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MSW Practicum

Welcome to the MSW Practicum! The practicum is a degree requirement of the Master of Social Work program. Our practicum requirements are based on the accreditation standards set out by the Canadian Association for Social Work Education (CASWE).

The Field Education Office works closely with hundreds of community partners to secure the best possible practicum opportunities for students each academic year. There is a wide variety of practicum opportunities ranging from of micro to macro settings, including: policy and research, community development and outreach, and direct practice.

The Field Education Team looks forward to working with you during this very exciting chapter of your social work education experience.

The following page will walk you through the process of getting ready for your practicum.

Quick Links

Preparing for Practicum:

(Click on any of these options to jump down the page.)

Ensure you meet all eligibility pre-requisites

Attend Applying for Practicum Orientation

Resume Writing & Interview Workshops (Optional)

Submit Practicum Application on Experience York

Attend Beginning Practicum Orientation

Let's get started!

MSW Full-time Placement

Full-time MSW students have a BSW degree and complete the program in 3 terms. Social Work 5150 3.0 Critical Perspectives in Social Work must be taken prior to the start of the placement.

The practicum consists of 450 hours to be completed at the placement site and will begin in the second (Winter) term. Full-time students spend three (3) days per week from January to approximately by the middle of June.

MSW Part-time Placement

Part-time MSW students have a BSW degree beforehand and complete the program in 6 terms. Social Work 5150 3.0 Critical Perspectives in Social Work must be taken prior to the start of the placement.

The practicum consists of 450 hours to be completed at the placement site. The placement for MSW part-time students starts in the fall term (September) of the second year of the program.

The Field Education Office strives to support part-time students in their placement and work-life balance. Part-time students can complete their field placements by spending a minimum of two (2) full days to a maximum of five full (5) days per week at the placement site

The following are expected timelines depending on the number of placement days per week:

  • 2 placement days/week for approximately 8 months (to the end of April of the following year).
  • 3 placement days/week for approximately 5 months (to the end of January of the following year).
  • Block placement 4–5 days/week (4 days/week goes to the end of December, 5 days/week goes to the end of November).

It is important for students to note that while the Field Education Office strives to offer part-time students flexibility in completing their placements hours, flexible placement opportunities such as block (4-5 placement days/week) and evening/weekend placements tend to be limited. Therefore it is highly recommended that whenever possible, students attempt to make arrangements to complete 3 placement days/week during regular daytime working hours. This should be considered prior to entering the program.

MSW 2 Year Field Placement

MSW 2-year students have a bachelor degree (not in social work) upon entry into the MSW program.

Core Courses

All core courses with the exception of two courses must be completed successfully prior to the start of the placement.

  • Social Work 5010 3.0: Introduction to Social Work Theories and Critical Practice Skills Part1
  • Social Work 5020 3.0: Social Work from Charity to Social Transformation
  • Social Work 5030 3.0: Oppression and Intersectionality
  • Social Work 5040 3.0: Social Welfare and Social Policy
  • Social work 5011 3.0: Introduction to Social Work Theories Part 2 (to be taken concurrently with the practicum)
  • Social Work 5050 3.0: Understanding Organizations for Social Work Practice (to be taken concurrently with the practicum)

Time Requirements

The first year practicum consists of 550 hours to be completed at the placement site in the Winter (January) term of the first year of the program. Year 1 students will spend three (3) days per week at the placement ending by approximately mid-July.

Successful completion of the first year placement is a pre-requisite for the second year placement.

Core Courses

All core courses with the exception of two courses must be completed successfully prior to the start of the placement.

  • Social Work 5310 6.0 Practicum (successful completion of this placement is a pre-requisite for the second year placement)
  • Social Work 5150 3.0 Critical Perspectives in Social Work (to be taken concurrently with the practicum in the fall term)
  • Social Work 5250 3.0 Graduate Research Seminar (GRS) (to be taken concurrently with the practicum in the fall term)
  • Social Work 5550 3.0 Indigenous Worldviews and Implications to Social Work (to be taken concurrently with the practicum in the winter term)

Time Requirements

The second year practicum consists of 450 hours to be completed at the placement site in the Fall (September) term of the second year in the program. Year 2 students will spend two (2) or three (3) placement days per week. The placement will end approximately by the end of January of the following year (at 3 days per week) or by the end of April of the following year (at 2 days per week).

Mandatory Orientations

Applying for Practicum Orientation

A mandatory Applying for Placement Orientation Session provides an outline of the placement process, the responsibilities of the placement student and the Field Office. The online database and placement application are also reviewed.

Register Now

Upcoming Events

MSW Part Time Applying for Placement (Sep 2024) Orientation

Tuesday, December 12, 2023

6:00 pm - 7:30 pm (via ZOOM)

Register Now

MSW Advanced Standing Full Time Beginning Placement (Jan 2024) Orientation

Monday, January 8, 2024

9:30 am - 11:30 am (via ZOOM)

Register Now

MSW Year 1 Beginning Placement (for Jan 2024 placement) & Applying for Yr 2 Placement Orientation

Tuesday, January 9, 2024

9:30 am - 11:30 am (via ZOOM)

Register Now

Ready to Apply?

You can apply for practicum through Experience York.

Get Started!

Beginning Practicum Orientation

Once students are placed, they are required to attend the mandatory Beginning Practicum Orientation. This orientation offers information about the necessary documentation required for placement and the responsibilities of the student, Field Instructor, and Faculty Advisor.

Registration

Work Placements

A student can request to complete their practicum at their place of work. Students must complete and submit to the Field Education Coordinator a Work Place Practicum Proposal in addition to the on-line placement application by the specified deadline.

Please note that a work placement is not guaranteed. Certain criteria must be met and work-placement proposals are subject to approval by the Field Education Manager. Please refer to the practicum manual and contact the Field Education Coordinator for more information.

Integrative Seminars

Students will be assigned a Faculty Advisor who will lead four Integrative Seminars throughout the placement. These seminars provide a forum for students to share practicum experiences and further reflect and integrate theory with practice. Seminars are mandatory and CANNOT BE included in placement hours.

Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. You’ll be assigned a Faculty Advisor who will guide you through the experience and evaluate your performance alongside Field Instructor(s). If you successful complete the practicum requirements you will receive a grade of P (PASS).

MSW students in the Full Time Advanced Standing and PT Advanced Standing and YR 2 practicum complete 450 hours. MSW Yr 1 students complete 550 hours.

The Applying for Practicum Orientation held by the Field Education Office will outline the application process for practicum students.

Students who are on an unpaid placement are fully insured by York University.

Please connect with your Student Accessibility Services Counsellor and ask them to provide your Field Education Coordinator an accommodation letter which outlines your placement-related accommodations.

Our process is to review student practicum applications and provide a match based on the areas of interest and population you wish to work with. We do not provide agency lists to choose from.

Please do not connect with agencies on your own prior to having a conversation with the Field Education Coordinator. The Field Education Office has existing partnerships with many agencies and it could be that we have already matched a student to that agency/practicum.

Contact the Field Education Office

If you have any questions about practicum please contact a Field Education Office staff member.

Partiban Giritharan
Field Education Manager
437-228-2347
parti1g@yorku.ca

Saran Archer
Field Education Coordinator
Ext. 66320
sarcher1@yorku.ca

Sahana Karunakaran
Field Education Coordinator
Ext. 33354
sahanak@yorku.ca

Esther Ng
Field Education Program Assistant
Ext. 20662
estherng@yorku.ca

Learn More

The Graduate Program in Social Work at York is an exciting environment to pursue innovative, socially engaging, career-ready education. Contact our Graduate Program Engagement Coordinator for information.

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