MSW FULL-TIME PROGRAM OF STUDY
The Master of Social Work degree requires two academic years of full-time study (15 hours of credit per semester for a total of 60 hours). Students admitted to the MSW program must elect to enter either the full-time (15 hours per semester) or the part-time (six hours per semester) program. The first year 30 hours of the program is the "foundation year," and the second 30 hours of study is termed the "advanced instruction year" for full-time students.
Students will not be permitted to register for any other combination of credit hours. The sequencing of the prescribed courses must also be strictly followed, and students will not be allowed to take courses out of the prescribed order. It is not possible to register for advanced instruction courses until all foundation courses have been completed. Students are not permitted to register for more than 15 credit hours per semester.
The foundation year provides instruction in social work practice and history, social research methods, social policy, human diversity, human behavior in the social environment, and field instruction.
The advanced concentration year consists of courses in advanced direct practice; community and agency contexts for direct practice; advanced social policy; practice and program evaluation; 12 hours of electives, which may include a thesis; and six hours (480 clock hours) of advanced internship placement.
Students should consult with their advisors and the director of field internships for additional information and assistance. Please note that the courses listed above may also be taken as electives without constituting an emphasis.
FULL-TIME CURRICULUM IN SOCIAL WORK
Students enrolled full-time in the MSW program shall complete the following courses in the prescribed sequence:
Foundation Year • Fall Semester
SW 7001 Human Behavior and the Social Environment I:
Socio-behavioral science base of social work practice; interrelationship of biological, psychological, social, and cultural determinants of human behavior; major biopsychosocial developmental achievements and adaptations of human beings from conception through death.
SW 7003 Social Welfare History and Policy:
Development of social work as a profession; evolution of social welfare policies and programs; nature of social policy and policy formulation.
SW 7005 Social Work Practice I:
Introduction to social work theory, principles, and intervention skills common to social work practice with individuals and families; psychosocial perspectives in intervention.
SW 7007 Foundation Field Internship I:
Application of foundation knowledge, skills, values, and ethics to practice in an approved internship agency. 240 clock hours.
SW 7009 Social Work Research I:
Standards and methods of scientific inquiry applied in social work research; concept formulation; research design; sources, collection, and presentation of data.
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Foundation Year • Spring Semester
SW 7002 Human Behavior and the Social Environment II:
Social science base of social work practice; social systems in which human beings develop and live; focus on research related to social interaction.
SW 7004 Human Diversity and Oppression:
Social dynamics of human oppression; effects of institutional discrimination, inequality, stigma, and prejudice stemming from racism, sexism, ageism, and classism; implications of human oppression and multiculturalism for human behavior, social work practice, and social policy.
SW 7006 Social Work Practice II:
Techniques of working with various types of groups including treatment groups and planning action groups; community organization techniques.
SW 7010 Differential Diagnosis:
Diagnostic and treatment tools for examining the functionality of human behavior in the context of diverse social systems.
SW 7008 Foundation Field Internship II:
Application of knowledge, skills, values, and ethics to practice in an approved internship agency. 240 clock hours.
Advanced Year • Fall Semester
SW 7501 Program & Practice Evaluation:
Types of research, designs, and instruments used in social work; research processes from specification to hypotheses and collection of data.
SW 7505 Advanced Direct Practice:
Advanced methods of effective individual, family, and group treatment of systemic issues in a holistic perspective.
SW 7502 Advanced Field Internship I:
Supervised internship in an approved agency setting where advanced knowledge, skills, values, and ethics are applied in the practice setting. 240 clock hours. SW 7506 Community & Agency Contexts for Direct Practice Community, organizational, and social aspects of social work practice; indirect practice skills associated with effective social work practice in multiple service environments.
One elective course.
Advanced Year • Spring Semester
SW 7503 Advanced Field Internship II:
Supervised internship in an approved agency setting where advanced knowledge, skills, values, and ethics are applied in the practice setting. 240 clock hours. Three elective courses.
SW 7504 Advanced Social Policy:
Dimensions and patterns of social policy; evolution and design of provisions and services; current issues, problems, and trends.
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PART-TIME PROGRAM
The part-time program is designed for those students who cannot attend the University on a full-time basis for the entire program. Students who meet all the requirements can expect to complete the degree on a three-year plan or (less frequently) on a four-year plan.
The part-time program sequence is very structured for the first 30 hours. These first 30 hours are called the foundation year, though it generally takes part-time students two years to complete this part of the program. During the foundation year of the part-time program, students enroll for six hours or two courses per semester for the first two years. Once students begin the advanced year of the program, they are allowed to enroll in more than two classes, and the move to a full-time student is encouraged. There are no courses available for part-time students during the summer, with the exception of SW 7010 Differential Diagnosis.
Because of the school's strict sequencing requirements, part-time students are not permitted to switch to the full-time track until they have completed the foundation phase of the program. Full-time students may switch to the part-time program provided they do not violate the sequencing requirements.
Foundation field internships for part-time students are usually provided in the summer of the second year, after the student has completed the 24 hours comprising the course work portion of the foundation year. An alternative is for the student to complete one foundation internship in the spring semester of the second year and to continue with the second foundation internship during the summer of that same year, if the internship can be arranged.
Part-time students are encouraged to spend the final 30 hours of the advanced-year program on a full-time basis. Students who desire to finish the advanced year in two calendar years are encouraged to confer with the assistant dean of Student Services and the field office staff to ensure consistency with sequencing requirements. Students have the option to complete the advanced field internships either during the summer, after completion of the advanced-year course work, or by taking four classes concurrently with the field internship.
The School of Social Work acknowledges the obligations part-time students have to employers and/or families. However, the school cannot exempt students from the requirements of the program because of these obligations. Students in the part-time program are encouraged to make arrangements to manage their personal and financial obligations before enrolling in the program.
For part-time students, the most challenging part of combining this program with work and family responsibilities is the internship. Although field internships involve 12 hours of credit, the total clock hours equal 960. The double block internships are two internships taken concurrently during one semester and consist of 480 clock hours. This translates into working a 40-hour week for 12 weeks. A single block internship consists of 240 clock hours and is usually done concurrently with classes.
An additional challenge to meeting the internship clock-hour requirement is that students must complete at least 50 percent of their internship during normal working hours. Under no circumstances will a student be allowed to complete all of the internship clock-hours during nights, weekends, or holidays. Under no circumstances will a student be allowed to begin advanced concentration courses until all foundation courses, including field internships are completed. No academic credit is granted for work or life experiences.
PART-TIME CURRICULUM OF STUDY
Students enrolled part-time in the MSW program shall complete the following courses in the prescribed sequence. Please note that part-time students are not permitted to switch to the full-time track until they have completed the foundation phase of the program.
First Year • Foundation • Fall
SW 7001 Human Behavior and the Social Environment I
SW 7003 Social Welfare History and Policy
First Year • Foundation • Spring
SW 7002 Human Behavior and the Social Environment II
SW 7004 Human Diversity and Oppression
Second Year • Foundation • Fall
SW 7005 Social Work Practice I SW
SW 7009 Social Work Research
Second Year • Foundation • Spring
SW 7006 Social Work Practice II
SW 7010 Differential Diagnosis
Second Year • Foundation • Summer
SW 7007 Generic Field Internship I
SW 7008 Generic Field Internship II
( block internship)
Third Year • Advanced • Fall
SW 7501 Program & Practice Evaluation
SW 7505 Advanced Direct Practice
SW 7506 Community & Agency Contexts in Direct Practice
Elective
Third Year • Advanced • Spring
SW 7504 Advanced Social Policy
Three elective courses
Third Year • Advanced • Summer
SW 7502 Advanced Internship I
SW 7503 Advanced Internship II
( block internship)
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ADVANCED STANDING PROGRAM
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. The advanced standing program requires that a minimum of 33 hours be completed on the LSU campus. To be eligible for advanced standing admissions, course work for the undergraduate social work degree must have been taken within five years of proposed enrollment at LSU. Admission is also contingent upon the students having completed equivalent courses with a "B" or better as part of their undergraduate social work degree. Equivalent courses with a "C" or lower must be repeated, and a grade of "B" or better must be obtained before the student is admitted.
Equivalent courses are:
- Human Behavior and the Social Environment I & II
- Social Work Practice I & II (Micro, Mezzo, Macro)
- Social Work Research
- Social Work History
- Social Work Policy
- Human Diversity & Oppression
Field Internship
Applicants with a bachelor of social work degree who do not have A's and B's in these core social work courses must apply to the full-time or two-year program. The Advanced Standing Program begins in the summer term, and the Graduate School application should reflect an entry semester as the summer term. Advanced standing students and students transferring from other MSW programs are required to complete SW 7010 Differential Diagnosis during the summer before beginning the MSW program. This course must be taken on the main campus of LSU. Credit taken at the undergraduate level will not be counted toward MSW degree credit. The remainder of the program of study follows the advanced year course sequence as described in the MSW Full-Time Program of Study Section above.
DISTANCE EDUCATION
The LSU School of Social Work offers off-campus courses in a part-time format for students in outlying areas of the state. Students must meet admission requirements as set forth in this bulletin for admission to the distance education programs. Courses are taught using a combination of compressed video, Web-based instruction, and limited on-site, face-to-face instruction.
1) Advanced-Year Distance Education Program
This two-year, part-time distance education program is designed for students who meet the requirements for the Advanced Standing program. Currently, the school offers advanced year courses at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches and the Airpark in Alexandria. Students will enroll in two courses per week for two years. Students will be required to travel to the main campus for seminars and other meetings. Admission to this program is every four years. The next admission date is Fall 2011 and the admission deadline is February 15, 2011.
The advanced internship can be completed in either a double block placement of 40 hours per week for 12 weeks or several days per week over two semesters. Under no circumstances will a student be allowed to complete all of the internship clock-hours during nights, weekends, or holidays. Students must complete at least 50 percent of their internship during normal working hours of the agency. No academic credit is granted for work or life experiences.
Advanced-Year Distance Education Course Sequence
First Year-Fall Semester
SW 7505 - Advanced Direct Practice
SW 7506 - Community & Agency Contexts for Direct Practice
First Year-Spring Semester
SW 7504 - Advanced Social Policy
One elective course
Second Year-Fall Semester
SW 7501 - Program & Practice Evaluation
One elective course
Second Year-Spring Semester
Two elective courses
Second Year-Summer Semester
SW 7502 & SW7503 - Advanced Internships
(block internship)
No academic credit is granted for work or life experience.
Internship hours are five days per week for 12 weeks; Internship can be started earlier if block placement is not feasible.
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Admission Requirements for Advanced-Year Distance Education
Students applying for the distance education program must meet the same admission requirements as students applying to the on-campus program. 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. Course work for the undergraduate social work degree must have been taken within five years of proposed enrollment
at LSU. Admission is contingent upon the student having completed equivalent courses with a "B" or better as part of their undergraduate social work degree.
2) Part-time Distance Education Program
This two-year, part-time distance education program is designed for students who do not have a bachelor's degree in social work or whose bachelor's degree in social work is more than five years old. Courses will be held in the Lake Charles, Alexandria, Shreveport and Natchitoches areas. After completing the foundation courses, students will begin the advanced phase of the MSW program on the Baton Rouge campus or continue in the distance if resources are available. The advanced year can be completed on a part-time or full-time basis. Admission to the part-time program
is every four years. The admission deadline for the Fall 2009 class is February 15, 2009.
The part-time program has four internships that must be completed - two foundation and two advanced. Internships can be completed in either a double block placement of 40 hours per week for 12 weeks or several days per week over two semesters. Under no circumstances will a student be allowed to complete all of the internship clock-hours during nights, weekends, or holidays. Students must complete at least 50 percent of their internship during normal working hours of the agency. Under no circumstances will a student be allowed to begin advanced concentration courses until all foundation courses, including field internships are completed. No academic credit is granted for work or life experiences.
Part-Time Course Sequence
First Year-Fall Semester
SW 7001 - Human Behavior and the Social Environment I
SW 7003 - Social Work History & Policy
First Year-Spring Semester
SW 7002 - Human Behavior and the Social Environment II
SW 7004 - Human Diversity and Oppression
Second Year-Fall Semester
SW 7005 - Social Work Practice I
SW 7009 - Social Work Research
Second Year-Spring Semester
SW 7010 - Differential Diagnosis
SW 7006 - Social Work Practice II
Second Year-Summer Semester
SW 7007 & SW 7008 - Foundation Internships
(Double block internship)
Third Year-Fall Semester-Baton Rouge Campus
Advanced-year courses - either full-time or part-time - on the Baton Rouge campus. See the full - time or part-time section above for advanced year course sequencing.
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ELECTIVE COURSES
Students generally take four elective courses during their advanced year in the program. The electives are intended to allow the student the flexibility to tailor the student's program to their individual, professional goals. Students conducting thesis research will enroll in six hours of thesis credit and two other electives. Please note that an elective can be offered only if faculty resources are available and there is sufficient student enrollment. Six hours of elective course work may
be taken in other departments or schools at LSU. (See the section "Degree Credit and Waivers," in this bulletin.)
SW 7306 Advanced Social Work Treatment of Individuals: Differential diagnostic assessment and treatment of individuals with complex intrapersonal problems.
SW 7307 Direct Practice with Children and Adolescents: Maladaptive patterns of behavior in children and adolescents; intervention strategies with children, parents, families, and groups.
SW 7308 Social Work with Groups: Theory and Practice: Dynamics of social work with groups; members' behavior and corresponding worker roles and responses.
SW 7309 Advanced Methods of Group Treatment: Diagnostic and treatment procedures used in intensive group therapy.
SW 7402 Social Work in Corrections: Social work processes in corrections; population served; existing and needed delivery systems for rehabilitative services; influence of the host setting.
SW 7403 Social Work and Aging: Demographic characteristics of the aging population; aging as a developmental process with economic, biological, psychological, and socialization aspects; impact of legislative and social service systems.
SW 7404 Social Work Practice in Schools: Implementation of social work values, purposes, and methods in a school setting.
SW 7405 Marital and Family Treatment in Social Work: Identification and modification of dysfunctional transactional patterns; facilitating communication; improving the quality of marriage and family relations.
SW 7409 Law and Social Work: Relationship of law to social work; statutes, cases, and doctrinal materials in personal and family breakdown; programs for income maintenance; Supreme Court cases concerning criminal justice, juvenile courts, and the rights of the confined.
SW 7410 Comparative Social Welfare: Comparative analysis of international social welfare systems; differential cross-national social services; similarities and differences among nations.
SW 7412 Social Work in Medical Care: Nature of social work practice in the field of medical care; medical care system and consumer problems; role of medical social workers.
SW 7415 Child/Family I: Theories and skills of assessment and communication with children and families.
SW 7416 Child/Family II: Legal and administrative functions in working with children and families.
SW 7435 Data Analysis and Research Management: Data collection, analysis, and general research management; research strategies and analytical techniques; design and execution of selected research instruments; manual and computer processing of data.
SW 7455 Management in Human Services: Management used in the effective provision of social services; techniques of modern management; interdisciplinary and practical approaches; unique aspects of human service management; development of critical attitudes and management skills.
SW 7710 Task-Oriented Group Interaction in Social Work: Interaction of small groups in social work practice; emphasis on understanding barriers to goal-directed interaction and on helping groups accomplish tasks.
SW 7801 Family Violence: Topics in family violence; their relevance to social work practice; program development and interventive approaches and issues.
SW 7803 Grant and Proposal Writing for Human Service Organizations: Methods of accessing federal, state, and private funds; developing grant and contract proposals.
SW 7804 Addictive Disorders in Contemporary Society: Topics related to addictive disorders in contemporary society; their relevance to social work practice.
SW 7807 Special Topics in Social Work: Selected topics on social work and social welfare theory, practice, and policy.
SW 7905 Independent Reading and Research in Social Work Practice
SW 7906 Independent Reading and Research in Social Welfare Policy
SW 7907 Public Policies and the Aging: Public policies that affect quality of life for the elderly; Older American's Act, Social Security Act, Medicare and Medicaid policies.
SW 7908 Social Development: International Perspectives: Concepts of social development; extent of social underdevelopment in the modern world; theories and normative perspectives; social and national planning.
SW 7999 Research Project: Non-thesis Option: Research project, state of knowledge paper, or position paper.
SW 8000 Thesis Research
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FIELD INTERNSHIP
Internship settings include public and private psychiatric hospitals, public and private medical facilities, outpatient clinics, substance abuse facilities, various units of general hospitals, state prisons, public and private family and child welfare agencies, youth services, family counseling agencies, adoption centers, community and group homes, school-based clinics, rape crisis counseling agencies, and agencies dealing with victims of abuse.
All students are required to take four semesters of field internship and complete a minimum of 960 clock hours in agency settings. Students will be placed in one agency for the foundation internship and in a second agency for the advanced internship. After being accepted into the MSW program, new, transfer, and advanced-standing students may be required to visit the campus for a structured interview with the field office staff. The questions are geared toward assisting field office staff with placement of the student in the internship. Students must interview with a potential agency for professional placement the semester before field placement begins. Students not accepted by the assigned agency due to non-agency issues will have to meet with field office staff to re-evaluate placement status. Students experiencing three unsuccessful placements will not be placed again. This outcome will be grounds for expulsion from the program. Please refer to the Field Placement Process section of the Field Manual.
At the foundation level, the courses are SW 7007, Foundation Field Internship I; and SW 7008, Foundation Field Internship II. Students in the advanced instruction phase of the program are required to take SW 7502, Advanced Field Internship I; and SW 7503, Advanced Field Internship II. Advanced-standing students take only SW 7502 and SW 7503.
Each semester of internship requires 240 clock hours of supervised field work in an approved agency. Typically, full-time students spend 16 hours per week in the agencies on two of the three days the student does not have class. Part-time students normally take a double block placement of 40 hours weekly for 12 weeks during the summer after completion of the foundation phase of the program. No academic credit is granted for work of life experiences.
At least 50 percent of the time in internship must occur within normal working hours of the agency. Field placement cannot be arranged for weekends or evenings for students whose occupational, family, or other obligations make it difficult to conform to normal field placement requirements.
Field internship courses are taken in sequence, together with classroom instruction, in order for students to apply academic knowledge in practice settings. If students do not take internships concurrently with course work, they must have completed the appropriate practice course prior to registering for field internship courses. For example, students will not be permitted to register for SW 7007, Foundation Internship I; unless they are taking (or have completed) SW 7005, Social Work Practice I. The same rule applies for advanced internships.
During the foundation phase of the program of study, field internship instruction exposes students to the entire field of social work. In addition, it serves as an introduction to various social work methods used in direct work with clients and in indirect methods with larger systems. All students must complete a field orientation prior to beginning their first semester of a field internship. The orientation provides students with information regarding field internship issues and policies. Field orientation is offered at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters. Students will not be allowed to start their internship if they have not completed this orientation. Part of the orientation may include field trips to various representative agencies. The second semester generic internship builds upon the skills developed during the first semester.
During the foundation and advanced phases of the program, students are required to return to campus for periodic field internship seminars conducted by full-time faculty members for the purpose of sharing field experiences and internalizing professional values. The purpose of the advanced internship is to give students the opportunity to acquire and test professional values, attitudes, knowledge, and skills in practice situations. In these situations, students develop heightened sensitivity to others and professional discipline in their role of service to clients. Students are expected to develop skills for autonomous, advanced direct practice in agency settings.
Because of the nature of the professional social work practice, the School of Social Work has different expectations of students than do non-professional schools. Social workers traditionally serve vulnerable and/or disadvantaged populations. Schools of social work, in conjunction with agency supervisors, have an ongoing responsibility to protect consumers and insure that graduating social work students are competent to begin practice and meet professional ethical standards. The LSU School of Social Work's policies are linked to students' abilities to become effective social work professionals and are provided so that students and faculty can be clear about expectations and procedures that address academic performance concerns, which include professional behavior. The School of Social Work requires students to demonstrate professional demeanor, appropriate relationships, and ethical behavior. Failure to meet these ethical standards may result in a failing grade and expulsion from the MSW program.
Students are charged an additional fee of $100 per course to meet the extra expenses involved in field internship instruction.
Students enrolled in an internship must provide proof of insurance to the field officer prior to beginning the internship and must maintain the insurance over the duration of the internship. Students without proof of insurance will be required to sign a waiver prior to beginning their internship indicating they will be responsible for their own medical expenses.
Students who have a criminal conviction need to be aware that this may affect internship placement and/or future ability to become licensed in some states.
FIELD INTERNSHIP FEE
A fee of $100 per course must be paid by all students enrolled in Social Work 7007, 7008, 7502, and 7503 to cover the additional cost of the field internship program.
Students who are required to travel more than 60 miles (one way) to their internships are normally reimbursed. The University does not reimburse students for the full cost of overnight lodging incurred in connection with internship placement. Travel and lodging rates may vary from year to year.
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STUDENT ADVISING
Each MSW student is assigned a personal faculty advisor at admission. This advisor will work with the student throughout his or her program. The advisor meets with the student on a regular basis to provide assistance with academic, curricular, professional, career, and other matters. Students are encouraged to meet with their advisors to discuss their programs of study.
A student who has any problems should consult his or her advisor. If unable to resolve the problem, the advisor will seek further assistance from the appropriate authority on the student's behalf. All faculty have posted office hours and will be available to see students during these hours. Students may also make appointments to see their advisors. Students are urged to make use of the school's advising system, which is intended to enhance both academic and professional development.
PROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOR
Because of the nature of professional social work practice, the School of Social Work has different expectations of students than do non-professional programs. Social workers traditionally serve vulnerable and/or disadvantaged populations. Schools of social work, in conjunction with agency supervisors, have an ongoing responsibility to protect consumers and ensure that graduating social work students are competent to begin practice and meet professional ethical standards. The LSU School
of Social Work's policies are linked to students' abilities to become effective social work professionals and are provided so that students and faculty can be clear about expectations and procedures that address academic performance concerns, which include professional behavior. Students are expected to exhibit behaviors that are in compliance with the LSU School of Social Work program policies, LSU policies, and professional ethical standards in the classroom, field setting, and community.
Students are accountable as representatives of their agency, their school, and the social work profession. Students are expected to abide by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics; the Louisiana Practice Act: Rules, Regulations, and Procedures; NASW Standards for the Agency; and to uphold the rules and procedures of their placement agencies. The School of Social Work requires students to demonstrate professional demeanor, appropriate relationships, and ethical behavior. Failure to meet these ethical standards may result in a failing grade and expulsion from the MSW program.
RESEARCH AND INDEPENDENT STUDY COURSES
Students wishing to register for research or independent study courses in the advanced instruction phase of the program (SW 7905, 7906, and 8000) must obtain prior approval.
Students wishing to register for independent study courses must identify a faculty member who will approve their proposal and complete the prescribed "Independent Study Contract Form" before registering for the course. This form is available at the school’s reception desk. Students may not take more than two independent study courses (SW 7905 and SW 7906) as part of the MSW program.
DEGREE CREDIT AND WAIVERS
A total of six semester hours of graduate credit, taken in other departments at LSU or at other universities, may be applied toward the 60 credit hours required for the MSW degree.
Generally, only courses in closely associated academic subjects — such as psychology, public administration, sociology, or political science — will be considered for degree credit. Such credit may only be used to substitute for elective courses in social work. Students need to gain approval from the assistant dean of Student Services prior to enrolling, as not all courses in the above listed areas will apply toward the MSW degree. Students will not be permitted to substitute degree credit for social work practice or field internship courses. No academic credit is granted for work or life experience.
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TRANSFER CREDIT
Transfer work must have been taken for graduate residence credit, must have been part of an otherwise satisfactory graduate program, must have been taught by a faculty member whose credentials are comparable to those of graduate faculty members in the LSU School of Social Work, and must — in terms of time invested — be comparable to graduate courses in this school. No credit will be transferred for courses completed with a grade of "C" or below, "unsatisfactory" or
the equivalent, or for courses taken more than five years before the completion of the MSW degree. Students applying for transfer credit must be in good academic standing at LSU and must have completed at least nine hours of graduate residence credit at LSU before the transfer can be approved. In general, courses taken as a non-matriculating student will not be considered for transfer credit.
Students in the advanced instruction phase of the MSW program in the School of Social Work may take six hours of elective course work toward the MSW degree in other departments or schools at LSU. Students wishing to take such courses outside the school must obtain permission from the assistant dean of Student Services before registering for these courses. To be considered for degree credit, these courses must have been taught by a faculty member whose credentials are comparable to those of the graduate faculty in the LSU School of Social Work, and — in term of time invested — be comparable to graduate courses in this school. No courses in which grades of "C" or less, "unsatisfactory" and the equivalent, have been earned will be allowed for credit toward the MSW degree.
Applications for degree credit must be forwarded to the assistant dean of Student Services of the School of Social Work for review. Subsequently, they will be sent for recommendation to the dean of the School of Social Work and the dean of the Graduate School. Where appropriate, the dean of the School of Social Work may request the curriculum committee to make a recommendation.
WAIVER OF REQUIREMENTS
Waiver of certain courses may be granted to students who have satisfactorily completed graduate course work in a social work program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. In addition to the total of six hours of transfer/degree credit permitted, these students may apply for a waiver of up to 24 hours of course work. A waiver will be granted only if the courses are judged to be appropriate to the student’s program, have been taught by a faculty member whose credentials
are comparable to that of Social Work graduate faculty, and, in terms of content, are equivalent to this school’s graduate courses. No waivers will be granted for courses in which a grade of "C" or less, or "unsatisfactory" and the equivalent, has been received.
In view of the unique character of the school’s advanced instruction courses, no advanced year courses may be waived.
Students transferring from other MSW programs may be required to complete SW 7010 Differential Diagnosis during the summer prior to the fall entry date. This course must be taken on the main campus of LSU. The Graduate School application must reflect an entry date of the summer semester.
As noted previously, waivers are also granted to advanced standing students for comparable foundation social work courses taken in accredited undergraduate social work programs. No such waivers are granted for courses in which a grade of "C" or less, or "unsatisfactory" and the equivalent, has been received.
PROBATION
A student whose cumulative grade point average is below 3.00 and/or whose semester average is below 3.00 will be placed on probation. The exception is a student whose semester and/or cumulative average is as low as 2.00 may be dropped from the graduate school without having a probationary period. A student already on probation whose cumulative and/or semester average is below 3.00 will be dropped from the graduate school. A student receiving a "U" in thesis research (8000)
will be placed on probation. A student receiving a second "U" in research may be dropped from the Graduate School. For these purposes, a summer term is counted the same as a regular semester.
INCOMPLETE GRADES
A grade of "I" indicates that course performance was satisfactory but, because of circumstances beyond the student’s control, all requirements have not been met. An "I" grade is not given to enable a student to do additional work to bring up a deficient grade. An "I" grade may not be given for a course undertaken in the semester in which a student graduates if that course is listed on the application for degree or if changing the "I" grade to an "F" would result in the student’s cumulative average being less than 3.00. "I" grades may not be assigned for thesis (8000) research. Authorization from the dean of the Graduate School is not required to assign an "I" grade to a graduate student.
An "I" grade is valid only until the final date for submission of grades at the end of the next regular semester (fall or spring). "I" grades received in the spring semester or in the summer term are valid until the end of the fall semester. "I" grades received in the fall semester are valid until the end of the spring semester. There will be no extension of time.
Responsibility for changing an "I" grade lies with both the student and the faculty member concerned. Failure by the faculty member to submit a "Grade Correction Report" by the final date for submission of grades for the next regular semester will result in the "I" grade becoming a permanent "F" grade.
Unusual circumstances that preclude a student from completion of course requirements may, at the discretion of the dean of the Graduate School, warrant assignment of a permanent "I" grade. Unusual circumstances might include, but would not be limited to, withdrawal of the student from the University because of prolonged medical problems, death, resignation of the faculty member concerned, and the absence of another faculty member to supervise the unfinished work.
Petition for a permanent "I" grade must be initiated by the student. The petition must be accompanied by a letter of justification from the faculty member concerned, if possible. It must be endorsed by the associate dean of the School of Social Work before it is submitted to the graduate dean.
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TIME LIMIT
All requirements for the MSW degree must be completed within a period of four calendar years from the time the student is initially admitted to the School of Social Work. As a rule, no course, whether completed at LSU or elsewhere, can be applied toward this degree if it has not been completed within this four-year period.
MSW DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
To earn the M.S.W. degree, students must have:
- completed 60 semester hours of study, following the prescribed sequence of courses shown.
- earned an overall gpa of 3.00 and a grade of "C" or better in any course work applied toward the degree.
- satisfactorily completed a thesis or comprehensive examination.
- Please note that more than six hours of credit received with a grade of "C" cannot be counted toward the MSW degree.
FINAL EXAMINATIONS
Candidates for the MSW degree will be required to pass a final examination during the semester in which they wish to graduate. This examination will consist of either a comprehensive examination or the defense of a thesis.
Thesis option students must have obtained approval for their theses proposals from the student's committee at least two semesters before the intended graduation date. Each student must complete the relevant formalities of identifying and having approved the committee who will examine his or her thesis and complete the appropriate examination request forms by the date specified in the "Graduate Calendar." The chair of the thesis committee will be responsible for arranging the examination. Note that no more than six semester hours of thesis credit will be counted toward the MSW degree.
Non-thesis option students are required to take a comprehensive examination on a date to be specified by the School of Social Work. Students are required to complete the request for the final examination form by the date specified in the "Graduate Calendar." Additional information concerning final examinations may be obtained from the School of Social Work student handbook.
APPLICATION FOR DEGREE
Each candidate for the MSW degree must file an application for degree with the School of Social Work on or before the date indicated in the "Graduate Calendar" included in this bulletin. This application, which will be available at registration for the final semester of study, must be approved by the faculty of the school before submission to the graduate school. Late applications will not be processed, and candidates will not graduate until the following commencement.
SOCIAL WORK COURSES FOR NON-MAJORS AND UNDERGRADUATES (SW)
Courses numbered at the 2000, 3000, and 4000 level are designed primarily for students in other colleges or schools of the University and for persons employed in social work, teaching, or related positions.
SW 2000 Introduction to Social Work: The profession of social work; history, description of programs in contemporary American society; role of the social worker in meeting social needs.
SW 3000 Perspectives in Contemporary Social Welfare: Changing concepts of social welfare; issues, policies, and proposals related to meeting economic and developmental needs.
SW 3002 The Child and the Community: Common and particular needs of children in the community; social welfare services developed by communities for care and training of children.
SW 3003 Skills in Working with People: Basic skills in working with people; understanding attitudes; use of community resources.
SW 3007 Juvenile Delinquency: Nature and extent; sociological and psychological factors in causation and treatment of delinquent children; how communities are organized to help troubled youth and to prevent inception and spread of juvenile problems.
SW 3011 Community Services and the Aged: The aged population and their needs; available resources and services in the community; assisting the aged in obtaining services; implications for the future.
SW 4000 Modern India: Society and Culture: Also offered as GEOG 4000. Interdisciplinary analysis of politico-cultural issues of contemporary pan-Indian society.
SW 4003 Penology: Development of the penitentiary in society; punishment versus rehabilitation; problems in operating adult prison units.
SW 4005 Groups and Social Work: Use of groups in social work; types of groups, dynamics, decision making processes and worker roles.
SW 4020 Computers, Crime, and Justice: Historical trends, current research issues, emerging technological developments, and alternative theoretical frameworks for studying the impact of computerization on crime and criminal justice.
SW 4022 Correctional Administration, Management, and Supervision: Current issues in the management and supervision of American and international corrections organizations; role of policy in correctional administration; effects of organizational theory and human resource management practices; personnel supervision and training; program planning; effects of court intervention; current health care issues, including AIDS and drugs; privatization.
SW 4070 Special Topics in Social Work: Selected topics on social work practice and social welfare services.
SW 4075 Comparative Health-Care Issues (3) Focus on the British National Health Service (NHS) and the United States managed health-care system; comparison of current health-care programs and cost-control policies in the United Kingdom with those in the United States
SW 4080 Special Topics in Applied Correctional Policy
SW 4090 Corrections Internship: Field study/placement in a corrections institution under the supervision of a faculty member.
SW 4099 Individual Readings in Corrections
SW 4500 Crisis Intervention: Introduction to major theories and research that describe and explain the range and complexity of problems that may emerge from natural or other disaster scenarios.
