Master of Social Work (MSW) - Practicum Education

Practicum Education

Practicum Education is recognized by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) as the "signature pedagogy" of social work education. The CSUN MSW Practicum Education Program must adhere to the CSWE's Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS). The CSUN MSW Program emphasizes the importance of practicing from an anti-racist, anti-oppressive, and trauma informed lens. The program focus is multicultural, multiracial and supports human systems through the helping process.

Practicum Education is comprised of a 1-unit Practicum Education Seminar and a 2-unit Practicum Education Internship. The three units are connected and both courses are embedded in the MSW program. Successful completion of the units is required to matriculate through graduation. The internship experience is an extension of the other academic courses and practicum education seminar. The internship experience occurs at community agencies and organizations that are officially affiliated with the CSUN MSW Practicum Education Program and meet the mandated criteria set forth by CSWE.

The internship is designed to provide a challenge to the student, exposing them to myriad social work practice opportunities. The internship experience allows students to be instructed in the three levels of practice (micro, mezzo, and macro). It provides students with the opportunity to apply social work skills and knowledge learned in both the generalist and specialized advanced years in the effort to prepare students as professional social workers. Additionally, the internship provides students an opportunity to reflect on their learning and to experiment and build confidence in the skills they are developing during the experience. The practicum internship is an integral part of the preparation process for students entering into the social work profession and allows them to develop a range of social work skills, techniques, and strategies suitable for use in various practice settings, with a variety of cultural, ethnic, and racial groups.

The Practicum Education Program makes considerable effort to assign students to an appropriate internship. If a suitable placement cannot be identified and retained for the MSW student, the student's matriculation through the program may be delayed. Concurrent enrollment in practicum internship and academic classes is required. Attending academic classes without having a practicum internship is not a program option unless the student is enrolled in a three-year cohort.

The students in the first year of the MSW program are assigned to their internship by the Practicum Education team. Internship assignments are made to enhance the student's learning based on their prior experience and knowledge. Under the direction of the Practicum Education Instructor, and guided by the Practicum Education Liaison, students build foundational social work skillsets to prepare them for the specialized advanced year in Practicum Education. Students will be introduced to the specialized advanced year placement process at the end of the Fall semester.

The Practicum Education Program makes every attempt to place students at sites that are within a 90-minute commute from their place of residence. Students are strongly encouraged to have access to reliable and readily available transportation (ie: car, public transportation, rideshare service) to meet practicum internship expectations.

Students living in remote areas (smaller cities/counties) will have a different internship placement process. These students will:

1. more than likely have extended travel time to the internship site
2. have limited internship options
3. more likely have limited internship choices in their second-year placement process

We strongly encourage students to arrange their life and work schedule to incorporate the internship requirements. Students must be available to complete internship hours during regular business hours, Monday - Friday, 8am - 6pm. Evening and weekend internship hours cannot be accommodated due to the agency's hours of operation and availability of a professional social worker being on site to monitor the internship experience.

Each academic year, the practicum education program may have the opportunity to contract with one to two agencies that may be able to accommodate a flexible schedule, but this is NOT guaranteed.

Applicants/students may not pursue their own practicum internships and must not contact an agency until referred by the CSUN Practicum Education Program.

Practicum Education Internship Expectations and Requirements

To meet the Practicum Education Program learning goals and CSWE accreditation standards, the Practicum Education Program expect students to gain the following experiences during their internship:

1. Complete 16 or 20 hours per week, 450/500 or 600 hours per year (depending on cohort and if 1st or 2nd year internship)
2. Gain experience/developing skills in the following areas, but not limited to:
   
   1. Individual, groups, family
   2. Clinical case management
   3. Crisis intervention
   4. Intake/psycho-social assessments
   5. Macro practice (ie: organizational assessment, program evaluation, program development, grant writing, etc.)

The Practicum Education Program actively recruits agencies that can provide student stipends. Stipends are contingent on agency's annual budget. Therefore, there is no guarantee that student stipends will be available. Information on any available stipends will be sent to eligible students; however, students should not rely on securing a paid or stipend practicum placement.

Students in their specialized advanced year of internship can request a place of employment internship. However, there are specific requirements and guidelines that must be in place for the employment agency to be approved as an internship site.

Student Expectations for Practicum Education Courses:

1. Actively participate in class discussions and activities
2. For online MSW students, live attendance with camera on is mandatory for the Practicum Education seminar
3. Complete and submit all assignments on time
4. Follow Practicum Education guidelines for internship
5. Follow agency policy, protocols, and procedures
6. Be on time for internship, practicum education instruction, and practicum education seminar
7. Adhere to the NASW Code of Ethics
8. Be open to constructive feedback
9. Be pro-active in role as learner; identify learning needs and seek help to meet them
10. Maintain agency standards and practices
11. Immediately share concerns, issues, and/or questions with practicum education instructor and/or practicum education liaison
12. Be self-reflective, take time to process feelings, thoughts, and actions

The student is expected to be an active learner in practicum education courses. Students are strongly encouraged to critically think and integrate information and feedback from the practicum education seminar instructor and agency practicum education instructor.

The student is to demonstrate professional behavior in their role as an MSW intern in the agency setting. To build accurate knowledge about the community served and utilization of community resources, the intern will be socialized to develop a sense of professional identity that include understanding, accepting, and applying professional ethics and values and to develop a sense of awareness to practice from a lens of cultural humility that is trauma informed, anti-oppressive, and anti-racist.

The student is expected to be self-reflective and to develop knowledge about their own attitudes, feelings, and values as it impacts their work with clients. The student must demonstrate integration of professional values and ethics in their practice.

For more information regarding Practicum Education Program can be found on the MSW Student Handbook (2023-2024).