Field Practicum Placement for the Master of Social WOrk Program
Field education is a central component of UIndy’s MSW curriculum. Practicum placements provide students with direct, supervised experience in clinical and community-based social work settings, aligning with both CSWE accreditation standards and individual student goals.
Total Hours Required:
- Regular Standing students complete 930 total clock hours across three practicum courses.
- Advanced Standing students complete 620 clock hours, building on their undergraduate BSW field education.
| Standing | # of Practica | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Advanced Standing | 2 | 300 hours at placement per semester (approximately 20 hours a week) + 10 hours of required seminar attendance |
| Regular Standing | 3 | 300 hours at placement per semester (approximately 20 hours a week) + 10 hours of required seminar attendance |
Practicum Courses:
- SOWK 590 – Practicum I: Foundation practicum (310 hours), typically completed over one semester, taken with a concurrent seminar.
- Concentration Practica (II & III): Two-semester sequence totaling 620 hours, paired with field seminar courses.
Practicum Placement Process
UIndy's urban location and individualized advising model allow students meaningful input in identifying their practicum sites. Students either select their own agency (pending availability) or work collaboratively with the Field Director to identify an appropriate placement. In most cases, and subject to site availability, students secure placement at their preferred agency.
The responsibility for initiating a practicum placement rests upon the student. When a student and their faculty advisor deem it appropriate for the student to take a practicum, the student must do the following:
- Attend a Call-Out Meeting
Scheduled each September and February, these sessions introduce the field process and help students begin exploring placements. Individual advising sessions follow. - Meet the Field Director by the Deadline
- Spring & Summer placement: March 1 (preceding spring semester)
- Fall placement: October 20
- Complete All Prerequisites & Documentation
Students must meet course prerequisites and submit all required materials prior to placement. - Participate in the Interview Process
All placements require a pre-placement interview with the agency to assess fit and clarify expectations.
Completing Fieldwork at the Student’s Place of Employment
For field placements in an organization in which the student is employed, student field assignments and employment tasks may be the same and counted toward field hours as long as the tasks have clear linkages to the nine social work competencies and their concomitant behaviors.
Occasionally, students who are already working in the human services field request that they carry out their practicum at their place of employment. It is recognized that this would be a desirable placement for many reasons for working students. However, because the practicum is designed to be a learning experience, there are certain criteria which must be satisfied before this type of placement can occur. The approval of an employment based field practica requires:
- The student will discuss the potential of an employment-based practicum with the MSW Field Director, then provide the appropriate contact information of the appropriate agency representative to further evaluate the appropriateness of an employment based practicum.
- Each request is handled on a case-by-case basis.
- The MSW Field Director meets with the student’s current employer to determine if the learning connects to the nine CSWE Competencies, and that an appropriate supervisor is available for the student’s experience.
- The agency must agree to the terms of the University of Indianapolis Affiliation Agreement and the MSW Field Contract.
- The agency and student understand that any personnel issues will not be addressed by the MSW Field Director or other faculty members unless directly connected to the practicum learning.
- If approved, students may accrue up to 30 hours per week of employment towards their practicum hours.
A Partnership with Community Health Network
UIndy MSW and MHC students have a unique opportunity to advance their careers through a partnership with Community Health Network. This program offers a specialized curriculum and a two-semester paid practicum, preparing graduates for dual licensure as LCSWs or LMHCs and LCACs. Students will receive extensive training in evidence-based counseling, financial incentives upon licensure, and a priority job interview with Community Health Network. The Academy supports Indiana’s growing need for clinicians in behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment. Eligible students should consult their Field or Practicum Coordinator to apply.
Student Testimonial
“In my first practicum, I worked in the Reception & Placement area at Exodus Refugee Immigration. This means that I worked with refugees from all over the world through their first 30 days of being in the United States. I was responsible for making sure they got to and from their appointments, while advocating for them in the appointment. They needed help in many things in order to work towards becoming an American citizen.
The practicum had so much hands on experience. My very first day I was responsible for three different clients all on my own. Because most do not speak English, charades came in handy many times. I learned how to work with people who have come from awful situations of injustice and lack of freedom in their own country. I loved meeting each family and helping them come to know the freedoms that they inherently gain by becoming a citizen of the United States of America. Through this experience, I gained a new appreciation for the freedoms and opportunities that I so easily take for granted every day.”
– Vanessa Alexander