Welcome to Practicum Education
The Social Work Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS) designates practicum education as the “signature pedagogy” in social work education. The practicum experience socializes students into the profession and helps them learn how to perform the role of a social work practitioner in an agency setting. During the practicum experience, Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) and Master of Social Work (MSW) students connect what is learned in the classroom to the practice environment at their agency. Practicum requirements are responsive to the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)’s accreditation standards.
During practicum, students complete a variety of tasks under the supervision of agency staff (practicum instructor and/or task supervisor). These tasks may include, but are not limited to:
- Conducting intakes and psychosocial assessments
- Facilitating groups
- Community outreach
- Providing mental health and substance use counseling (MSW only)
- Advocating for clients and policy change
- Participating in case conferences and team meetings
- Working on grant proposals
- Developing needs assessments
- Analyzing how policy impacts services
- Completing special projects
We encourage prospective students, current students, and community agency staff to learn more about the practicum education at the links below.