Practicum Education Student Information

The student is responsible for their learning and is therefore expected to actively participate in the practicum placement process. The student’s responsibilities include:

Prior to Placement:

1. Attend Mandatory practicum orientation
2. Secure access to Tevera Platform. Students will receive an email from Tevera asking them to register as a user. Add [email protected] to your email contacts to ensure that you receive the registration Lifetime access to Tevera requires a one-time access fee of $223  when purchased directly from Tevera.
3. Acquire university professional liability Insurance- Payment Link provided in July prior to practicum.
4. Be responsive to faculty inquiries to discuss and/or clarify student needs.
5. Complete application form as instructed by the Practicum Education Office in Tevera
   1. Complete background checks and/or drug screens where applicable
6. Communicate professionally and responsively to Practicum Office and agencies
7. Once approval is received for a specific agency, arrange and participate in an interview with the practicum supervisor (agency) to assure a goodness of fit between the student and the agency
8. Confirm placement with Practicum Education Office by completing the tracking form or identify concerns immediately in Tevera
9. Contact practicum supervisor two to four weeks prior to the beginning of the semester to confirm practicum start date. Some settings may require background checks and/or may have a mandatory agency orientation that may need to be completed prior to the semester if there is a conflict between orientation days and class schedule.

Students will be able to select ONE practicum placement pathway for the upcoming academic year:

• GSU Approved Community Partners
• Student Suggested Community Partners
• Employment Based Community Partners

GSU Approved Community Partners Pathway

•  Student will select one GSU Approved Community partner located within Tevera
• Student will receive notification within 7-14 days within Tevera if site is available to move forward to the interview phase.
• Student will interview with designated site within 7 days.
• Student will receive placement confirmation within Tevera of placement acceptance or denial.
• If student is denied by the placement partner, student will be assigned an alternate GSU Approved Community partner by the Practicum Office.
• Students must complete the GSU Approved Partners practicum application within Tevera by February 1st.  Requests/changes submitted after this deadline will not be considered.

Student Proposed Community Partners

•  Student may select ONE community based partner for practicum placement approval.
• Practicum Office will notify students within 14 days if suggested placement site is approved to move to the interview phase.
• If site is approved, student will have 7 days to schedule an interview and confirm placement site for the upcoming academic year.
• If site is denied, student will be assigned a GSU Approved Community partner.
• All approvals and communication will be sent via Tevera.
• Students must complete the Student Suggested Community partners practicum application within Tevera by February 1st.  Requests submitted after this deadline will not be considered.
• Failure to meet the February 1st deadline will result in an automatic placement assignment- no exceptions.
• Agency Supervisor must have a MSW

Employment Based Community Partners

•  A student can have only ONE employment-related placement for BSW/MSW practicum education credit, i.e., 1st-year: MSW generalist OR 2nd-year: MSW Community Partnerships specialization. Advanced-standing students cannot have employment-related placements for both the BSW and MSW placements.
• A student cannot use one’s current position and tasks for the practicum placement. The practicum intern position and tasks must be different. In addition, the practicum supervisor cannot be the same person as the student’s work supervisor.
• Students will receive employment based approval within 7-14 days of deadline submission.
• Students that are denied Employment based placements will be assigned a GSU approved community partner.
• Students must complete the employment based practicum application within Tevera by February 1st.  Requests submitted after this deadline will not be considered.
• Approved Employment Based Placements will be notified in Tevera.

**Given the time sensitive nature of the placement process, students are only allowed two attempts at placement before they are referred for a professional review.

***Students may only select one placement pathway during the placement period.  If a student is denied during the employment based or student suggested pathway, a GSU approved partner will be assigned.

Onboarding/Training

• All students must complete all required agency orientations prior to beginning practicum placements.
• All students are required to Review the Practicum Education Manual.

Immunizations

• Students assigned to health facilities for internship placement may be required to have immunizations (e.g. Hepatitis B) and or testing (e.g., TB, COVID-19 Testing), and possibly AIDS and/or CPR training. *Fees associated with the above testing are the responsibility of the student so please look at the agency profile to determine what testing is required if this could present a financial hardship.
• Many agencies have added the Covid-19 vaccination as a requirement to participate as a social work intern in order to provide the safest environment for clients in which they serve.   This does not impact all of our GSU partners, but unfortunately the Office of Practicum Education is unable to replace students who are unable to meet agency onboarding requirements.  It is recommended that students contact their program directors to discuss other options which most likely will include a delay in placement this academic year.
• To graduate with either a BSW or MSW degree from the Georgia State University School of Social Work, students are required to complete several hundred hours of placement with a community agency.  Although not required by GSU, many of these community agencies require full vaccination against COVID-19 by student interns. Successful applicants to the university must satisfy all academic and other requirements of the requisite program and the university.  Applicants who do not meet community agency requirements may be at a competitive disadvantage and if admitted to the program may experience difficulty in finding and completing the required practicum components of the program.  Applicants and students are solely responsible for meeting requirements necessary to successfully complete their chosen BSW/MSW program.

Background Check

Students may be expected to complete a criminal background check initiated by practicum agency. Students should disclose with the Office of Practicum Education anything that would potentially impact placement.

**Background check fees, if required, are paid by the student. Please inquire when you interview at your potential agency**

It is imperative that students prepare in advance for their interview prior to arriving at the agency.  Students should be dressed professionally, present as courteous, have resume and the social work competencies in hand. A student who is rejected for placement by TWO agencies for reasons related to appropriateness (i.e. behavior, attitude, professionalism) or readiness for placement may be dismissed from the program. If a student is denied a placement following the first two agency interviews, the internship candidate meets with the Director of Practicum Education regarding interview challenges and next steps.

• If the denials are based on inappropriate attire, lack of professionalism, inability to articulate their stated goals, the student may be referred to Career Services for additional assistance with preparing for an interview.
• If the denial is based on a criminal background record, the Director of Practicum Education will make every effort to identify appropriate agencies.
• After the above procedure, if a student is still unable to secure a placement, they will be referred to the Professional Review Committee.  At this stage, student will be unenrolled from all courses and must REAPPLY to the program.

The Advancing Innovative Partnerships and Pathways to Address Mental Health Workforce Shortages in Georgia Schools project is seeking second year (specialization) and (Advanced Standing) Master of Social Work students from diverse backgrounds for a paid internship opportunity in Clayton County Public Schools.

Interns will:

·       Provide mental health services to students in high-need public schools.

·       Receive supervision from a licensed clinical professional.

·       Participate in professional development.

In addition to being a paid internship opportunity, tuition assistance and a travel stipend are also offered.

·       Specialization year student must be a resident of Georgia

·       One year service requirement in the school systems or grant provider providing mental health services.

For more information, please contact Abigayle Benson [email protected]

To apply: School Based Mental Health Internship Application

Application Deadline is March 1, 2024

Specialization Year (MSW 2^nd & 3^rd year part time students) are expected to complete a minimum of 500 hours over the course of the two academic semesters. Students are expected to complete 250 hours each semester.  2nd-year MSW students complete the required 20 hours/week practicum placement scheduled over three work days (not a two day/week schedule).

If an emergency arises necessitating absence from practicum, the student is responsible for:

1. Immediately notifying the practicum instructor and taking responsibility for postponing appointments or scheduled meetings.
2. In case of prolonged absence, the student and practicum instructor should notify the practicum liaison so that a plan can be made to meet the needs of the agency, the student’s situation, and the schools’ educational requirements.
3. A minimum of 200 hours must be completed for students to receive a grade in practicum seminar at the conclusion of each semester and register for the next practicum course. Students who fail to meet this requirement will have to retake the course or receive an Incomplete (I) if they were passing practicum seminar.
4. Absences due to observance of religious holidays, attendance at professional conferences may be permitted with the prior approval of the practicum supervisor and practicum liaison. The practicum supervisor will determine the number of hours credited for attendance at professional conferences.
5. Students are not allowed to bank practicum hours in hopes of completing their  experience earlier. Students must remain at the practicum placement agency until the end of the academic term. 

Vacations: Students should not schedule personal vacations during the semester unless they are during the scheduled University breaks. If such a situation is unavoidable, the student is required to submit in writing a request to be absent from their practicum. The request must be submitted to the Director of Practicum Education as well as their agency supervisor and should be done BEFORE any plans are made. Plans for make-up hours should be included in their written request, and students must make up any time missed prior to the end of the semester. It is up to the discretion of the Director of Practicum Education as well as the agency supervisor if this time away will be granted.

Inclement Weather/Breaks: Students will be excused from practicum for fall and spring breaks. It should be noted that students in a school setting take their breaks on the school’s not the university’s schedule. However, the total number of clock hours for practicum must still be met. In the event of university closure due to weather: If the University cancels classes due to inclement weather, you are not required to go to practicum. However, you must be in communication with your supervisor as soon as possible that you will not be in to ensure coverage at your agency. Do not assume that your supervisor/agency will know that you are not coming in.  We understand that you all live in different areas and that weather can vary from region to region. Your safety always comes first. If driving conditions are not safe where you live, and the University remains open, please use your best judgment about travel on that day. As always, your supervisor should be contacted as soon as possible if you find yourself in this situation.

December Hours: All students should be off the week that GSU is closed for the December holidays – they are not expected to be in placement when the University is closed. Students should return to their respective placement sites once the spring semester begins in January (check the academic calendar for start date). The school acknowledges there may be work that needs to be accomplished in the agency requiring the student’s presence once fall semester is completed. However, there are limits to a student continuing his/her placement in between the semesters. Upon completion of the fall semester practicum placement hours, the student can work for a maximum of 10 hours total in December (to be agreed upon by both student, practicum instructor, and practicum liaison) and such hours can be counted towards spring semester hours. December hours should reflect the time needed to provide continuity in assigned tasks or responsibilities (e.g., case management, group facilitation, holiday project, and fundraising events). If the student or practicum supervisor is unclear about December field placement hours, the faculty liaison should be consulted.

School Based Settings: Placement schedules in schools often differ from the standard placement calendar.  Students placed in a school setting should plan to modify their schedules to accommodate agency hours and vacations.

The Advancing Innovative Partnerships and Pathways to Address Mental Health Workforce Shortages in Georgia Schools project is seeking Master of Social Work students from diverse backgrounds for a paid internship opportunity in Clayton County Public Schools.

Interns will:

·       Provide mental health services to students in high-need public schools.

·       Receive supervision from a licensed clinical professional.

·       Participate in professional development.

In addition to being a paid internship opportunity, tuition assistance and a travel stipend are also offered.

For more information, you may reach out to the Office of Practicum Education at: [email protected] 

Details about the 2025-2026 Application Cycle are forthcoming

As required by federal and state law and Georgia State University policy, internship placements must be accessible to students with disabilities. This requirement means that students with disabilities should have the same kinds of educational opportunities – including practicum. However, given the wide range of disabilities, it is possible that not every placement will have the capability to accommodate every student.  Every effort is made by the Office of Practicum Education to ensure equal access to internship opportunities.  Students with special needs must contact the Student Disability Services and the Director of Practicum Education after being accepted into the MSW program to discuss accommodations that may be necessary in the internship site. Accommodations provided at Georgia State University do not automatically transfer to the internship placement. Students must also provide the agency with necessary documentation to be eligible for accommodation, as per ADA.

What are the responsibilities of Georgia State students with a disability?

• Request academic accommodations in a timely manner relative to the semester that they plan to attend.
• Advocate for themselves.
• Provide appropriate documentation of their disability.
• Meet privately with faculty to discern how their academic accommodations will be facilitated.

Please visit the Access and Accommodations Center at GSU: https://access.gsu.edu/about-us/ ,The Office of Practicum Education will consult with the Access and Accommodation Center as necessary to discuss appropriate accommodations for the internship placement.

In meetings with the practicum director prior to placement or during the practicum placement seminar with the faculty liaison, a student may choose to share personal information that is deemed “sensitive.” This may include such personal matters as a felony or misdemeanor, mental health diagnosis or treatment, substance abuse history, chronic illness, disease, physical disability, or learning disability. “Sensitive” information may also include problems in classroom performance or in a previous field placement.

In response to the sharing of student information, one must address maintaining the privacy rights of a student, while at the same time protecting the welfare of clients served in a practicum site, supporting the practicum site’s right to make an informed decision in accepting a student for placement, and allowing the school to make an educationally-sound placement selection. A student’s permission to share sensitive information should always be solicited.

It should be noted that practicum sites might require a prospective student to be processed like a new employee, which can include background checks, fingerprinting, and/or medical tests (e.g., TB test) as prerequisites for acceptance as a student intern.

In the attempt to balance these competing demands, each student situation must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. The following factors shall be considered in the decision to share sensitive student information between the school and the practicum site:

The social work profession has become increasingly concerned about the safety and security of social work practitioners in the workplace. Work-related violence against social workers may include physical and/or verbal assault, the threat of assault and harassment. Such concern about workplace violence also draws attention to the safety and security of social work students placed in practicum placement settings.

Practicum sites should have policies and procedures dealing with safety and security issues for all personnel. These safety and security policies and procedures need to be a part of the student’s site orientation. However, if this information is not formally presented, the student must initiate discussion of such policies and procedures with the practicum supervisor. Every effort must be made to reduce potential risk in practicum settings. 

The practicum supervisor should discuss with the student any activities that may require special planning with regard to safety. An understanding should be reached between the student and practicum supervisor, with input from the faculty liaison, about what constitutes “high risk” or “dangerous” assignments. If the student refuses to accept what may be described as a dangerous assignment, this should be discussed with the faculty liaison. The student has the right to refuse a dangerous assignment and his/her safety should not be compromised. Click the button below to explore examples of safety and security issues to discuss with students. 

If a student is threatened or injured in placement, or is involved in an incident where one’s safety may be compromised, the faculty liaison or practicum director should be notified immediately.

See information on developing a comprehensive safety plan written by the Committee for the Study and Prevention of Violence against Social Workers, National Association of Social Workers, Massachusetts Chapter.

The University and the School of Social Work does not allow any social work intern to transport any client, family member, significant other, etc. Some practicum agencies request the social work student to transport clients because it is suggested that this task provides an opportunity to have one-on-one time with the client(s). While this may be true, even when the agency is willing to add the student as an approved driver to its insurance policy and provide an agency vehicle, transporting clients is still prohibited.

Students are expected to prepare appropriately for weekly supervision. This means following the guidelines and standards set forth by the practicum supervisor as well as those set by the School. As the student progresses through the practicum placement, it is expected that he/she will take on increasing responsibility for the content of the supervisory sessions by creating a written agenda for each session. Created by the School’s Practicum Advisory Board, the following guidelines for writing an agenda offer a wholistic approach to assist the student with integration of classroom knowledge and practice application and to focus on processing the practicum experience. The student and practicum supervisor should discuss ways to operationalize these guidelines. The student’s supervisory agenda should include these five sections:

1. Items related to past social work, or related, coursework and work experiences
2. Items related to current coursework and classroom learning (e.g., at the beginning of each semester, bring copies of course syllabi to the practicum supervisor)
3. Items related to mid-semester or final evaluation instruments
4. Items related to practicum placement (both task- and process-focused)
5. Additional Items

If a social worker is not on-site to provide the required supervision, the practicum liaison holds the MSW credential and will provide supplemental supervision.

Practicum education students and supervisors must adhere to GSU’s policy on Sexual Misconduct.

As part of the faculty liaison role, the designated faculty member is responsible for assigning the student’s practicum seminar grade each semester. This includes evaluating the student’s course assignments and final paper, completion of the learning outcomes as set forth in the Learning Agreement, and the successful completion of any additional practicum integrative seminar requirements.  

The mid-semester evaluation provides an overview of how the student is acclimating to the practicum placement. It allows the supervisor to give feedback to the student and the faculty liaison focused on the student’s ability to professionally conduct him/herself in practicum.