SOWK-450 Senior Practicum in Social Work

Please note that this syllabus is intended as an example only. It may not exactly match each session of the class offered.

Download Field Manual for full requirements and descriptions

Practicum Objectives

The general goals for both the Junior and the Senior Practica involve the application and integration of course material and previous learning to actual settings in the field. Educational objectives address the areas of professional identity, knowledge, and skills, and are demonstrated via various cognitive, affective, and behavioral criteria.

Upon successful completion of the Senior Practicum experience, the student will:

Professional Identity

1. Clarify and assess own goals, interests, issues, abilities, and limitations. Development of career goals will be consistent with these insights.
2. Convey respect and appreciation for the dignity and worth of culturally diverse individuals, groups and communities.
3. Function effectively within the interpersonal dynamics of the field site in order to build appropriate professional relationships with colleagues and supervisors in the field site.
4. Utilize assertive communication with colleagues and supervisors in the e. field.
5. Evaluate own practice and professional conduct, seeking consultation as needed.
6. Develop a sense of belongingness within the social work profession.
7. Demonstrate self-confidence in a beginning social work role.

Skills

1. Apply social work ethics to interactions with clients and decision-making in social work practice.
2. Demonstrate competence of the following course content areas at an entry level: assessment, goal-setting, interventions, and evaluation.
3. Master interviewing skills needed for entry-level generalist practice.
4. Develop confidence and comfort in networking within the social services system.
5. Demonstrate written skills needed for in-depth assessments and projects in addition to standard agency documentation.
6. Utilize a strengths perspective with clients, particularly those from oppressed groups.
7. Demonstrate appropriate use of self in developing effective client-worker relationships.

Knowledge

1. Demonstrate comprehension of the functioning and components of the specific practicum site.
2. Be able to assess the effectiveness of human service systems in meeting human needs.
3. Develop a more comprehensive knowledge base of community services for agency’s client populations and others as well.
4. Integrate various theories and other diverse academic course content in the development of a holistic generalist perspective.
5. Comprehend the significance of social change in addressing issues which impact client populations, and discuss alternative approaches to achieving social change.
6. Demonstrate knowledge of various system levels of micro, mezzo and macro practice.