The practicum or field education component is a core part of the MSW experience and is often considered the heart of social work education and its signature pedagogy. The practicum provides Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ the opportunity to engage in supervised practice consistent with the mission, goals, and objectives of the MSW Program. The experience fosters the integration of empirical and practice-based knowledge, promotes the development of professional competence, and provides opportunities for Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ to identify with the profession's purpose, values, and ethics. In short, practicum serves as a bridge from the classroom to the community and hands-on practice.
MSW Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ dedicate 900 hours total to practicum over two academic years. This averages approximately 15-20 hours per week throughout the fall and spring semesters. Most Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ change their practicum site between their first and second year to ensure diverse and challenging learning opportunities. Proactive planning ensures Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ get the most out of their field experience, and the field education team is available to provide information and support before and throughout the practicum experience. The details of this process are outlined in the Online MSW Handbook. Students can bring any questions or concerns to the field education team by emailing um.sw.fieldoffice@umontana.edu.
Generalist Year
During the generalist practicum, which involves 450 hours of concurrent placement alongside classroom courses, Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ can cultivate self-awareness while applying generalist social work knowledge, values, ethics, and practice skills. Practicum also offers a platform for Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ to enhance their oral and written professional communication and receive educational supervision from an Agency Field Instructor. Students in the generalist practicum will develop the ability to critically assess, implement, and evaluate agency policies to improve the social well-being of the agency's clientele. Generalist practicum placements are comprehensive and encompass various agencies, providing Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ with exposure to diverse social work roles and functions and opportunities to work with historically underserved populations.
Specialization Year
In the 450-hour specialization year practicum, which runs concurrent to classroom learning, the focus is on achieving the curricular objectives specific to this year and building on the generalist year's practice foundation. Practicum will enable Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ to acquire advanced knowledge and skills relevant to an integrated practice focusing on trauma-informed, anti-racist, and anti-oppressive practice, work in rural and Indigenous communities, and develop leadership skills.
The Process of Securing a Practicum
Securing a practicum may vary for each MSW program at the UM School of Social Work. However, regardless of the program, Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ do not need to have a specific practicum site in mind when they apply to UM and begin their degree. Online MSW Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ will receive proactive communication from the field education team regarding the practicum outreach and application process, regardless of the admission timeline. All Online MSW Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ will have access to a comprehensive online orientation course that outlines the intricacies of the practicum process, the timeline, and the requirements. This course provides in-depth support for successful outreach, application, and placement with a community agency.
Typically, Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ interview with two to three agencies or consider completing their practicum at their existing place of employment before finalizing their practicum site selection. Following this, Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ complete a Practicum Proposal Form (PPF) via the Sonia practicum software program, sharing details about their practicum plan, roles, and learning goals. Additionally, before entering the generalist practicum, Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ must complete an MSW Practicum Application via Sonia. This application is designed to gather information about Ñý¼§Ö±²¥' backgrounds and interests and to assess their social work knowledge and skills. It's essential to note that the practicum outreach and placement process is student-driven, with significant support from the field education team.