MSW Practicum Education

Overview

The Practicum Education Office at the University of Kansas School of Social Welfare works with community agencies throughout Kansas and Missouri to provide practicum opportunities for Master of Social Work (MSW) students.

Students are placed in agencies through a collaborative process among the Practicum Education Office, the student and the agency.

The Practicum Education Office works closely with students and agencies to secure enriching practicum experiences that provide the appropriate learning opportunities for students and qualified practicum instructor availability for the student.

MSW Practicum Details

Traditional MSW Practicum

Traditional MSW students have two practicum placements: one during the generalist year (first year) and one during the specialization year (second year).

• Each placement is for two consecutive semesters, 14 credit hours a year. 
• During the first year, students will spend 16 clock hours a week for a total of 416 hours at their practicum (from the end of August through April). 
• During the specialization year, students will spend 16 clock hours a week for a total of 512 hours at their practicum (from the end of August through April). 
• In both years, the practicum is concurrent with required practice courses.

Practicum is graded on an S/U basis. A satisfactory (S) grade in both the foundation and advanced level practicum is a requirement for the MSW degree. At the end of the first semester, a grade of P is given for satisfactory progress toward completion of the course. No credit is given for partial completion (fewer than 14 credit hours) of either practicum.

Generalist Year

The generalist year practicum provides the necessary learning opportunities for the achievement of the generalist curriculum objectives and the development of a generalist perspective on practice. 

Typical agency settings for the generalist year include:

• Community mental health centers
• Child welfare offices
• Long-term care facilities
• Juvenile justice and/or corrections settings

Specialization Year

The specialization year practicum provides the learning opportunities essential for completing the objectives of either the clinical or macro specializations.

Clinical specialization practicum is linked to integrative seminars in the following fields of practice, children and families, health/mental health, or aging. 

Typical settings for clinical MSW students include:

• Mental and behavioral health centers
• Hospitals
• Hospice programs
• Schools
• Family resource programs

The macro practicum provides more in-depth experience in program development, outcome evaluation, policy analysis, personnel issues and budgeting/grant-writing. Students are placed in agencies of all sizes to learn managerial and advocacy skills. 

Typical macro practicum settings range from small nonprofit agencies to state, regional and federal organizations.

Advanced Standing MSW Practicum

Advanced Standing MSW students have one practicum placement. 

• Advanced Standing practicum placement lasts for two consecutive semesters or 14 credit hours for the year.
• The advanced level practicum requires 16 clock hours a week over two semesters for 512 hours at their practicum (from the end of August through April). 
• The practicum is concurrent with required practice courses. 

Practicum is graded on an S/U basis. A satisfactory (S) grade is a requirement for the MSW degree. At the end of the first semester, a grade of P is given for satisfactory progress toward completion of the course. No credit is given for partial completion (fewer than 14 credit hours) of either practicum.

Clinical Specialization

The clinical practicum provides more in-depth direct practice experience with individuals, families, and groups. Students in the clinical specialization commit to one of the following fields of practice:

• Children and families (with a focus on school social work available)
• Health/Mental Health (including social work in health care and mental health)
• Aging

Typical practicum settings for clinical-level MSW students include:

• Mental and behavioral health centers
• Hospitals
• Hospice programs
• Schools
• Family resource programs

Macro Specialization

The macro specialization practicum provides more in-depth experience in program development, outcome evaluation, policy analysis, personnel issues and budgeting/grant-writing. Students are placed in agencies of all sizes to learn managerial and advocacy skills. 

Typical macro practicum settings range from small nonprofit agencies to state, regional and federal organizations.

Practicum Placements

The Practicum Education Office arranges all placements. 

Students should not contact agencies directly to plan for practicum placement without explicit authorization from the Practicum Education Office. 

Every effort is made to locate a placement within a one-hour drive from the student's home. Students are responsible for transportation to the assigned practicum. Most agencies also require a student to have transportation available for agency assignments.

Practicum Planning

Students participate directly in planning for practicum by completing the online planning survey and submitting it to the Practicum Education Office by the due dates listed in the admissions information and the planning calendars in the Practicum Education Handbook. 

If practicum planning information is not provided in a timely manner, placement will be delayed until the next planning cycle. This is likely to result in a delayed graduation date. 

The Practicum Education Office will consider student interests in fields of practice, client populations, and social problems in matching a student with a practicum agency.

Learn more in the Practicum Planning FAQ.

Practicum Orientation

An orientation is held in the fall, before the beginning of classes, for all students entering a practicum and the practicum liaisons who represent the school. Students are responsible for the material in the Practicum Education Handbook. Upon request, a printed copy may be obtained through the KU Bookstore for a fee.

Practicum Instruction

Every student in practicum has both a practicum instructor and a practicum liaison. 

The practicum instructor is a BSW or MSW graduate with two or more years of social work experience and is typically an employee in the practicum agency where the student is assigned. The instructor is responsible for providing supervision, overseeing the student’s learning opportunities, and planning practicum assignments. 

The practicum liaison is employed by the School of Social Welfare to work with practicum instructors and students in each agency, to help integrate practicum with class instruction, to evaluate student performance, and to assist if difficulties arise.

Practicum Schedule

Because of the necessity for continuity in client service and learning, the maximum time for a break between semesters in practicum is three weeks, regardless of time allowable according to the University calendar.