SW8010

This course offers practice and immersion into the social work process under the direct supervision of an M.S.W.-level social worker. The Foundation Practicum offers students the opportunity to engage in professional tasks in various types of professional practice. Students are also expected to develop an ethical and professional identity, engage in anti-racism, and increase their understanding of social, racial, economic, and environmental justice as integral to our profession.

The Foundation Practicum is designed to support students in integrating practice skills and knowledge learned in foundation coursework into their own evolving social work practice. The basis of Foundation Practicum learning is critically examined and refined social work practice experience within settings offering broad learning opportunities, ideally at micro, mezzo, and macro levels of social work practice. The Foundation Practicum requires a student to spend a minimum of 420 hours in a supervised practicum setting. Practicum optional consultation hours for SW 8010 count toward this total.

Each student is expected to assess their social work learning needs and to plan and complete activities that will support achievement of structured learning goals with the help of the agency-based practicum instructor (and task supervisor, if dual supervision arrangements exist). Student progress in learning is monitored throughout the practicum using a competency development model. Two formal student evaluations are completed, at mid-placement and the end of the practicum. The internship ending is based not on the completion of the minimum number of practicum hours, but on demonstrating competency as determined and rated by the practicum instructor on the student’s goals.

Foundation students are required to complete the Practicum Orientation in Canvas before the start of their in-agency/organization experience. Foundation students are required to engage in an Instructor Consultation session within the first month of their practicum to finalize their Learning Contract’s development.

The instruction and peer consultation serve as a professional learning, consultative, and support space focusing on:
* development of skills for lifelong professional learning
* practice in applying a critical thinking process to the on-location practice
* practice in keeping with the NASW Code of Ethics and applicable state law, as well as working through ethical dilemmas that arise in the context of practicum
* exploration of personal and group privilege (and oppressions) and the ethical mandate for empathic, respectful, and socially just actions towards all client systems
* challenge and support for deepening self-awareness related to professional social work identity
* practical problem-solving around school and practicum issues
* engage in effective consultation with peers, both as a provider and recipient of feedback and consultation

013806

Every Fall, Spring & Summer