The Master of Social Work degree attests to the graduate's preparation for social work practice and achievement at a level of competence sufficient to serve as a basis for a professional career. The LSU School of Social Work is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) and has been offering graduate education since 1937. The Baton Rouge main campus offers the 60-hour full time or part time programs as well as the 33 hour advanced standing program. The priority application deadline for the 60-hour program is March 31st each year. The priority application deadline for advanced standing is March 1st. Applications will be accepted until May 15th, but the field internship placement may be delayed.<br><br>To obtain the MSW degree, students must:<br><br>successfully complete 60 hours of study, following the prescribed course sequence including passing internship courses <br>maintain an overall grade point average of 3.00, with no grade less than C in any course offered for the degree<br>cannot be on probation<br>no more than two C's toward the MSW degree<br>Thesis Option: Students are encouraged to undertake a thesis, yet it is not required to graduate. Students choosing to write a thesis must submit a thesis proposal to a prospective thesis committee chair by the last day of class in the fall semester, generalist year or the last day of class of the second module. Six total credit hours of SW 8000 are required for the thesis, and no more than six credit hours can be used toward the MSW degree.