Practicum PLACEMENT

Students do not arrange their own placements. Your practicum placement is a significant part of your academic record and, as such, should originate from SP2’s Practicum Education Office. Practicum staff work in conjunction with practice faculty, practicum liaisons, and students to ensure that practicum experiences will support academic coursework and enhance professional growth.

For the Foundation Year (1st year) and Advanced Standing students, the Practicum Education Office reviews incoming students’ background, experience, and areas of interest to match students with agencies. Staff members use this information to make thoughtful decisions regarding where to place students. Students are notified of their placement by the Practicum Education Office.

Advanced (2nd year) students begin the process of securing their placement in January of their Foundation year (1st year). This group of students meets in-person with their practicum liaison in consultation with the Practicum Education Office to choose agencies and areas of practice for their Advanced Year placement. The Practicum Education Office provides a wide selection of placement options to consider.

Students in all program options are invited to share their interest in pursuing a placement at their employment site with the MSW Practicum Education Office. Students interested in continuing in an approved employment-based placement or students who become unemployed in an organization where practicum education has co-occurred with employment, should contact the Practicum Education Office for guidance. Policies pertaining to employment-based placements are explained to students and practicum personnel during the practicum planning period.

For an employment site to be a successful placement, the following are required:

• You must have been employed for at least 6 months and have passed the probationary period.
• You must have a new supervisor for the hours dedicated to your placement, to distinguish practicum education supervision from employment supervision.
• You must be assigned to a new area of practice and new responsibilities in your agency for the hours dedicated to your placement, to distinguish practicum learning from employment.
• Practicum assignments must be directly linked to the nine social work competencies and level of practice (generalist/foundation year or specialized clinical or specialized macro year).
• If a student becomes unemployed from the organization where practicum education has co-occurred, the MSW Practicum Education Office will meet with the student to review the circumstances and determine the next steps for placement at the organization, placement at another organization, or in situations involving student performance, further consultation according to MSW Practicum Education policies related to student performance.

Students will receive a written evaluation of their performance in their placement each semester of both years. Each student will receive a performance evaluation completed by their practicum site instructor toward the end of each semester. The evaluation aligns with the competencies required by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Practicum performance is evaluated in terms of Pass, Marginal Pass, or Fail. This practicum evaluation is factored into grades for social work practice courses: SWRK 6040, SWRK 6140, SWRK 7040, SWRK 7140, SWRK 7080, and SWRK 7180.

Students also complete a Learning Contract with their practicum instructor at the start of each semester. The Learning Contract focuses on the students’ learning goals and aligns with the practice course objectives and the CSWE competencies.

Some agencies require flexible work hours and/or days. FBI, Criminal Background, and/or Child Abuse clearances may be required. Occasionally a car for travel is required. Some agencies state that foreign language skills are beneficial for a successful placement experience.

Part-time students complete 16 hours per week in their practicum placements. In the Foundation Year, part-time students are in practicum from September through June. In the Advanced Year, part-time students complete their hours from August through the end of the Spring Semester. During both years, at least 8 of the 16 hours must be completed during the same day each week according to traditional business hours.

All first-year Foundation placements must include supervision by someone who has an MSW degree. There are a limited number of circumstances in the foundation year where SP2 provides contracted MSW supervision. In the second year, SP2 offers an Integrative Seminar for students who are supervised by a supervisor who does not hold an MSW degree. No licensure is required for MSW supervision. Supervisors without an MSW must hold a Master’s degree in a related field.

It is expected that students will interview at their sites before they are accepted for placement. Some agencies are agreeable to phone or video interviews for students who are unable to interview in person due to geographical distance. Students are expected to prepare for these interviews in the same manner as a job interview. The Practicum Education Office is available by request to support students in preparation.

The Practicum Education Office takes into consideration whether students have their own car or will require the use of public transportation to their agency. Students who do not have a car are expected to utilize public transportation. The Practicum Education Office considers a commute of up to 60 minutes each way by any form of transportation to be appropriate.

The MSW Program at the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy & Practice is based in Philadelphia. The Practicum Education Office offers opportunities for placements in the Greater Philadelphia Tri-State Region. This area includes parts of Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New Jersey. The Practicum Education Office cannot guarantee that a placement outside of this area can be secured.