Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The Community Engaged Practicum is Experiential Learning for University Transfer students in the Fall and Winter semesters of the 3^rd year. These learning opportunities will take place in the classroom and in the community, guided by an instructor who also provides important social work supervision to this experience. This learning may include mini-credentialing, workshops, community activism and service, or developing connections to communities.

Flexibility and learner-directed activities! Students will have the opportunity to identify activities that fit within their interests, lived experience, existing relationships and learning needs and goals.

The fall term component, the preparation seminar, is a graded course and its assignments are designed to prepare you for future learning activities in the winter term, and then ultimately for your Final Practicum.  

The total amount of practicum hours will be 300. 100 of these hours will be completed in the fall term through the preparation seminar’s assignments. The balance of the 200 hours will be completed in the winter term under the social work supervision of your instructor.

Students are not required to complete any preparation before they begin the community engaged practicum. 

Yes, the intent is to prepare you for the learning activities ahead in SOWK 392.

Wednesdays and Thursday have been set aside in your curriculum plans to be available for completing your practicum activities. However, if you have activities that you plan to complete at other times when you are NOT in a class, you may do so.

Students who have previous, related experience that includes social work supervision may be able to apply for Credit by Special Assessment for SOWK 392 only. Eligible students will apply for Credit by Special Assessment the fall term during SOWK 390 and will need to show knowledge and skills typically gained during practicum through prior experience. Students will still need to register and pay fees for SOWK 392 even if a prior learning assessment is granted.  

Eligibility 

Two years of human service experience supervised directly by a BSW social work supervisor, in the past five years. Proof of social work supervision will be provided through the reference form provided. Relevant experience includes paid employment or volunteer experience. Please note you cannot use previous practicum experience. 

Timing  

Students are required to notify the Director of Field Education and their instructor for SOWK 390 of their plan to complete SOWK 392 through the credit by special assessment process. The deadline to verify eligibility is October 15. Students will demonstrate foundational social work knowledge and skills through their past experience and social work supervision. For more information about relevant experience please visit this link.

The final practicum, provides all students with 400 hours of supervised social work practice through four distinct pathways. These pathways emphasize the development of core social work skills, effective supervision, reflective practice, and the integration of values and ethics. Students can engage in placements across various settings, such as agencies, research, and self-directed initiatives.

Students must complete 400 hours in the final practicum and these are scheduled in your timetable to be Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday for full days. It is important to make plans and arrangements early on in your program to accommodate that final practicum. You will need to plan for 32 hours per week. 

Yes, they are co-requisites and the seminar supports your learning in the Final Practicum.

Yes! A team of field education coordinators is here and provides a process to help you find a practicum. It is important to keep an open mind as you move towards practicum and these exciting learning opportunities.

Typically, students do not receive a wage or salary. However, agencies may reimburse expenses incurred during practicum responsibilities. Payment may occur in a workplace practicum if the agency policy permits this or in a research practicum with an honorarium.