Frequently Asked Questions for Students

The Community Engaged Practicum (CEP) is 300 hours of experiential learning for all students who don’t have an Alberta Social Work Diploma in the Fall and Winter semesters of the 3^rd year of the Bachelor of Social Work. This practicum emphasizes the development of generalist social work skills, professional identity, reflective practice, and self-care strategies through direct engagement in macro social work practice, professional credentialing, seminar-based instruction, and supervision by an instructor who serves in dual roles as both field instructor (practicum supervisor) and classroom teacher.

The Community Engaged Practicum is a student-centred and community-grounded approach. It offers greater flexibility and creates opportunities for students to identify and engage in practicum activities that fit within their interests, lived experience, existing relationships, and learning needs and goals.

In Fall term, SOWK 390 is a graded course and its assignments are designed to prepare, support, and guide students in their practicum activities, skill development, and reflective practice. In the Winter term, completion of SOWK 392 is on a pass/fail basis.

The total number of practicum hours during SOWK 390 and 392 is 300 hours.

100 of these hours will be completed in the Fall term (SOWK 390). The balance of 200 hours will be completed in the Winter term (SOWK 392). These hours include macro practice, micro-credentialing, supervision, reflective practice, self and collective care, and seminar. All hours are guided under the social work supervision of your instructor. 

In the Fall term (SOWK 390), the weekly time commitment is 3 hours per week in class and 6–9 hours outside of class for practicum activities. In the Winter term (SOWK 392), the weekly time commitment is 3 hours per week in class and 14–15 hours outside of class for practicum activities.

Macro social work practice focuses on large-scale, systemic, and structural change. Macro practice practicum activities engage students in applied social work practice to address complex social issues and drive change at the community, organizational, and systems levels. Students may contribute to ongoing or new initiatives through the development of practical resources and concrete deliverables, such as policy analyses, advocacy resources, educational materials, needs assessments, environmental scans, community resource guides, awareness campaigns, or reports.  

Macro practice pathways will account for approximately 125 of the total 300 practicum hours (30 hours in the Fall term and 95 hours in the Winter term). 

Yes, a group practicum model can be part of the macro practice. 

During the Community Engaged Practicum (Fall and Winter terms) you will engage in a total of 80 hours of professional training, workshops, or certificates. Some examples may include Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), Indigenous Canada, Brain Story, or Trauma-Informed Care. You will be provided with a Social Work Professional Development Resources document with a list of possible learning activities. Students may opt to complete some micro-credentials or certificates for a fee that support their practicum learning. Costs for these opportunities vary but are generally modest and are not required for successful completion of the course (as there are multiple free options available). 

The assignments in the Community Engaged Practicum include the completion and updating of a Learning Agreement and timesheets throughout the practicum and an Integrative Theory-to-Practice (ITP) Loop. The assignments are designed to prepare, support, and guide students in their practicum activities, skill development, and reflective practice.

Students are not required to complete any preparation before they begin the Community Engaged Practicum. 

Yes, SOWK 392 continues and builds on the learning and practicum activities completed in SOWK 390.

During the Community Engaged Practicum, Wednesdays and Thursdays have been set aside in your curriculum plans to be available for completing your practicum activities. However, the Community Engaged Practicum offers some flexibility and you may have the opportunity to complete activities at other times when you are not in a class, if you wish to do so.

For your Final Practicum (SOWK 590), practicum is scheduled in your timetable to be Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays for full days.

The Community Engaged Practicum includes three milestones (initial, midterm, and final evaluation). These are important indicators of learning progress. At any point that there are concerns, please contact your SOWK 390 and 392 instructor.

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 during the Fall term during SOWK 390 and will need to demonstrate the development of knowledge and skills typically gained during practicum through prior experience. Students will still need to register and pay fees for SOWK 392 even if Credit by Special Assessment is granted.  

Eligibility for Credit by Special Assessment

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

Timing to apply for Credit by Special Assessment

Students are required to notify the Director of Field Education and their instructor in 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 (SOWK 590) 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 (SOWK 590) and these are scheduled in your timetable to be Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays 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 Final Integrative Seminar (SOWK 592) supports your learning in the Final Practicum (SOWK 592).

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

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.