SW 695A - Social Work Practicum I

Units: 4
Students in Field Practicum courses are assigned to community-based placements applying the knowledge, skills, and values learned within program courses. Field education is guided by an individualized learning contract developed by the student and the field instructor. Seminar Units: 2; Practicum Units: 2

Prerequisites: M.S.W. major.
Possible Instructional Methods: Hybrid.
Grading: CR/NC grading only.
Student Learning Outcomes - Upon successful completion of this course students will be able to:

Students will demonstrate an introductory understanding of social work ethics and values (PLO: Values and Ethics).
Students will demonstrate an ability to assess their own learning needs and styles, and begin to embrace their responsibility for the development of professional competence and identity (PLO: Professional Use of Self).
Students will be introduced to the process of supervision and establish an understanding of the use of self in interviewing, assessment, engagement, planning, intervention and evaluation phases of evidence-based practice with individuals and families (PLOs: Professional Use of Self; Communication)
Students will become familiar with their professional roles as mandated reporters and the concomitant responsibilities (PLO: Professional Use of Self).
Students will gain an initial understanding of the processes of critical thinking, problem solving, decision-making, and interactive skills as used in a professional strength-based social work practice, within an urban, community-based context (PLO: Critical Thinking/Applying Theory to Practice).
Students will develop initial applied skills using a generalist practice perspective, such as interviewing, documentation, assessment, engagement, planning, intervention and evaluation (PLO: Critical Thinking/Applying Theory to Practice).
Students will begin to apply theoretical frameworks studied in the core foundation courses to their initial cases, interventions, and agency observations (PLO: Critical Thinking/Applying Theory to Practice).
Students will begin to understand the concept of cultural competence by working with individuals from different cultural backgrounds. Students will work with cultural groups other than their own (PLOs: Professional Use of Self, Communication, Diversity).
Students will explore roles of advocate and broker for vulnerable populations, in the context of a philosophy that values self-determination and empowerment (PLOs: Advocacy; Diversity).
Students will demonstrate their communication and writing skills in seminar, as well as learn to maintain organized and timely documentation in their agency placements (PLOs: Communication; Critical Thinking/Applying Theory to Practice).