SSW Ph.D. Admission Procedures

Admission Procedures

Application to the Ph.D. Program in Social Work at L.S.U. consists of 2 separate applications, one to the L.S.U. Graduate School and one to the School of Social Work. For the application to the Graduate School, applicants should submit credentials following the instructions on the official University “Application for Graduate Admission” form, available from the L.S.U. Graduate School website. (See these requirements below.) For the application to the School of Social Work, applicants should submit the application form and other materials as indicated on this web-site according to the following schedule: Applications received before February 1 will receive priority in admissions decisions; Applications received between February 1 and May 15 will be considered on a space-available basis; Applications received after May 15 cannot be guaranteed consideration for admission for the fall semester. Applicants submitting late applications should contact the Ph.D. Program Director, Dr. Tim Page, to discuss the time-frame for their submissions.

The following items are to be sent to the Graduate School, 114 David Boyd Hall, LSU, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803-3920:

The completed “Application for Graduate Admission” form;
The required application fee and any applicable late fee;
One official copy of all transcripts in sealed envelopes (all transcripts are required, whether or not credit was earned or is desired). Official transcripts of work taken at LSU are not required;
A satisfactory score on the aptitude portion of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). The LSU code for GRE reporting is R6373-5. LSU is an approved testing center. The GRE is administered electronically on a daily basis at testing centers in this country and abroad. Test applications may be obtained from the Graduate School at LSU; GRE Web site at www.gre.org; graduate schools at most colleges and universities; or by writing to Educational Testing Service, P.O. Box 955, Princeton, New Jersey 08540. The completed test application form and examination fee must reach Educational Testing Service approximately one month in advance of the test date. At least six weeks should be allowed for the examination results to reach LSU (less if the test is taken electronically);
For international applicants whose native language is not English, scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL);
Financial statement (required only from international students without assistantships paying at least $7,700).

The following items are to be sent to the School of Social Work, Office of Student Services, 311 Huey P. Long Fieldhouse, LSU, Baton Rouge, LA 70803-3920:

The completed School of Social Work “Application for Admission to PhD Program”
A completed “Plan of Doctoral Study,” a 500-word typed statement that describes:

a. the applicant’s career goals in social work;

b. the applicant’s purpose(s) in seeking a doctoral degree and what interested the applicant in pursuing doctoral education;

c. the applicant’s special areas of interest and plans for dissertation research, identifying which faculty member(s) share the applicant’s area of interest;

d. the strengths and deficits as perceived by the applicant;

One official copy of all transcripts in sealed envelopes (all transcripts are required, whether or not credit was earned or is desired);
Three letters of reference on forms provided by the School of Social Work

The decision to admit is conditioned upon the applicant providing accurate and current information and updating this information as circumstances change. The act of application constitutes agreement that LSU may investigate the accuracy of the statements and data provided. Falsification, misrepresentation, or omission in application answers and supporting data may result in revocation or denial of admission.