Practicum and Practicum Planning Information

Learn more about the MSW Practicum process at UNE Online

Practicum is the opportunity for students to integrate their coursework into a real-life practice situation. Students will have the opportunity to learn about local resources, network in the community and develop and hone clinical skills.

Traditional track MSW students will complete two practicums in their local community. (Generalist year practicum is 400 hours and specialization year clinical practicum is 500 for a total of 900 hours). Students admitted as advanced standing will complete just one specialization year clinical practicum at the end of their academic course work. 

We now offer three practicum models to our students:

Traditional Practicum
32 weeks   |   Seminar and In-Agency

Block Practicum
16 weeks   |   Seminar and In-Agency

S.O.S. (Simulation and Onsite Model) Practicum
16 weeks   |   Seminar and Virtual Simulation​​​
16 weeks   |   Seminar and In-Agency

Read More: Learn more about the new S.O.S. practicum option

You will be responsible to research, locate and initiate this practicum, but will be supported in this process by a UNE Practicum Faculty.

You will begin the process of working with a UNE Practicum Faculty several months before you enter your practicum(s). The practicum planning process is set up to support you in your search, answer questions, and guide you in paperwork to approve your practicum setting and learning opportunities. The planning process has set deadlines that must be met in order for the student to move into their practicum.

The generalist year practicum will occur at the end of the generalist academic course work. The specialization year clinical practicum will be the final requirement that you will complete in the program.

Unlike your academic courses which allow you to be in any location, your practicum will require you to be on-site at the agency.

  • During the generalist year practicum, students engage in generalist social work. This means doing tasks such as case management, program review, assessments, crisis intervention etc. (This is not a complete list)
  • During the specialization clinical practicum, students will engage in clinical social work practice such as therapy, biopsychosocial assessments, diagnosing, treatment planning as well as other agency and community based activities. (This is not a complete list)

Many of our students have questions about how the practicum(s) may impact their current employment and life.  Most students do continue to work as they enter the practicum with some adjustments to their current schedule. Adding the required minimum number of weekly practicum hours each week to an already full schedule will require flexibility, time management and a lot of support

Read More: Read FAQs about our Practicum and Practicum Planning process

 

Questions?

If you have any questions about application requirements, the coursework or program requirements, please speak to one of our enrollment counselors at the email or phone number below.