SOWK 7055 Clinical Practicum Syllabus - University of Georgia ...

SOWK 7055
CLINICAL PRACTIUM
(Semester Credits: 6)
SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
OFFICE HOURS:
PHONE:
EMAIL:
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Based on the ecological perspective, the concentration practicum emphasizes multisystems
assessments and multi-model interventions. Structured classroom learning
opportunities encourage students to explore reflectively the interrelationships between
human behavior, social policy, research and practice content at the advanced level.
Students identify ways in which their social work practice can be evaluated for its
effectiveness, for its congruence with the ethical context of the profession, and
competence in serving diverse client groups.
The goals of concentration practicum are to ensure students independently monitor and
apply knowledge of self as a cultural being in assessment, treatment, consultation, and
evaluation to improve effectiveness as a professional social worker.
COURSE FORMAT
The Concentration Practicum affords students an opportunity for experiential learning.
Students apply social work knowledge and skills gained in the classroom in a variety of
actual practice settings. Minimally, students meet weekly for one hour with their field
instructor for guidance and supervision. An Individualized Learning Plan, developed
jointly with the field instructor and with input from the faculty field liaison, structures the
student’s learning experiences.
CLINICAL PRACTICE BEHAVIORS:
All students must develop with their Field Instructor a Learning Plan for each semester
specifying how they will demonstrate the following Clinical Practice Behaviors:
1. Identify opportunities for clinical social work involvement in the enhancement
and maintenance of psychosocial functioning
2. Maintain professional boundaries, roles, and demeanor in clinical social work
practice
3. Utilize professional resources, i.e. supervision, self-reflection, self-developed
learning plans to improve professional clinical social work practice.
4. Apply ethical decision-making principles and frameworks to issues specific to
clinical social work practice

5. Apply problem-solving techniques based on informed discernment within clinical
social work practice
6. Communicate effectively with a variety of stakeholders, i.e. diverse clientele and
multi-disciplinary colleagues
7. Identify and apply appropriate clinical social work models with diverse client
populations for engagement, assessment, intervention, and evaluation
8. Advocate on behalf of people to secure basic human rights, including the
availability and accessibility of psychosocial services
9. Educate and empower people to advocate on their own behalf for their basic
human rights, including the availability and accessibility of psychosocial services
10. Identify, select, and evaluate strategies for maintaining and enhancing
psychosocial functioning
11. Work collaboratively with evaluators/researchers to assess and improve
intervention effectiveness
12. Relate theories, models, and evidence-based knowledge to the maintenance and
enhancement of people’s psychosocial functioning
13. Apply policy practice skills, including education and advocacy to work with
clients
14. Adapt clinical social work practices in response to contextual events and
advances in knowledge
15. Utilize interpersonal and contracting skills to engage members of divers groups
in interventions aimed toward increased psychosocial functioning
16. Conduct a comprehensive biopsychosocial assessment of a client in the context
of the clinical practice environment
17. Use empathy and sensitive interviewing skills to facilitate clients’ identification
of their strengths and problems
18. Employ DSM-IV-TR to accurately assess and diagnose psychopathology
19. Create an appropriate and mutually agreed upon treatment plan aimed at
improving psychosocial needs identified through assessment
20. Select and apply strategies aimed toward effective prevention of psychosocial
dysfunction adapting them for relevance to target populations
21. Select and apply effective clinical social work interventions to improve clients’
psychosocial functioning
22. Apply research skills to the evaluation of psychosocial interventions
23. Communicate and disseminate evaluation results appropriate to the intended
stakeholders
REQUIRED TEXT
No text is required. Based on the students’ individual learning needs and interests,
reading materials may be required/suggested by the Faculty Field Liaison or the
Field Instructor.

ASSIGNMENTS
Learning Plan
With input from the field instructor and assistance as needed from the Faculty Field
Liaison, each student will develop an individualized Learning Plan that outlines
tasks/activities the student will complete to demonstrate competency in each of the
practice behaviors listed above. A template for the Learning Plan is located online.
The Learning Plan also specifies outcomes and how outcomes will be
evaluated/measured. The Learning Plan should be completed and submitted to
the Faculty Field Liaison by the third week of each semester. The student should
retain a copy for him/herself and provide a copy for the Field Instructor.
In addition to the activities specified in the Learning Plan, the following assignments
are required for all students. The purpose of the assignments is to allow the Faculty
Field Liaison to evaluate the student’s performance on the associated practice
behaviors. The Faculty Liaison and Field Instructor work together to avoid
duplication and redundancy in assignments, yet assure that the practice behaviors are
demonstrated.
Required Assignments
Fall Semester
Assignment % of Due Location
Final Date in Field
Grade
Manual
Agency Community 10% Appendix
Study
C
Process Recording 10% Appendix
C
Reflective Episode 5% Appendix
C
Associated
Behaviors
Practice
#1, #2, #3, #7, #12,
#13, #22
#1, #2, #5, #6, #7, #9,
#10, #12, #15 - #17,
#20, #21
#3, #4, #7, #5
Spring Semester:
Assignment % of Due Location
Final Date in Field
Grade
Manual
Biopsychosocial 10% Appendix
Assessment
C
Process Recording 10% Appendix
C
Reflective Episode 5% Appendix
C
Associated
Behaviors
Practice
#5, #7, #10, #12, #13,
#14, #15 - #21
#1, #2, #5, #6, #7, #9,
#10, #12, #15 - #17,
#20, #21
#3, #4, #7, #5

Continuing
Education/Professional
Growth Plan
No Grade
Appendix
C
#1, #3, #14
Additional assignments for this course may be made at the discretion of each individual
Faculty Liaison and Field Instructor.
Penalty for Late Submission
Determined by each faculty liaison.
GRADES AND EVALUATION
GRADES
The concentration student’s letter grade for field education incorporates a suggested
grade for field placement given by the Field Instructor and a grade given by the Faculty
Liaison - 75% of the final grade is determined by the student’s performance in the field
and 25% of the final grade is determined by the student’s performance on assignments
given by the Faculty Liaison. Assigning and reporting the final grade is the responsibility
of the Faculty Liaison. Although the final grade represents a 75/25 split between
fieldwork and liaison assignments, the Faculty Liaison has the discretion to lower a
student’s final grade for: (1) failure to submit the completed learning plan, assignments,
or any additional course requirements on designated dates; (2) failure to complete any
assignment or a course requirement; and (3) failure to complete the minimum of 360 field
placement hours per semester for two consecutive semesters.
MSW students must earn a “B” or better in the first semester practicum in order to
continue on to second semester practicum. Students who fall below the minimum
standards set forth by the School of Social Work may be subject to an academic review.
If a student receives a grade of less than a “B”, they must repeat concentration practicum
as determined by M.S.W. program policy (page 13 and appendix J).
An “I” (incomplete) may be granted to a student with extenuating circumstances other
than performance, as approved by the Faculty Liaison. A student who is failing field
education may not receive an “I” grade.
FIELD INSTRUCTOR’S EVALUATION OF STUDENT
Evaluation of the student is an on-going process. A student continually receives feedback
on his/her performance from the Field Instructor, task supervisor (where appropriate),
and assigned Faculty Liaison.
SITE VISITS BY FACUTY LIAISON
The Faculty Liaison will make an on site visit with the Field Instructor and student
around the fourth week of the first semester to review the learning plan and discuss the
student’s initial progress. There is no written evaluation required for the first visit.

A second site visit will be made by the faculty liaison around the fourteenth week of the
semester to: (1) Review with the student and the field instructor the student’s progress
toward all learning objectives/demonstration of practice behaviors; (2) provide the
student with feedback regarding strengths and areas of performance that require
improvement; (3) discuss the student’s final grade for the semester; and (4) discuss
modification in the student’s learning plan for the second semester.
Field Instructors are required to complete a written final evaluation at the end of each
semester (forms provided in this appendix). The Field Instructor is responsible for
completing each written evaluation in a timely manner, discussing the completed
instrument with the student and obtaining the student’s signature on the final page. It is
the student’s responsibility to inform the Field Instructor of the due dates listed in their
practicum course syllabus. The Faculty Liaison is responsible for contacting the Field
Instructor for a final on-site evaluation with the student and Field Instructor to review the
written evaluation.
The Field Instructor is asked to suggest a grade for the student on field
performance as part of the end-of-semester final evaluation. The Field
Instructor’s grade accounts for 75% of the overall grade for the semester.
A 90-100 superior work (4.0) C+ 74-76 average (2.3)
A- 87-89 excellent work (3.7) C 70-73 below average (2.0)
B+ 84-86 good work (3.3) C- 67-69 passing (1.7)
B 80-83 well above average (3.0) D 60-66 minimally passing
(1.0)
B- 77-79 above average (2.7) F Less than 59 failing (0.0)
FACULTY LIAISON’S EVALUATION OF STUDEN
The Faculty Liaison is responsible for assigning the grade earned by the student. This
grade takes into consideration the Field Instructor’s evaluation (75%) and the Faculty
Liaison’s evaluation on student’s performance on assignments (25%).
RECOMMENDED ADDITIONAL READINGS
Boyle, S.W., Hull, G.H., Mather, J.H., Smith, L.L., & Farley, O.W. (2006). Direct
practice in social work. NY: Pearson Education, Inc.
Corcoran, J. (2005). Building strengths and skills: A collaborative approach to working
with clients. Oxford: University Press.
Thomlison, B., & Corcoran, K. (eds.) (2008). The evidence-based internship: A field
manual. NY: Oxford University Press.
ADA Statement
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (1990), the University of Georgia,
School of Social Work seeks to provide equal access to individuals with disabilities.
Students who have a disability and need specific accommodations and support to

facilitate full inclusion of all aspects of the course should make an appointment with the
instructor during the first week of the term. To register for services, students may contact
Disability Services located at Clark Howell Hall (706-542-8719, TTY 706-542-8778,
www.dissvcs.uga.edu).
Academic Honesty
All academic work must meet the standards contained in “A Culture of Honesty.”
Students are responsible for informing themselves about those standards before
performing any academic work. The link to more detailed information about academic
honesty can be found at: http://www.uga.edu/ovpi/honesty/acadhon.htm
Ethics and Confidentiality
The NASW Code of Ethics is intended to serve as a guide to the everyday professional
conduct of social workers. You are expected to be familiar with its contents. The Code
can be found online at: http://www.socialworkers.org/pubs/code.asp.
Please Note: The course syllabus is a general plan for the course; deviations announced
to the class by the instructor may be necessary.