MSW Field Calendar

MSW Practicum Education Calendar: 2023-2024 Academic Year 

+Deadlines for evaluations to be completed and submitted by Practicum instructors and task instructors.

*Students are excused from Practicum on Federal Holidays listed above. Agency holidays will also be observed by students. Any modification of the Practicum calendar schedule must be approved in advance by the Practicum instructor and task instructor.

**Practicum Education resumes on January 8, 2024 after the Winter Recess. Classes resume on January 16, 2024.

***Students may be required to work during MSU’s Spring Recess per the agency’s discretion or observe the agency break in lieu of MSU’s Practicum Education Recess.

Practicum Placement Confirmation Form: Upon verbal confirmation that a student has been offered and accepted a Practicum placement opportunity, the student must submit a Practicum Confirmation Form (signed by the agency and the student) to the Practicum Education Department. If a student is completing an employment-based Practicum placement, there will be additional tasks to complete on the form. The submission of the signed form finalizes the Practicum placement assignment for the student. Either form can be found in Tevera within the site placement process.

MSW Practicum Education Orientation: All students are required to attend a Practicum orientation workshop prior to the start of the fall semester and before reporting to their assigned agencies. The orientation is mandatory for all MSW students entering Practicum. Students must contact the Practicum Education Director in advance if they are unable to attend the mandatory Practicum orientation due to a documented excused absence. In such instances, students will be assigned a make-up Practicum orientation session. Students who miss both the mandatory Practicum orientation and the make-up orientation will be deferred for Practicum until the following academic year. Students may not begin their Practicum placement until they have attended an orientation.

Practicum Hours: Students are responsible for ensuring that they have completed the required number of Practicum education hours. First year, generalist students intern for 15 hours per week. A minimum of 210 hours per semester must accrued, totaling to a minimum of 420 hours at the end of the academic year. Second year/specialized practice and advanced standing students intern for 21 hours per week. A minimum of 300 hours per semester must accrued, totaling to a minimum of 600 hours at the end of the academic year. All students must remain in their Practicum placement until the last day of Practicum as indicated in the Practicum calendar. If a student exceeds the required hours by the end of the academic year, no additional credit will be awarded for those hours. Practicum hours will be reported in Tevera. Students should have completed a minimum of 1,000 hours of Practicum at the end of their two years of Practicum placements. Advanced standing students should have accrued a minimum of 600 hours at the end of their Practicum placement.

Federal Holidays & Religious Observances: If an agency is closed for a federal holiday, students should plan to make up those hours later in the semester, in consultation with the Practicum Instructor and/or Task Instructor. If a student is observing a religious holiday and is unable to attend their Practicum placement on their scheduled day, students should notify their Practicum Instructor and Task Instructor in advance. Students should also plan to make up those hours later in consultation with the Practicum Instructor and/or Task Instructor.

Learning Contract: All students in Practicum complete a Learning Contract with their Practicum Instructor and Task Instructor (if applicable) at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters. The Learning Contract allows the student, as well as the Practicum and/or Task Instructor, to plan collaboratively for the assignments and the learning to be accomplished during the year. The Learning Contract creates a roadmap of expectations for both the student and the agency. It should be specific and measurable, and be used as the basis for the end of semester evaluation. The Learning Contract incorporates the nine core social work competencies detailed by the CSWE. The learning contract is completed in Tevera by the student, Practicum instructor, and task instructor, if applicable.

Site Visits: The Practicum Seminar Instructor will serve as a Practicum liaison for the program and make at least two site visits during the academic year. One site visit will be conducted during the fall semester, and an additional site visit will be conducted during the spring semester. During the site visit, discussions will focus on student’s progress, the learning contract, application of theory and classroom material to practice, identification of problem areas and related topics. The student, Practicum Instructor, and Task Instructor are invited to the site visit.

Midterm and Final Evaluations: At the end of each semester, a Practicum evaluation is completed for every student. The evaluation is initially completed by the Practicum Instructor, with input from the Task Instructor, if applicable, and Practicum Seminar Instructor. The evaluation is based on these required competencies, as well as the specific assignments detailed in the Learning Contract. Evaluations are completed in Tevera.

Please review the Practicum Education Manual for additional information.