The Field Practicum is designed to be completed the final two semesters of your undergraduate experience and requires availability of four half days each week (16 hours) across two semesters (480 hours). In addition to the time you spend in the agency placement, you will also be taking the Integrated Field Seminar Course and other required and elective social work courses. Occasionally students need to take all 480 hours in one semester. While such an arrangement is possible, it severely limits the variety of agencies that can accommodate you. This choice also requires four full days of practicum each week.
Regardless of when you complete the practicum, you will need to be available during the regular working hours of the agency. You need to be at the agency when proper supervision is available and present. This negates any notion that you are simply "putting in hours" by going to the placement at night or on weekends. Perhaps you can now see why field work is such a significant part of your undergraduate education. While your agency field supervisor will work with you around classes, they can only be so flexible and then it becomes impractical for you to do your placement in their agency.
Application for field placement is made after attending an orientation meeting during the semester preceding your placement. See the Social Work Secretary (2190 JFSB) for orientation schedule.
Social Work 462 must be taken concurrently with field practicum. In addition, during the entire practicum students must attend Integrative Seminar for 1 ½ hours per week. If you complete your 480 hours before the end of a semester or term you still must continue to attend the Integrative Seminar until the end of the semester or term.
Undergraduate students will normally be placed in the Utah County area; however, placement can be arranged in Salt Lake City or other areas. Out of town/state placements are an exception and will be considered on an individual basis. Students must submit a letter of request to the Director of Field Instruction, stating the exceptional reasons they have for completing a placement outside of Utah County or the Salt Lake City area.
Placement availability is limited, and the School has the full responsibility of assigning students according to resources which assure quality instruction. Students are not guaranteed placement during the semester for which they first apply if the application is submitted late, nor are they guaranteed a placement in the location of their first preference.
Undergraduate Field Instruction/placement is conducted in agencies serving individuals, families, groups and neighborhood organizations. The service areas include: substance abuse, corrections, health, mental health, public child welfare and school settings. The agencies available for placement vary from semester to semester.
Field Practicum is your opportunity to be an integral part of the profession. Your field instructor will treat you as a colleague and they will expect professional behavior. Not showing up, lateness, irresponsibility, sloppy work, breaking client confidences, indifference, judgementalism, etc. cannot and will not be tolerated. Your field instructor is not being paid for working these many hours with you and her/his only reward is received by viewing your growth as a fledgling professional and a competent social worker. Please remember to be considerate of them and don't hesitate to say "THANKS!"