SW 4998 Practicum Practice in Social Work

SW 4998 Practicum Practice in Social Work is a five credit hour internship practicum course for senior-level students in the BSW program. It is repeated for two terms. Internship placements are assigned by the Coordinator of Practicum Education.

WSU mission statement

Wayne State's mission is to create and advance knowledge, prepare a diverse student body to thrive, and positively impact local and global communities.

School of Social Work mission statement

As a school within an urban research university, the mission of the Wayne State University School of Social Work is to transmit, develop, critically examine, and apply knowledge to advance social work practice and social welfare policy in order to promote social, cultural and economic justice for the betterment of poor, vulnerable, and oppressed individuals, families, groups, communities, organizations, and society, by:

preparing ethical and competent social work generalists, advanced practitioners and scholars at the B.S.W., M.S.W., and Ph.D. levels, respectively, with learning that primarily emphasizes urban settings;
conducting research, primarily relevant to urban populations; and
providing innovative leadership and service to the urban community and the profession

Course description

Internship practicum for senior-level students in the BSW program. Coreq: one course per term in social work practice methods; and one course per term in practicum seminar. Minimum of ten credits must be take over not less than two semesters; open only to senior BSW students. Offered for S, M, and U grades only. The ration of clock hours to credits is 46 to 1. Internship placements are assigned by staff within the Office of Practicum Education overseen by the Director of Practicum Education.

Co-requisite: course in social work practice methods and practicum seminar. Open only to senior BSW students. Five (5) credits required for each of two semesters for 10 total credits. Each credit hour equals 46 clock hours. A minimum of 230 clock hours is required in each of the two terms in the senior year for 460 total clock hours.

Course competencies and behaviors

Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior
1. Make ethical decisions by applying the standards of the NASW Code of Ethics, relevant laws and regulations, models for ethical decision-making, ethical conduct of research, and additional codes of ethics as appropriate to context
2. Use reflection and self-regulation to manage personal values and maintain professionalism in practice situations
3. Demonstrate professional demeanor in behavior; appearance; and oral, written, and electronic communication
4. Use technology ethically and appropriately to facilitate practice outcomes
5. Use supervision and consultation to guide professional judgment and behavior
Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice
1. Apply and communicate understanding of the importance of diversity and difference in shaping life experiences in practice at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels
2. Present themselves as learners and engage clients and constituencies as experts of their own experiences
3. Apply self-awareness and self-regulation to manage the influence of personal biases and values in working with diverse clients and constituencies.
Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice
1. Apply their understanding of social, economic, and environmental justice to advocate for human rights at the individual and system levels
2. Engage in practices that advance social, economic, and environmental justice.
Engage in Practice-informed Research and Research-informed Practice
1. Use practice experience and theory to inform scientific inquiry and research
2. Apply critical thinking to engage in analysis of quantitative and qualitative research methods and research findings
3. Use and translate research evidence to inform and improve practice, policy, and service delivery.
Engage in Policy Practice
1. Identify social policy at the local, state, and federal level that impacts well-being, service delivery, and access to social services
2. Assess how social welfare and economic policies impact the delivery of and access to social services
3. Apply critical thinking to analyze, formulate, and advocate for policies that advance human rights and social, economic, and environmental justice.
Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
1. Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, person-in-environment, and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks to engage with clients and constituencies
2. Use empathy, reflection, and interpersonal skills to effectively engage diverse clients and constituencies.
Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
1. Collect and organize data, and apply critical thinking to interpret information from clients and constituencies;
2. Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, person-in-environment, and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks in the analysis of assessment data from clients and constituencies;
3. Develop mutually agreed-on intervention goals and objectives based on the critical assessment of strengths, needs, and challenges within clients and constituencies
4. Select appropriate intervention strategies based on the assessment, research knowledge, and values and preferences of clients and constituencies
Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
1. Critically choose and implement interventions to achieve practice goals and enhance capacities of clients and constituencies
2. Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, person-in-environment, and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks in interventions with clients and constituencies
3. Use inter-professional collaboration as appropriate to achieve beneficial practice outcomes
4. Negotiate, mediate, and advocate with and on behalf of diverse clients and constituencies
5. Facilitate effective transitions and endings that advance mutually agreed-on goals
Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
1. Select and use appropriate methods for evaluation of outcomes
2. Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, person-in-environment, and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks in the evaluation of outcomes
3. Critically analyze, monitor, and evaluate intervention and program processes and outcomes
4. Apply evaluation findings to improve practice effectiveness at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels
Analyze the impact of the urban context on a range of client systems, including practice implications
1. Examine the distinct characteristics of the urban context and apply the analysis to social work practice

Texts and required materials

The Practicum Education Manual, Wayne State University, School of Social Work.

Performance criteria

The outcomes for practicum education in the senior year are:

to learn a variety of interventive methods and techniques for use with individuals, families, small groups and for service delivery and change in organizations, neighborhoods and communities, and
to articulate a framework or frameworks for the differential use of these interventive methods and techniques with at least two social systems levels (individual, family, small groups, organization, neighborhood, community).

Students are introduced to a knowledge, values and conceptual framework in order to increase their ability and ease in working with and on behalf of clients. Students focus on:

analysis, planning
differential use of interventive strategies and techniques
skill development
problem-solving
competency in social work practice

These performance outcomes are directly supported by the content in the junior and senior year courses in social work practice methods and practicum seminars, and the content and sequencing of courses in human behavior and the social environment, social welfare policy and services and in research for social workers.

The optimal senior year assignment combines opportunities to work with individuals, families, small groups, and organizations and communities, with projects planning, designing or coordinating a service, visiting other agencies and observing and participating in agency staff meetings and board meetings.

Grading and assignments

Faculty Practicum Liaisons will provide a detailed syllabus addendum for assignments and requirements, including but not limited to Due Dates for Learning Plan, Process Recordings, Mid-Term evaluation and the PIASC.

Grading Policy

Grades for SW 4998, Practicum Practice in Social Work II, are assigned by the Faculty Practicum Liaison. The marks for this course may be one of the following: S = Satisfactory M = Marginal Pass U = Unsatisfactory.

A mark of "U" results in termination from the program. Two marks of "M" result in termination. A mark of "M" and one grade of "D" in a classroom course in the professional component results in termination. See policies on Academic Termination and Reinstatement for additional information.

Organization of the course

Internship work days are approved combination of days and hours, no less than 4 hour blocks, totaling 16 hours per week for each semester. A semester is 15 weeks. Student must remain in the internship placement for the entire semester even if the minimum clock hours are attained before the end of the semester. Agency hours vary; students are to observe the number of hours considered as an "agency day" at the internship placement site.

Most practicum experiences will consist of:

an orientation
observation
assignment to practice tasks
mid-term review of performance
continuation and refinement of assignment, may include additional tasks
evaluation and recommendations for next term
opportunities for professional development through agency designated workshops, meetings, observations throughout the term

Role of the student and instructor

Students are expected to take charge of their own learning. For additional information about the role of students and instructors and learning process, See Wayne State University's statement of faculty and student Obligations to the Instructional Process located in the Academic Regulations sections of the Undergraduate Bulletin.

Student code of conduct

TheWayne State University Student Code of Conductapplies to online behavior and in-person or classroom behavior. Students are expected to be respectful when attending class or other WSU-hosted events on Zoom or other virtual applications.

Policies for this course

Students must consult the Practicum Education Manual, Practicum Instructor, Faculty Practicum Liaison, or Office of Practicum Education for details for items that may be listed under this section, including: SSW Policies and Forms

Attendance policy
Electronic communication policy
Late or missing assignments
Incomplete grade policy
Inclement weather

WSU student resources

Course learning units

The Learning Plan will be prepared with the practicum instructor and will identify the outcomes that students will achieve each semester. Student, Practicum Instructor and Faculty Practicum Liaison will all sign this plan via the management system used by the OPE. The student prepares the Learning Plan at the beginning of the internship placement and modifies it with the help of the practicum instructor as the student grows in knowledge and skill and as areas are identified that will contribute especially to the student's professional growth.

Course assignments

Assignments are those made by the practicum instructor. The student prepares the Learning Plan at the beginning of the internship placement and modifies it with the help of the practicum instructor.

In addition to the Learning Plan, students also complete a time log and process recordings' a midterm evaluations and end of semester evaluations are completed by the Practicum Instructor. Students may have other assignments identified by the assigned practicum instructor.

Updated August 4, 2022