MSW Field Manual - School of Social Work at the University of Georgia

UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIASCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORKMASTER SYLLABUSSOWK 6055Foundation Practicum and Seminar3 Semester Credit HoursInstructor:Phone:Email:Office:Office Hours:“Field placement – as I remember it, it is one of the most exciting and exhilarating parts of aformal social work education. It is also one of the most challenging. It allows you, the student,to put into practice the concepts, theories, and skills you have learned in the classroom. It putsyou in the position of ‘practicing’ with live clients. It gives you room to explore and grow as abudding professional. More than anything else, it requires you to look inside yourself – toexamine yourself, your abilities, your reactions, and your suitability as a social worker. It canbe invigorating, and it can be extremely difficult.” (Grobman, 2002, p. 11)Course DescriptionThe Foundation Field Practicum is an integral part of the social work curriculum that builds uponan overview of social work’s person-in-the environment focus. Under the supervision of anexperienced agency field instructor, students are provided an opportunity to develop andintegrate foundation level social work knowledge, practice skills, values and ethics, professionalrelationships and work habits with in a multi-modal, multi-level educational approach withindividuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. The practicum provides studentswith opportunities to work with oppressed and diverse populations, including women, gays andlesbians, people of color, and other ethno-culture variations when assessing and planninginterventions. This course also emphasizes the professional attributes of the individual inprofessional social work practice; i.e., self-awareness, oral and written communication skills,empathy and genuineness in relationships with clients, organizational skills, and professionalethics and values.Students must complete a total of 240 clock hours in foundation practicum – usually 16 hours perweek for one semester. Proof of malpractice insurance is required by the Office of FieldEducation prior to beginning practicum.Course FormatA small group format (8-15 students) allows students to discuss issues and concerns related toexperiences at the field site. Brief lectures based on assigned readings also serve as a stimulus fordiscussion. Active participation in class discussion is expected.51