor
• School Social Worker
• Substance Abuse Counselor

Accreditation & Professional Licensure Requirements --- Online MSW

The LSU School of Social Work’s 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. Our MSW program meets CSWE’s curriculum and field education standards for the MSW degree. However, the following states have entry-level professional licensure requirements that differ from these standards in the following ways:

• California: California law and ethics exam; coursework in suicide risk assessment and intervention (6 hours, beginning with applications submitted on or after January 1, 2021); child abuse assessment and reporting in California (7 hours); human sexuality (10 hours); alcoholism and chemical substance abuse and dependency (15 hours); aging, long term care and elder/dependent adult abuse (10 hours), California cultures and the social and psychological implications of socioeconomic position (15 hours or 1 semester unit); spousal/partner abuse assessment, detection, and intervention (15 hours);
• Colorado: Colorado Mental Health Professions Jurisprudence Examination;
• Florida: clinical field placement during the specialized (i.e., second) year;
• Missouri: 2 hours of suicide prevention training;
• Nebraska: internship that includes a minimum of 300 clock hours of direct client contact, of which 150 clock hours must be face-to-face;
• New Mexico: jurisprudence examination; one of the following: 3-credit-hour course in New Mexico cultures; a board-approved course, workshop, or seminar in New Mexico cultures; proof of previously passing the New Mexico cultural examination;
• New York: 2 hours of coursework or training regarding the identification and reporting of child abuse and maltreatment;
• Oregon: Oregon Rules and Laws Exam;
• Virginia: minimum of 600 hours in a clinical field placement [this applies to LSU’s advanced-standing students only];
• Wisconsin: Wisconsin Statutes and Rules examination.

The School of Social Work may assist students with meeting their state’s licensure requirements. 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. Students living in states whose licensing requirements differ from the School’s curriculum and field education standards must notify the Field Education Office immediately.

Why choose LSU for an online MSW?

The passion and excellence that LSU stands for have earned the university a coveted "Tier One" spot in U.S. News & World Report's “Best Colleges.” As the state’s flagship university, LSU has been preparing students for rewarding careers for nearly 150 years. Today, LSU is equally proud of its strides to make education more accessible through innovative online degree programs that are every bit as rigorous as its on-campus programs.

Boasting an exceptional faculty and staff, LSU is one of only 30 universities in the United States designated as a land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant institution. In addition, LSU is the only public top-tier university—and the only university in Louisiana—to receive the honor of being placed in the "very high research activity" category by the Carnegie Foundation.

Why a Master of Social Work?

The primary goal, drive, and initiative that a social worker has is to help. Social workers help individuals, support families and people in relationships, and initiate programs and oversee facilities that serve struggling groups and communities. A Bachelor of Social Work degree can provide a strong foundation in the necessary theories and concepts of being a social worker, but an MSW degree is often required for individuals to perform certain functions in the field, attain the most in-demand roles, and be trusted in the community as experts capable of changing lives and doing good.

It’s more than just learning to treat someone suffering from a certain problem, such as abuse or addiction; it’s also recognizing the underlying causes of how these social dilemmas and crises arise in the first place. An MSW degree pushes students to develop expertise in analysis and empathy and to realize that social work is a science that requires a human touch to master.

What makes the Online MSW program unique?

The MSW degree blends the flexibility of an online education with the real-world benefit of LSU’s professional network. Students study advanced social work topics on their own time while still completing internships in the field. With no GRE necessary and 60 credit hours required to complete the program (33, if students have a BSW), students receive a quality education while being able to pursue their other personal and professional interests. Plus, the program’s foundation in social work theory and advanced social work subjects provides graduates with a comprehensive understanding of how to make positive change in their communities.

Students who have received a baccalaureate degree in social work from an undergraduate program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) may be eligible for admission into the advanced instruction phase of the MSW program. Learn more about Advanced Standing for MSW students.