LSU LETTER OF INTENT

LETTER OF INTENT INSTRUCTIONS:

The LSU School of Social Work seeks MSW applicants who wish to work with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and/or communities confronting complex challenges. Applicants should exhibit a strong potential for developing ethical and professional competencies and demonstrate the academic abilities needed to perform at the graduate level. Applicants should demonstrate a readiness to engage in classes and the field internship, as both are important components of the MSW degree.

The MSW Letter of Intent (LOI) is a critical part of the application process. Reviewers will consider both the content and the writing skills of the applicant. Respond to all points 1 thru 7 listed below in paragraph format using the headings provided. The length of your LOI should be approximately 3-5 typed and double-spaced pages using a 12-point font. It should not exceed 5 pages in length. Once completed, the LOI should be uploaded electronically to the Graduate School Admissions Portal.

Understanding the Profession

The social work profession is guided by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics and it serves as a guide to the everyday professional conduct of social workers.

1. After reviewing the NASW Code of Ethics Core Values, discuss a core value that you have demonstrated in the past, as well as a core value that you would like to develop while completing the MSW program. Please use specific examples.

2. The NASW Code of Ethics requires social workers to treat all people with dignity and respect and to be prepared to work with all people in need of assistance, including those who are different from themselves. Discuss two previous experiences that illustrate that you are capable of working with individuals who are different from you.

3. Describe a specific aspect or issue in social work that interests you most and explain how you became interested in this issue.

Experience Related to Social Work

4. Discuss any volunteer/unpaid staff or paid experiences in human services, community work, or any other experiences that have contributed to your choice of social work as a profession. What specifically influenced your decision to pursue a Master of Social Work degree at LSU?

5. Briefly describe your professional goals. Consider your own strengths and what you would need to learn or develop to become an effective social worker.

Graduate School Readiness & Field Education Requirements

6. Graduate school is academically challenging and time intensive, requiring students to manage their personal and professional commitments (employment) to meet the demands of the program. LSU as one hour of learning inside the classroom and 2 hours of learning outside the classroom for each class session. This means that each 3-credit-hour MSW course is equivalent to 9 hours of learning per week for semester-long courses; 18 hours per week for 7-week courses; and 27 hours of learning per week for 5-week courses. Please discuss how you plan to fulfill the course work component of the program considering your current and future personal and professional commitments.

7. All MSW programs require experiential learning via field education courses that take place in an agency setting, which is an integral component of the MSW degree. Due to the experiential nature and supervision requirements mandated by the Council on Social Work Education (the national accrediting body for social work education), field education courses must be completed in an agency setting during normal business hours, typically 8-5 for 16-18 hours per week, or at a maximum of 40 hours per week to ensure that your field internship is a successful part of your educational experience.Please visit link here to watch the required video on the LSU School of Social Work Programs prior to completing your application.