Program Overview

PhD Program in Social Work

The PhD Program in Social Work at Louisiana State University prepares the next generation of social work educators, researchers, administrators, and policy-makers to contribute to the creation of the knowledge base of the profession. The program involves a passionate commitment to learning and a specific commitment to the pursuit of new knowledge that can improve the lives of client populations.

PhD Program Mission

The PhD Program at the LSU School of Social Work equips the next generation of social scientists to conduct rigorous transdisciplinary research to contribute to the knowledge of issues facing individuals and community systems, advance the profession, and further efforts toward social justice.

Educational Outcomes

At the conclusion of the PhD in Social Work Program, doctoral students will be able to:

• Articulate the historical and contemporary contexts of social science and social work research
• Differentiate between social research methods to answer research questions or test hypotheses
• Conduct original research, including developing research questions or hypotheses, analyzing, synthesizing, and interpreting relevant data, and producing manuscripts for publications, presentations, and reports
• Translate research findings to policy, practice, and education
• Design and deliver effective and research-informed instruction in the field of social work

Program Overview

Doctoral studies are characterized by three major phases of work:

• Coursework (completion of a minimum of 39 credit hours of coursework)
• The General Examination (an intense period of self-guided study and examination directed by a doctoral advisory committee)
• The dissertation (the student's original research, guided by a primary mentor and two other faculty committee members, minimum of 15 credit hours) It is expected that the period of study for the doctoral degree in social work will be three to five years, but not exceeding seven. The minimum total credit hours for the degree is 54.

Research

LSU is home to the only independent social work doctoral program in Louisiana. It is an interdisciplinary degree in which students are expected to explore diverse areas and traditions of inquiry and use a variety of research methods, all the while keeping a sharp focus on the need for information to inform social work practice. The course of study in the doctoral program is completely oriented toward mastering the skills needed to design and conduct empirical social work research.

Research Areas

Major areas of research and scholarship expertise that the faculty mentors provide to doctoral students include:

• Child welfare/child maltreatment/trauma
• Substance misuse & interventions across the lifespan
• School social work
• The personal and social circumstances of families receiving government support
• Social capital and poverty
• Vulnerable families
• Populations and communities excluded from opportunities
• Youth risk and resilience
• Bullying & victimization
• Gerontology/aging
• Intimate partner violence
• Behavioral health & interventions
• Infant & child mental health
• Experiences of undocumented immigrants/refugees
• Health disparities
• Social development
• Disasters and crises
• Changes/trends in family demographics

Admission Requirements

• A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with typical liberal arts, social sciences, introductory statistics, and human biology courses
• An acceptable grade-point average in undergraduate course work
• A master's degree in social work from a CSWE accredited program or a closely related discipline
• A GPA in graduate studies of at least 3.00
• Completion of a graduate introductory research course with a grade of "B" or better
• Other materials as required in the application instructions, inclusive of the applicant's individualized Statement of Purpose: Plan of Doctoral Study Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores are not a requirement for admission to the PhD in Social Work Program.

Application Process

Admission to graduate study is a two-step evaluation process:

1. The Office of Graduate Admissions determines eligibility for admission to LSU
2. The academic department or college determines admissibility to the degree program Prospective applicants to the PhD in Social Work program must submit the following documents:

• Official transcripts
• A completed Application for Admission to the PhD in Social Work Program
• A completed Statement of Purpose: Plan of Doctoral Study
• A resume/CV
• Three letters of reference, one of which is academic
• Two scholarly professional writing samples that best illustrate the capacity for analytic and critical thinking Applications must be submitted by December 1st. Applications submitted after December 1 will be considered on a space-available basis.