Social Work Practicum Placements

Practicum education at Springfield College is a vital part of the social work curriculum. The practicum sequence serves as the link between knowledge gained in the classroom and the practice of social work from a generalist perspective. As a social work intern, you will experience human behavior in the social environment, practice, policy, and research, implementing it into practice in the field.

Through practicum education, you will:

apply social work values, theory, skills, and knowledge to a broad range of systems;
learn to foster empowerment among vulnerable populations; and
practice in a setting in which the mission and goals of the curriculum may be actualized.

Under the guidance of social work practitioners serving as Practicum Supervisors, you will have the opportunity to apply and refine values, knowledge, and skills. You will bring these practicum experiences back to the classroom to examine them within the context of the knowledge, values, and skills of the social work profession and the generalist approach to social work practice.

Are you a practicum supervisor? Get all the information you need to know. Supervisor forms and guidelines

Applied Social Work Practicum

The practicum is an agency-based practice experience where you develop professional social work competence in the application of generalist concepts that are presented and discussed throughout the academic curriculum. The practicum provides an opportunity for you to: perform, with supervision, a variety of planned multilevel social work interventions; to learn to work effectively in different social work settings; and to understand the everyday operations of community and social service systems.

The practicum requirements are structured within four areas of learning to ensure that you gain experience in developing a full range of generalist social work practice skills. These areas of learning are:

Direct service with individuals and families,
Group work,
Community development and organization, and
Administration and organizational development, for the second year of the MSW program.

The Springfield College Department of Social Work places students in a variety of agencies throughout New England and New York State. You will be exposed to a wide range of practice opportunities with clients of diverse backgrounds in both urban and rural settings. Appropriate field settings include a range of human service, educational, health, and criminal justice settings where students work with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

Resources for All Placements	BSW and MSW First Practicum Documents & Assignments	MSW Second Practicum Documents & Assignments
Online Practicum Placement Assignment Worksheet webform	First Practicum Workbook	Second Practicum Field Workbook
BSW Practicum Manual	Generalist Year Learning Contract	Advanced Generalist Year Learning Contract
MSW Practicum Manual	Community Project Completion Summary	Administrative Project Completion Summary
Practicum Placement Assignment Policies and Procedures	Process Recording Template for Community or Administrative Meetings	Process Recording Template for Community or Administrative Meetings
Practicum Timesheets	Process Recording Template for Groups	Process Recording Template for Groups
	Process Recording Template for Individual, Family or Co-Counseling	Process Recording Template for Individual, Family or Co-Counseling
	Proposal Summary Guidelines and Instructions for Community Project	Proposal Summary Guidelines and Instructions for Administrative Project

Practicum Education Placements FAQ

How many internships am I required to engage in?

Full-time Weekday Program and Full-time Weekday Evening Program: Two internships concurrent with classes during the two academic years (September to May).

Part-time Weekend Program: Two internships concurrent with classes during the second and third academic years (September to May).

Advanced Standing Program: One internship concurrent with classes for either the full-time Weekday Program or the part-time Weekend Program during the academic year (September to May).

Combined MSW/Juris Doctor Program: Two social work internships concurrent with classes during the first and fourth academic years (September to May).

How many hours do I need in each placement?

Full-time Weekday Program and Full-time Weekday Evening Program

First Internship, First Year: 400 hours, 14.50 hours per week for 14 weeks for two semesters.
Second Internship, Second Year – 500 hours, 18 hours per week for 14 weeks for two semesters.

Part-time Weekend Program

First Internship, Second Year – 400 hours, 14.50 hours per week for 14 weeks for two semesters.
Second Internship, Second Year – 500 hours, 18 hours per week for 14 weeks for two semesters.

Advanced Standing Program

One internship, either Weekday or Weekend Program – 500 hours, 18 hours per week for 14 weeks for two semesters.

MSW/Juris Doctor Program

First Internship, First Year – 400 hours, 14.50 hours per week for 14 weeks for two semesters.
Second Internship, Fourth Year – 500 hours, 18 hours per week for 14 weeks for two semesters.

How am I assigned a practicum placement by the school?

There are three choices for arranging a practicum placement. For students already admitted to one of the programs, faculty advisor agreement precedes the choice of option; final approval lies with the Assistant Dean for Practicum Education and/or the Assistant Directors of Practicum Education.

Option A – Employment-Based Internship This option is for students currently employed by a social services agency that might also provide the setting for an internship. There are accreditation stipulations that apply. See the next “frequently asked” question for more details on this option.

Option B – School-Assigned Internship Students are assigned a practicum placement from among the area agencies with which the School of Social Work has established an educational relationship. These agencies offer a history of success with students as well as supervisors who have committed themselves to the mission of the School. Students may suggest which agency from among those agencies they are most interested; however, the final determination of assignment lies with the School.

Option C – Student Suggested Internship Opportunity In some circumstances, students may suggest a placement opportunity at an agency with which the department of Social Work does not yet have an educational relationship. These suggestions are evaluated by the Assistant Dean for Practicum Education or Assistant Directors of Practicum Education using criteria from the School’s accrediting agency, the Council on Social Work Education. Students may provide the name and telephone number of the agency and the name of a contact person, if available. The Assistant Dean for Practicum Education or Assistant Directors of Practicum Education will investigate the suitability of the suggested opportunity in consultation with the student’s faculty advisor and the student.

What is an "employment-based" practicum placement?

This is a possibility for students currently employed in an agency that provides social work services to clients. Stipulations for using one’s place of employment for an internship include:

The experience must provide micro (direct service to individuals and families), mezzo (both helping and administrative groupwork), and macro (community outreach or administrative projects) opportunities for social work practice.
An MSW with three years post-MSW practice experience must be available to provide supervision to the student. This individual should have taken or be willing to take a seminar series in field supervision concurrent with supervising the student. Generally, this individual is not the student's current work supervisor.
The student must be engaged in duties other than typical work duties for the time of the internship.
Hours are arranged through consultation by the student with supervisors of the agency. These may be within the student’s typical work schedule, be over and above the student’s typical work schedule, or some combination of the two.

The Assistant Dean and Assistant Directors provide information to the student’s work supervisors to assist in making an employment-based internship a viable option for students. Students may use their place of employment for two internships, provided that each experience is in different programs of the agency and that a different MSW supervisor is available for each experience, and that each experience meets the curricular expectations of the two years of internship experience.

New employment that meets criteria for a practicum placement may also be considered for a practicum placement opportunity, additional criteria related to the curriculum apply.

What is a "school-assigned" practicum placement?

An internship that is "school-assigned" is made from among the over 300 agencies with which the Department of Social Work has established an educational relationship over time. The range of agencies with which we have worked in the past includes schools, hospitals, mental health providers, community centers, elder services, substance abuse treatment providers, providers of services to those with developmental disabilities, and many others. These assignments are made in consultation with the student’s faculty advisor and the student and are based on educational needs and availability.

Can I look for a practicum placement on my own?

You may suggest a placement opportunity and provide the Assistant Dean for Practicum Education or Assistant Directors of Practicum Education with the name of the suggested agency and the telephone number and the name of a contact person, if available. The Assistant Dean for Practicum Education or Assistant Directors of Practicum Education will investigate further and will determine the suitability of a site based on information gathered and in consultation with the student’s faculty advisor. The site must have available:

Appropriate educational opportunities (micro, mezzo, and macro experiences) in which the student may engage, and
An MSW with three years post-MSW practice experience to supervise, who has taken or is willing to take a seminar series in student supervision.

The final determination of practicum site suitability is made by the Assistant Dean for Practicum Education or Assistant Directors of Practicum Education based on accreditation requirements.

Will my interests be taken into account when a practicum placement is made for me?

You may make suggestions about the populations with which you would like to work. However, practicum placement assignment is also based on educational suitability, recommendations of advisors, and general availability.

Students who are employed and who do not plan to use their place of employment for an internship are strongly encouraged to arrange for flexible time in their place of employment. Almost all social work agencies expect that students will be available during the time when the agency is fully functioning so that they may attend staff meetings, case conferences, and professional consultation sessions. These are between the hours of 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM.

Also, field placements may be made up to 60 miles from the student’s place of residence.

Who supervises practicum placements?

Qualified social workers who have taken or are taking the seminar series in practicum instruction serve as field supervisors. They must have an earned MSW and have three years post-MSW practice experience. Many of our long-standing supervisors have worked with our students for many years. Many have graduated from our program and, thus, fully understand the goals and requirements of the advanced generalist practice curriculum.

What role does my advisor play in practicum placements?

Faculty advisors will consult with you, and, based on the consultation and your individual educational needs, will support your ideas and/or will make additional recommendations to the Assistant Dean for Practicum Education or Assistant Directors of Practicum Education.

Faculty advisors also assist throughout the internship experience. They visit the agency, review and sign Learning Contracts and mid-year and final evaluations, and provide the final grades for the internship experience, which is graded "Pass" or "Fail".

What activities are required in practicum placements?

There are three major social work practice areas in which students are required to engage for their practicum placement:

Direct Service with Individuals and Families (micro practice);
Helping and Administrative Group work and Organizational Development (mezzo practice); and
Community Outreach (first placement) or Administrative (second placement) Projects or Experiences (macro practice).

How are student experiences in practicum placements evaluated?

Students are evaluated in their practicum placement experience by their field supervisors (the MSWs who are provided as supervisors by the agency) and by their faculty advisors at the end of the first semester and at the end of the second semester. Universal learning objectives are indicated on standardized forms that provide guidelines, but the individual needs of the agency and the possibility for creativity and innovation are recognized.

Practicum Education Office

For questions about practicum internship requirements and possibilities, please contact Jacqueline LeHouiller at jlehouiller@springfieldcollege.edu or (413) 748-3001.

Practicum Education Placements

The Department of Social Work has developed practicum placements at more than 300 agencies in New England and New York State. The following list provides an idea of the range of services in which students have completed the required fieldwork component of the curriculum. The school has worked with many agencies for several years, but every year brings new funding and staffing conditions to agencies. Agencies may not be able to accept a student in any given year. Thus, the following list should be viewed as illustrative only. Prospective students must be aware that nearly all agencies require daytime, weekday hours for internships, so that students may experience the agency and its services when fully functioning. Students must arrange with their place of employment for flexible hours that allow for daytime, weekday hours in the practicum placement. Prospective students must also be aware that most agencies require a background check of criminal records and that some placements will not or cannot accept a student with a criminal record history.

Camp Tevya / Cohen Camps
Family Guidance Center of Milford, Inc.
Gateways Community Services
Keystone Hall
Monadnock Family Services
New Hampshire Department of Children, Youth & Families

New York

AIDS Council of Northeastern NY
Berkshire Farm Center and Services for Youth
C.V.Starr Intermediate School
Eddy Ford Nursing Home
Ellis Medicine
Northeast Health
Parsons Child & Family Center
Samaritan Counseling Center
St. Peter's Addiction Recovery Centers

Rhode Island

Vermont

Brattleboro Retreat
Brattleboro Youth Services
Center for Adoption and Attachment
Clara Martin Center
Families First of Southern Vermont
Health Care & Rehabilitation Services of Southeastern Vermont
Northeast Family Institute
Otis Healthcare
South Royalton School
Spectrum Co-Op
United Counseling Services
Vermont Achievement Center
Vermont Department of Children and Families
Windham Center for Psychiatric Care
Youth Services