Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Yes! A team of Field Education Coordinators supports students with the process of securing a practicum. Each student is assigned a Field Education Coordinator who will connect with students prior to their practicum and outline the practicum placement process.  It is important for students to keep an open mind as they move towards practicum and consider different learning opportunities.

Different practicum options are available to students. They include agency hosted practicum, workplace practicum, research practicum and supervised, self-directed practicum. For more information about these options students can see descriptions in the Field Education Manual  starting on page 9.

The team in the Office of Field Education works hard to support the success of practicum experiences for all students.  Each student is assigned a Field Education Coordinator who will provide a detailed process to help you find a practicum specific to your program.  For students who are located outside of Alberta it is not feasible for our team to provide you with a list of placements available. With the support of their Field Education Coordinator, and following the established process, students outside of Alberta will need to look within their community to see what possibilities exist.

International practicums may be an option for interested MSW students only in the International and Community Development specialization in their Advanced Practicum. This dependent on the location, scope of practice, timeframe, and supervision availability.  Students will be informed by their Advanced Practicum Field Education Coordinator about opportunities available internationally. It is important to note that international practicums require additional time to prepare for and costs, so it is important for students to identify early in the practicum coordination process if they would like to pursue this route.  All international practicums must be approved in collaboration with the Faculty of Social Work and UC International Office. Funding to support students pursuing international practicum is not guaranteed.

 (total hours and days per week)

Foundational Field Practicum:

• The Foundational Practicum course requires students to complete 450 placement hours. Regular integrative seminars (facilitated by the Faculty Liaison) are part of the practicum course, and time spent in seminar counts as practicum hours.

Advanced Practicum:

• The Advanced Practicum course requires students to successfully complete a minimum of 500 placement hours.  Some placements may require additional hours (up to 600 hours).  Integrative seminar hours do not count as practicum hours.
  • 20-40 hours per week

Students are not typically entitled to receive a wage or salary from the agency hosting their practicum. The agency may reimburse expenses the student incurs while completing practicum responsibilities (e.g., travel) in accordance with the regular policies of the agency concerning reimbursement. Any other arrangements should be drawn to the attention of the Field Education Coordinator/Associate Director of Field Education.

(For example – complete practicum in just Fall semester at a higher volume of hours per week, rather than complete over Fall/Winter at a lesser volume of hours per week)

• Students in the Foundational Field Practicum (SOWK 633) complete approximately 32 hours per week for the Winter semester.  Students are also enrolled in other course so there is no opportunity to accelerate the practicum hours.
• Students in the Advanced Practicum (SOWK 660) can accelerate the completion of their practicum hours, to a maximum of 40 hours per week, if this is an agreement reached with their Field Instructor and does not conflict with the student’s other scheduled classes. All Advanced Practicums (SOWK 660) must start in September. Any adjustments to hours after a practicum placement and schedule have been confirmed should be drawn to the attention of the Field Education Coordinator and Faculty Liaison. It is not possible to accelerate completion of the Foundational Field Practicum.

Yes.

For Foundation Practicum students (SOWK 633), seminar is integrated in the practicum hours and attendance is required even if students have completed their practicum hours.

For Advanced Practicum students, Integrative seminar (SOWK 662) is a separate course from practicum which is facilitated and graded by your Faculty Liaison. Students need to complete the full length of the integrative seminar course, regardless of when they complete their practicum hours.

A members of the field education team will connect with students at the appropriate time to begin the practicum search and placement process. Field Education Coordinators will inform students of the timeline, process and next steps they should take.  We ask that students do not reach out to agencies individually as many organizations require our Field Education Team to make the initial outreach for students as part of their agency policy. Our Field Education Team also has connections and established long-standing relationships with many partners in areas where we have placed before that it is best for us to work through to explore upcoming opportunities. If students have a specific agency in mind, they are encouraged to discuss this with their Field Education Coordinator to determine next steps for exploring the opportunity rather than reaching out to the agency directly..