Graduate students in social work who complete the MSW program through either the two-year full-time program or the three-year part-time program must accumulate a total of 1010 clock hours in field placements. They do so through three courses: SWK 5413, SWK 5423, and SWK 5820. The first placement is part of the Foundation Year curriculum, while the second placement is part of the Concentration Year.
Graduate students in social work who complete the MSW program as advanced standing students must accumulate a total of 550 hours in graduate field placements and do so through one course: SWK 5820.
For further information, see MSW Foundation Year and MSW Concentration Year below.
MSW Foundation Year
Foundation year students are required to accumulate a total of 460 hours in their practicum placement and earn a total of 6 credit hours in courses SWK 5413 and SWK 5423. Foundation year practicum courses are offered during the fall and spring semester concurrently with other coursework and during the summer in a block practicum format.
Foundation year MSW students have several options to consider when planning their practicum coursework. The standard practicum option for full-time foundation year MSW students is enrollment in the foundation year practicum courses during their first fall and spring semesters in the program. If for personal or educational reasons the student prefers, the foundation year practicum may be deferred until the summer after the first year of study.
The standard option for part-time MSW students is enrollment in the foundation year practicum courses during the summer after completing all foundation year classroom work. If for personal or educational reasons the student prefers, he or she may consider the following two alternative options:
- take practicum courses during fall and spring of the second year in the program thereby completing the practicum concurrently with their remaining foundation year classroom work
- wait until all foundation year classroom work has been completed and take the two practicum courses the following fall and spring semesters.
All Foundation year students, whether full-time or part-time, who select the fall/spring or concurrent option complete SWK 5413 in the fall and SWK 5423 in the spring and spend 18 - 20 hours each week in the field. Students who select the summer block placement take both SWK 5413 and SWK 5423 during the summer and spend 38-40 hours each week in the field.
All Foundation year students plan for practicum placement by attending orientation to the practicum, completing application materials, meeting with the Practicum Coordinator, and interviewing at sites. Sites for individual students are assigned by the Practicum Coordinator based on student interest and experience, educational needs, and site availability. Students who elect to take practicum during fall and spring semesters make their plans for practicum during the preceding summer. Those who elect the summer practicum plan for practicum the preceding spring.
MSW Concentration Year
Concentration Year students are required to accumulate 550 hours in their practicum placement and earn a total of 12 credit hours in SWK 5820. They may complete the practicum in a block during the spring semester and spend 36 hours each week at their site earning all 12 credit hours required, or they may spread the practicum over spring and summer and spend 18-20 hours at their site earning 6 credit hours each of the two semesters.
Advanced Standing students who elect to complete their graduate studies part-time over two years may, with special permission, be considered for a fall/spring concurrent placement during their final year of graduate study.
Social Work students in their final year of study at OU elect either Direct Practice or Administration and Community Practice for an area of concentration. Practicum placements for the concentration year provide students the opportunity to develop concentration-specific skills.
Concentration year students plan for practicum placement by completing application materials, meeting with the Practicum Coordinator, and interviewing at sites during the semester prior to enrollment in SWK 5820. Sites are recommended by the Practicum Coordinator based on student interest and experience, educational needs, and site availability. Student placement is a mutual decision made by the student and the site and approved by the Practicum Coordinator.
