The MSW Advanced Standing Program at WNMU includes two semesters of Field Practicum in the MSW curriculum, each requiring 225 field hours. In the fall and spring semesters (usually around 16 weeks) students complete 15 hours at the agency weekly and 1 hour of mandatory face to face class time (students will use a zoom link that will be provided by the class instructor) In the summer semester (around 10 weeks long) students must complete 22 hours weekly in the agency and 1 hour of mandatory face to face class time. Students are required to complete both semesters at the same agency. These two Field Practicum courses contain an online component with weekly assignments designed to complement and supplement the onsite learning experience. Hours earned in one semester may not transfer to any other semester. Students are also not allowed to begin field practicum, or accrue hours prior to the start date of the
course.

Advanced Standing Students: Advanced standing students from institutions other than WNMU must provide written documentation (official email or letter) from their prior institution’s Dean or Field Director, attesting to the number of BSW hours accrued. Students are required to complete a minimum of 450 hours within their BSW Field Practicum during the application process to Field. Students who did not meet the 450-hour requirement will be required to complete any additional hours necessary to achieve this requirement before continuing practicum hours at the MSW level. Students who do not meet the academic performance criteria for admission may be given opportunities to reapply for admission after they have improved their grades or addressed the issues that interfere with their readiness for field practicum.

Students who are considered advanced standing must have a BSW degree from a CSWE accredited program received within the past 8 years and must successfully complete the following pre-requisites in the MSW program in order to be eligible for field practicum:

SWK 501 Cultural Competence
SWK 527 Theories & Techniques in Advanced Clinical SWK

The MSW Non-Advanced Standing Program at WNMU includes four semesters of Field Practicum in the MSW curriculum, each requiring 225 field hours. In the fall and spring semesters (usually around 16 weeks) students complete 15 hours at the agency weekly and 1 hour of mandatory face to face class time (students will use a zoom link that will be provided by the class instructor). In the summer semester (around 10 weeks long) students must complete 22 hours weekly in the agency and 1 hour of mandatory face to face class time. These Field Practicum courses contain an online component with weekly assignments designed to complement and supplement the onsite learning experience. Hours earned in one semester may not transfer to any other semester. Students are also not allowed to begin field practicum, or accrue hours prior to the start date of the course.

Students who do not have a BSW earned from a CSWE accredited program within the past 8 years must successfully complete the following pre-requisites in the MSW program in order to be eligible for field practicum:

SWK 501 Cultural Competence
SWK 502 Introduction to Advanced Generalist SWK
SWK 510 Human Behavior & the Social Environment
SWK 511 SWK Generalist Practice

MSW Field Practicum Prerequisites & Requirements

• Be admitted to WNMU’s Graduate Division and the MSW Program.
• Maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA in all coursework and a minimum 3.0 GPA in required social work courses.
• Complete all prerequisite social work courses with a grade B or higher:
• Submit a complete field practicum application packet to your assigned Internship Coordinator one semester prior to the enrollment in field education courses and by the student deadline, with the following documents:  MSW Field Practicum Application, Legal Disclosure Form, Agency Information Form.   For worksite placement requests, please reach out to your assigned Internship Coordinator for the Worksite Practicum Request Form (WSPR).

Students are encouraged to take an active role in identifying potential field placement sites, allowing them to explore a variety of learning opportunities that align with their interests and career goals. Field Coordinators are available to assist and can be contacted with questions about possible placement options in a student’s area. However, students are ultimately responsible for seeking out and securing placement sites that best fit their professional interests and location.

Before any student is assigned to a practicum placement, the MSW and/or BSW Field Director in addition to the Internship Coordinator will approve both the Agency and the Field Agency Supervisor. In approving both agency sites and agency staff as Field Agency Supervisors, the School adheres to the guidelines offered by the Council on Social Work Education.  Refer to the most recent Field Manual for specific information about site and field agency supervisor approval criteria).

Students are eligible to apply for field practicum when they have successfully completed or are in progress of completing the required pre-requisite courses.  Once a student has been accepted to intern by an agency, they must submit a complete field practicum application packet (FPAP) – Field Practicum Application, Legal Disclosure Form, Agency Information Form) by the deadline for the semester they wish to complete practicum.  Students must also remain with the same agency for 2 semesters.

Below are the Field Practicum Application deadlines:

Summer:  February 1^st

Fall: May 1^st

Spring: September 1st