MSW Practicum Partner Information Form

Master of Social Work Program: Field Partner Information Form 

Thank you for your interest in partnering with the Stanislaus State MSW Program and having student interns placed at your organization. We look forward to exploring this potential partnership with your organization. This form will initiate the process for us to learn more about your organization and the field placement(s) that you would like to make available to our MSW students. Below is some information that will help familiarize you with the field program. 

• The MSW field practicum program requires first and second year students to complete an internship during the first two years of the MSW program. Typically, first and second year students in our Stateside program begin their placements in the fall and continue in their placements for much of the academic year (September through May) for 16 hours per week on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  Students in our Hybrid program complete their internships during a 13- week summer block placement (mid-May to mid-August) for 40 hours per week.
• To become a placement site, the University requires a contractual relationship with an organization. The University’s procurement department provides a contract that spells out the conditions of internship placements. Where needed, the practicum program can work with your organization in formulating a specifically tailored contract that meets organization needs, while still maintaining the accreditation standards of the practicum and university requirements.
• The practicum program requires that an organization be able to provide certain learning assignments in order for students to meet educational goals and objectives. Because the program is designed to prepare students for integrative practice with an emphasis on social justice, an organization must be able to offer learning assignments that include opportunities for students to work with any combination of the following: individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities (e.g., collaboratives, systems of care). Integrative social work practice is the term used by the program to refer to the practice approach presented in the curriculum.
• All interns must be supervised by an MSW with at least two years of post-master’s experience. Our accreditation requirement specifies that other similar degrees, such as MFT, LPCC, MA, or MPH, will not be acceptable for this purpose. In addition, the MSW program expects all MSWs who supervise students to complete training on supervision (offered by the program). It is strongly recommended that new field instructors complete supervision training before supervising an intern.
• To support students, agencies and field instructors, the MSW program assigns a faculty member to every student in placement. Faculty liaisons provide agencies with consultation and linkage between the MSW program and the agency.
• The University, through an enrollment fee, provides all students with malpractice insurance during their internship. Please note that the MSW program does not initiate criminal background checks as part of the admissions process.

Additional information on the field program is available on the MSW Field Education website and can be accessed using this link:  https://www.csustan.edu/social-work/field-education .