Master of Social Work - Gerontology in Baton Rogue United States | Louisiana State University

The Gerontology Specialization is open to students currently pursuing their MSW degree. According to the National Institute on Aging, approximately 70,000 social workers will be needed in elder care services by 2020. In light of these projections, social work practitioners must stay informed about diverse core issues affecting older adults. The Gerontology Specialization Program (GSP) within LSU's MSW curriculum, in collaboration with the LSU Life Course & Aging Center (LCAC), meets the educational requirements of both full-time and part-time students aiming to work in service planning, administration, or direct care for older populations. The GSP has four primary objectives:

to equip students for careers in gerontological social work - enabling them to fulfill professional duties aligned with social work ethics and values when serving older adults,
to help students comprehend the biological, psychological, social, economic, administrative, service delivery, and policy aspects of aging within healthcare social work practice,
to offer interdisciplinary learning opportunities that broaden students' perspectives beyond traditional social work approaches, and
to provide hands-on gerontology fieldwork that deepens understanding of practice relationships grounded in empowerment, human dignity, cultural diversity, self-determination, and social justice principles.