The undergraduate practicum process begins in fall semester of the junior year with application to the senior sequence and practicum. Approved students will then attend a required pre-placement orientation in their junior spring semester. In fall of senior year, students complete a total of 196 hours (14 hours per week across 14 weeks), and in spring students complete 224 hours (16 hours per week across 14 weeks). These hours are completed within the same agency.
Athens and Regional Undergraduate| Program/Sequence | Focus | Pre-Placement | Practicum Semesters | Hours per Week | Total Hours |
|---|
| BSW/BASW | Generalist | Spring, junior year | Senior fall & spring | 14 (fall), 16 (spring) | 196 + 224 = 420 |
The Foundation Practicum focuses on generalist social work practice, preparing students to work with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Students engage in a variety of learning experiences that emphasize applying core, transferable social work skills and values. Students in the generalist phase are expected to orient to the agency, shadow professional staff, and gradually build toward service delivery. Diagnostic assessments or psychotherapy are not part of the foundation-level scope of practice.
Examples of Generalist Activities:
- Case management and service coordination
- Group facilitation
- Community education
- Conducting home visits
- Assisting with community events
- Advocacy and outreach
- Program development and implementation
The Athens MSW practicum process for Foundation students begins in fall semester. Students spend the first half of fall semester orienting to practicum and locating a practicum site for approval. Following approval, in fall semester students complete 112 hours (16 hours across 7 weeks) in fall and 280 hours (20 hours across 14 weeks) in spring at the same agency. During spring semester of the first year, Foundation students begin locating their Advanced/Clinical practicum site for the second year. The Advanced/Clinical practicum requires 20 hours per week in both fall and spring for a total of 280 hours each semester.
The Athens MSW practicum process for Advanced Standing students begins in summer semester. During this semester, students orient to practicum and locate a practicum site for approval. Following approval, in fall and spring semesters, students complete an Advanced/Clinical practicum for 20 hours per week for a total of 280 hours each semester.
Foundation MSW students complete both Generalist (Year 1) and Clinical (Year 2) practicum. Advanced Standing students complete only the Clinical practicum.
Athens Campus MSW (if full-time)| Program/Sequence | Focus | Pre-Placement | Practicum Semesters | Hours per Week | Total Hours |
|---|
| MSW Foundation (Year 1) | Generalist | 1st half of fall | 2nd half of fall & spring | 16 (fall), 20 (spring) | 112 + 280 = 392 |
| MSW Advanced (Year 2 or Advanced Standing) | Clinical | Spring (Foundation), Summer (Advanced Standing) | Fall & spring | 20 each semester | 280+ 280 = 560 |
The Foundation Practicum focuses on generalist social work practice, preparing students to work with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Students engage in a variety of learning experiences that emphasize applying core, transferable social work skills and values. Students in the generalist phase are expected to orient to the agency, shadow professional staff, and gradually build toward service delivery. Diagnostic assessments or psychotherapy are not part of the foundation-level scope of practice.
Examples of Generalist Activities:
- Case management and coordination
- Group facilitation
- Community education
- Conducting home visits
- Assisting with community events
- Advocacy and outreach
- Program development and implementation
The Clinical Practicum builds on foundation practice to prepare students for advanced clinical social work practice. After onboarding to the clinical role during the first semester, students apply and integrate diagnostic, assessment, and treatment skills using evidence-informed approaches.
Examples of Clinical Practice Activities:
- Conducting diagnostic assessments incorporating mental health, addiction, and trauma history
- Using the DSM-5-TR to inform diagnosis and treatment planning
- Providing therapeutic interventions for mental and emotional disorders
- Completing clinical documentation and treatment plans
- Engaging in supervision and case consultation
- Participating in program evaluation and interdisciplinary collaboration
Contact Information| Name | Position | Email |
|---|
| Justin Wheeler | Athens MSW Field Coordinator | wheelel2@ohio.edu |
The Online (eCampus) MSW practicum process for Foundation students typically begins in semester 3 prior to enrollment in practicum courses for semester 4. Students spend semester 3 orienting to practicum and locating a practicum site for approval. Following approval, in the next semester students complete 112 hours across 10 weeks, then in the next 2 semesters they complete 10 hours per week across 14 weeks of the semester for a total of 140 in each of those semesters. During the final semester of Foundation practicum (typically semester 6), students attend another pre-placement orientation to begin locating their Advanced/Clinical practicum site. The Advanced/Clinical practicum requires 10 hours per week across 4 semesters for a total of 140 hours each semester.
The Online (eCampus) MSW practicum process for Advanced Standing students typically begins in semester 2 prior to enrollment in practicum courses for semester 3. During semester 2 pre-placement, students orient to practicum and locate a clinical practicum site for approval. Following approval, in the following 4 semesters, students complete an Advanced/Clinical practicum for 10 hours per week for a total of 140 hours each semester.
Foundation MSW students complete both Generalist (Year 1) and Clinical (Year 2) practicum. Advanced Standing students complete only the Clinical practicum.
Online (eCampus) MSW (part-time)| Program/Sequence | Focus | Pre-Placement | Practicum Semesters | Hours per Week | Total Hours |
|---|
| Online MSW Foundation | Generalist | Semester 3 | 3 semesters | 10 | 112 + 140 + 140 = 392 |
| Online MSW Advanced | Clinical | Semester 2 (Advanced Standing), Semester 6 (Foundation) | 4 semesters | 10 | 140 x 4 = 560 |
The Foundation Practicum focuses on generalist social work practice, preparing students to work with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Students engage in a variety of learning experiences that emphasize applying core, transferable social work skills and values. Students in the generalist phase are expected to orient to the agency, shadow professional staff, and gradually build toward service delivery. Diagnostic assessments or psychotherapy are not part of the foundation-level scope of practice.
Examples of Generalist Activities:
- Case management and coordination
- Group facilitation
- Community education
- Conducting home visits
- Assisting with community events
- Advocacy and outreach
- Program development and implementation
The Clinical Practicum builds on foundation practice to prepare students for advanced clinical social work practice. After onboarding to the clinical role during the first semester, students apply and integrate diagnostic, assessment, and treatment skills using evidence-informed approaches.
Examples of Clinical Activities:
- Conducting diagnostic assessments incorporating mental health, addiction, and trauma history
- Using the DSM-5-TR to inform diagnosis and treatment planning
- Providing therapeutic interventions for mental and emotional disorders
- Completing clinical documentation and treatment plans
- Engaging in supervision and case consultation
- Participating in program evaluation and interdisciplinary collaboration
Remote Placements (Telehealth)
Remote or Telemental Health (TMH) involves delivering clinical health services via technology-assisted media or other electronic means between a practitioner and a client located in different places. TMH services can provide clients with increased accessibility to services they may not otherwise have. TMH can be a valuable field practicum experience that allows students to gain exposure to a growing area of mental health service delivery. TMH activities should involve the same understanding, knowledge, preparedness, practice, and observation as those services provided face-to-face. Any student engaging in TMH services MUST spend time observing and being observed by their field instructor or task supervisor before engaging in TMH practices independently or billing for any TMH services. Please note: No student will be approved for a field practicum made up of only TMH services.
Contact Information| Name | Position | Email |
|---|
| Kelly Vacca | Online/eCampus MSW Field Director | vaccak@ohio.edu |
