Waco: FAQ Practicum Education

1.      How is my practicum placement determined? Do I get to choose?

The final decisions on where students are placed for their internship experiences rest with the Directors of Practicum Education. However, students’ preferences are strongly considered, as well as the students’ interests, strengths, educational needs, and feedback from other faculty and supervisors who are familiar with the students’ work.

2.      What if I want to complete my internship placement at an agency that has not been used before?

Students can note an agency on the internship application and/or to the Director of Practicum Education during a scheduled interview. The Director of Practicum Education will explore the agency possibility, and if the agency meets the learning needs of the internship experience and is both able and willing to provide social work supervision for a student, a Memorandum of Agreement will be sent electronically. Once the signed agreement is submitted, then the agency is approved and the student can be considered for placement there.

3.      How many hours are required for the practicum placement?

The BSW and MSW Foundation internship requires two semesters of completing 240 hours at the internship placement, for a total of 480 hours. The MSW Advanced internship requires a total of 550 hours.

4.      When can internship hours be completed?

Students in the BSW or MSW Foundation internship placements begin their internship hours during the first week of classes for the internship semester and can complete their time at their internship placement no earlier than one week before classes end. Students in the MSW Advanced internship start hours in the first week of the fall and end in the spring as well. However, students in the spring semester will finish before the last week of the semester in order to complete the Capstone course. Most internship hours are completed during the normal work-day schedule, though there are some placements that will involve the student in evening or weekend activities or responsibilities. If you are concerned about how your own schedule will allow for internship placement hours to be completed, you should make that known during the internship application process.

5.      Will I need to have my own car?

All students will be expected to secure reliable transportation to and from their placements when completing hours for their internships. Some placements may prefer students to have a car to conduct particular duties of the internship, such as hospital visits or community outreach. If a student does not have a car available to them, this would be important to communicate during the internship application process so that transportation needs can be taken into consideration when assigning internship placements. The Garland School of Social Work does not reimburse students for the use of their automobiles in conducting agency business, nor does it provide liability insurance coverage for agency-related travel.

6.      What is the difference between a practicum placement and an internship?

The terms practicum placement and internship are used interchangeably. The practicum placement or internship is the heart of social work education. It is the mode of study that emphasizes the practical application of professional knowledge and values to the real-life problems and concerns of individuals, families, groups, communities and/or organizations under the supervision and instruction of competent social work practitioners and educators.

7.      When and how do I obtain a practicum placement?

The process for being placed at an agency for an internship takes place the semester before the internship will begin. The student will receive instructions on how to apply, as well as deadlines, from the practicum office.

8.      Will I have to transport clients during my internship?

It is the strong recommendation of the Garland School of Social Work that interns not transport clients in their own vehicles. Baylor University does not provide any coverage for transportation of clients. Interns who transport clients do so under their own automobile insurance and at their own risk.

9.      What is the difference between a Social Work Supervisor, Task Supervisor, and Practicum Liaison?

The Social Work Supervisor, Task Supervisor, and Practicum Liaison have distinct and complementary roles and responsibilities in practicum education. Each comes alongside the student, in their respective roles, to assist the student in realizing their education goals. Please see the Glossary/Terminology for specific definitions.

10.  Will I have to purchase my own professional liability insurance?

The University provides limited professional liability insurance coverage for students involved in professional internships in the United States. This insurance includes coverage for professional activities required as part of the educational experience only. The Garland School of Social Work has been assured by duly appointed University administrators that this coverage is adequate and will cover both in compensated and uncompensated placements. However, the faculty strongly recommends each student also purchase their own professional liability insurance through NASW or a comparable professional group or private insurance firm. Students should also ask the agency about availability of professional liability insurance or malpractice insurance coverage provided by the agency.

11.  What happens if I am unable to complete my internship?

Completing the hours and tasks for the practicum placement experience, in addition to passing the internship academic course, are required for successfully completing the internship. Two semesters each are required for completing the BSW internship, MSW Foundation internship, and MSW Advanced Practice internship, and the internships are required for completing the degrees. These two semesters are expected to happen consecutively, with the first semester in the fall and the second semester in the spring.

12.  Am I restricted to Waco for my practicum placement?

Both levels of internships happen in the Waco or surrounding areas. Area placements shall be those within Waco, McLennan County, and within a 75-mile radius (driving distance for seminar) of Baylor University. Students will be expected to return to the campus each week to attend integrative practicum seminars. See the Waco Practicum Education Manual for further details. If students are interested in placements that are not on the approved list of practicum placements, the student should communicate this to the Practicum Education office and follow the protocols as directed by the Practicum Education Manual and/or Director of Practicum Education.

13.  Will I be paid for the work I do at my practicum placement?

The practicum education office is committed to securing compensated internships when possible, though the majority of internships are not compensated. However, the practicum education office is committed first to the educational integrity of the internship and does not guarantee any student the possibility of a compensated practicum internship. Some internship stipends will be provided through the agency directly to the student while others are provided through the agency to Baylor and then to the student. Others may be provided through grants in the Garland School of Social Work. Students with special needs or interest in compensated internships should discuss these needs with the Director of Practicum Education. Like uncompensated internships, when more than one student is interested in a particular opportunity, the students will interview with the organization itself, and the organization/subsidizing entity will have significant input in making the final decision about the placement.

14.  Can I still work at my current job while I complete my practicum placement?

The Garland School of Social Work recommends no more than part-time work during your internship terms, due to the amount of time and energy that the practicum placement requires. However, we also understand the financial needs that can exist and recognize that there have been students who have been able to hold an outside job and successfully complete the practicum placement/internship. All students should consider the number of hours and the need for schedule flexibility when trying to balance work courses, and internship requirements. 

15.  What if I am employed by an agency that takes interns? Can I complete my placement there? Is it possible to have my internship in my place of employment?

The Garland School of Social Work policies regarding placement in the employment setting are based on the Council on Social Work Education standards and are in place in order to ensure an educationally directed internship experience. Any student who is employed in a social work setting/role and is interested in interning at their place of employment must follow the process outlined in the Practicum Education Manual for review of possible Place of Employment internships. The Practicum Education Office considers Place of Employment internships on a case-by-case basis. Approval is at the discretion of the Practicum Education Office. It is not guaranteed.  

A student’s regular job duties CAN be approved to count for internship hours IF the job duties can be clearly tied to each of the 10 GSSW competency areas.  Additional tasks are likely to be added to ensure development of competency in all 10 required areas. Students will only be permitted to count their work hours towards their internship hours total when engaging in tasks that build social work competency and are congruent with GSSW practicum policies, as approved by the practicum liaison in conjunction with the appropriate practicum director. Students may only count the required weekly internship tasks that meet the 10 competencies and may not count their full 40 hours of full time work per week. Students cannot end their internship prior to one week before the end of the term.

POE guidelines as outlined by the Council on Social Work Education guide the Practicum office’s decision. The agency must support the student’s obligations for academic coursework and assignments related to the integrative seminar. Additionally, the agency must meet all requirements of any agency site for Field placements including affiliation with the GSSW. Under no circumstances will a student do more than one Field placement at the place of employment.

For more details on requirements and the process to request such an exception, see the Practicum Education Manual or contact the practicum education office.

16.  Are there international internships?

Currently, international practicum internships are not offered for students in the BSW or MSW program other than those for the Global Mission Leadership Scholars returning to their home regions. Smaller-scale global experiences may be possible depending on the agency setting. See the Waco Practicum Education Manual and practicum education office for more information.

17.  What is the process for approval of practicum faculty?

Social Work Supervisors and Task Supervisors must complete the required paperwork to be approved to serve. For more information see the “Become an Internship Placement Site” page.

18.  What are the benefits for serving as practicum faculty?

Social Work Supervisor and Task Supervisors receive several benefits for serving. For more information see the Current Internship Supervisors page.

19.  How can I receive information as Social Work Supervisor or Task Supervisor?

Once a person is approved as Social Work Supervisor or Task Supervisor, they are added to the Garland School of Social Work’s mailing list and will receive electronic newsletters and emails from the practicum education office.