MSW Program

Please review the following to assist you in your planning process

MSW Field Practicum Manual 2022-2023

It is essential that students plan carefully for their practicum, particularly with respect to the mandated hours per semester, educational and supervision requirements.

• The Office of Practicum Education expects that students with traditional hours of availability will be able to do their internships during the regular weekday, business hours.
• Extensive planning is required for students with non-traditional hours of availability.
• This office will offer students suggestions of agency sites but strongly encourages students who work full-time to complete practicums in an organization that would qualify for an employment based placement or submit a self-referral form.

Practicum Placement Process:

1. Submit the practicum application (located below) for entering your specific course: (5187/5188- Foundation (Generalist) Practicum) OR (8187/8188 – Advanced Practicum).
2. All students are assigned a Practicum Education Specialist within weeks of submitting their application. The Practicum Education Specialist will work in close partnership with onsite and fully online students to assist with the placement process.
3. Practicum Education Specialist will support all students in the confirmation/finalization of their plan.
   1. This process can include an agency interview for students being referred by their Practicum Education Specialist or completing a Self Referral option. At this interview, the educational opportunities and agency expectations should be discussed between student and agency. Interview-Guidelines-and-Questions
   2. If the student has applied for an Employment-Based practicum, the Practicum Education Specialist will schedule a meeting with the student, prospective practicum instructor and current employment supervisor to review educational opportunities and agency expectations.
4. Practicum Education Specialist will confirm the practicum plan between the agency and the student.
5. Student will register for their practicum course when available.
6. All students obtain the maximum clearances required by the state in which the practicum is located, as outlined by Castlebranch system.  (Information found in Request your Clearances).
7. All students entering a practicum course will be required to attend an orientation prior to the beginning of their practicum experience.

MSW Generalist Practicum: (1st Practicum in the 2 or 3 year MSW program) 

The MSW Generalist Practicum provides learning opportunities in generalist social work practice.  Students are placed in agencies that can offer a full spectrum of social work experiences and support the MSW Foundation curriculum. The generalist requirement takes precedence over requests to work with specific populations or on specific issues.

Time Requirements for Generalist Practicum: (450 hours total)

• MSW Generalist Practicum students MUST attend their internships for a minimum of 15 or 16 hours per week
• Practicum is two semesters long
• Required 225 hours per semester

Complete the MSW Generalist Practicum application here

MSW Advanced Year Practicum: (2nd Practicum OR the only practicum for Advanced Standing Students)

Prior to the start of the student’s advanced program, students select a concentration that aligns with both their coursework and practicum work.

• Specializations are: Clinical Practice OR Macro Practice in Organizational, Community and Policy Arenas

Time Requirements for Advanced Practicum: (600 hours total)

• MSW Advanced Practicum students MUST attend their internships for a minimum of 18-24 hours per week
• Practicum is two semesters long
• Required 300 hours per semester

Complete the MSW Advanced Practicum application here