Practicum - FAQ
- What is the process to obtain a field placement? What does the Practicum Office do with my placement request materials?
- Can I ensure that I get my first placement choice?
- What if I don’t have a car?
- Can I have a placement in a designated geographic location?
- Can I do practicum at my current place of employment?
- I need to work while enrolled in School. How much time should I reserve for practicum each term?
- Can my placement be arranged for evening and/or weekend hours?
- Can I enroll in more credits for practicum than the number that is required?
- What is the difference between an academic advisor and a Practicum Instructor?
- Can I be placed in two different agencies?
- What if my agency is not what I expected or is not meeting my learning goals?
- What agencies offer stipends to students?
- Do agencies hire students when they graduate? Which ones?
- Is it possible to get practicum credit for work and/or life experiences?
- Who establishes the practicum site and approves the Practicum Instructor?
There are two separate processes for practicum placement, one for the Foundation year and another for the Concentration year. Details about these processes can be found in Chapter 6, Assignment of Students to Field Placement.
The Practicum Office makes an effort to place students in agencies where they will maximize their learning needs. However, the Practicum Office cannot make guarantees.
Health care, mental health, family and aging services are increasingly community based. Therefore, many placements require students to have a car to perform field assignments such as client outreach, home visits, and community work. It is to the student’s advantage to have a vehicle, if possible. Not having a car does limit practicum placement options. The student without a car may have to compromise her educational learning needs to be accommodated.
It may be possible for students to be placed near a desired location depending upon the availability of placement opportunities that have been or could be approved by the Practicum Office.
It is possible to propose such an option. However, there are strengths and weaknesses associated with such a placement that should be discussed prior to any written proposal submitted to the Practicum Office. Refer to Chapter 9, Practicum Policies and Procedures, Agency of Employment as a Practicum Setting. The Practicum Office will attempt to work with students to complete their work requirements, but in no way will the educational objectives of the practicum experience be compromised.
The Foundation and Concentration practicum require a minimum of 16 clock hours per week for two semesters. In the Concentration practicum, students can take up to a maximum of 5 credits per semester with the approval of the Practicum Office. For each additional credit over the minimum 3 credits, a total of 75 clock hours will be added to the practicum that semester. The Practicum Office will attempt to work with students to complement their work requirements, but in no way will the educational objectives of the practicum experience be compromised. Also see Question #7 below.
The Practicum Office is continually searching for these types of placements in the community that also meet the criteria of a well-supervised practicum. The Practicum Office requires the student to provide at minimum 8 clock hours of the required 16 clock hours per week during normal practicum agency business hours. All evening and/or weekend hours are scarce. Therefore, the student needs to be willing to work with the Practicum Office to create a workable schedule for practicum.
Yes, but only in the Concentration Year Practicum. The Concentration Practicum requires a minimum of 16 clock hours per week. Additional credits can be added, with the approval of the Practicum Office, for a maximum of 5 credits per semester. For each additional credit a total of 75 clock hours will be added to the practicum that semester.
An academic advisor is a member of the Myron B. Thompson School of Social Work faculty who advises students on academic matters which typically includes course planning and registration. A Practicum Instructor is an agency staff member who possesses a MSW from a CSWE accredited social work degree program and who provides direct educational supervision and evaluation of the student at the practicum setting.
Foundation and Concentration students are placed in one agency for the entire academic year. Students may remain at the same agency for both their Foundation and Concentration practicums if the educational/learning opportunities are different and the agency meets the requirements for advanced practice practicums. These requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the Practicum Office.
Establishing a learning environment in a social work agency is a continual process. Changing a practicum setting is not a simple decision or solution. Refer to Chapter 8, Termination of Practicum Site.
While the Practicum Office strongly encourages agencies to offer stipends, the agencies that do so vary and the decision is entirely up to the agency. Stipend amounts vary from as little as several hundred dollars per semester to $15,000 per academic year with conditions of employment upon graduation. Agencies may receive grants that allow the agency to give the student a small amount of funds. Students can discuss stipend availability with the Practicum Office.
Occasionally students will obtain employment with practicum agencies following graduation. Students can seek assistance from Career Services Office (SSC 212) on the UHM campus which provides such services as resume critics, career counseling, job listings, etc; to assist them in seeking employment. There are also employment opportunities posted on the bulletin board at the Myron B. Thompson School of Social Work.
Accreditation standards set by the Council on Social Work Education prohibits the awarding of academic credit for life or work experience.
The Practicum Office is charged with the development and approval of all practicum settings and instructors. Students are not permitted to develop practicum sites on their own. The Practicum Office will follow up on instructor and site prospects referred by the student and the community at-large.
