Master of Social Work (MSW) Field Practicum
Gain Valuable Experience for Your Social Work Career
Completing your MSW in Clinical Practice at New Mexico Highlands University will position you for success in social work. Our social work field practicum experiences will reinforce everything you’ll learn during the online courses, providing opportunities to refine your skills as you prepare to become a clinical social worker.
What Is a Field Practicum in Social Work?
Our social work practicum experiences allow you to apply your social work skills and knowledge in real-world environments. Depending on your educational experience, you’ll engage in generalist and clinical field practicums in social work settings under the supervision of experienced professionals.
The practicum components provide hands-on experience for interviewing clients, performing psychosocial assessments, formulating treatment plans and providing services to individuals and groups. Social work practicums are required by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), which accredits our online MSW program.
Practicum Requirements for the Traditional vs. Advanced Standing Tracks
We offer social work field practicums for students with varying educational backgrounds:
Students with bachelor’s degrees in other fields will complete 928 field social work practicum hours over four semesters. The practicum experiences in this track provide valuable student training during two phases:
- Generalist Practicum (SOWK 5320 and 5340): The first practicum focuses on generalist social work practice and is designed to help students apply foundational knowledge of social work skills, values and ethics to practice. It entails 448 hours per year
- Clinical Practicum (SOWK 6320 and 6340): The second practicum focuses on clinical skills, enabling students to develop a professional identity as a social work practitioner and improve their practice skills through experiential learning and supervision. It entails 480 hours of fieldwork
Students who earned a CSWE-accredited Bachelor of Social Work can apply for advanced standing admission and will complete 480 hours of fieldwork. The practicum experiences in this track provide valuable student training during the following phase:
- Clinical Practicum (SOWK 6320 and 6340): This practicum focuses on clinical skills, enabling students to develop a professional identity as a social work practitioner and improve their practice skills through experiential learning and supervision
Get additional details by visiting the advanced standing page.
Field Practicum Hours
Your weekly commitments will vary depending on whether you complete each practicum during the spring, summer or fall. It’s important to fulfill these requirements in blocks of four or more continuous hours, allocating 16 to 22 hours per week for each social work practicum experience.
Approximate Weekly Commitments
| Semester | Generalist Practicum 5000-Level Classes | Clinical Practicum 6000-Level Classes |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | 16 hours | 16 hours |
| Spring | 16 hours | 16 hours |
| Summer | 19 hours | 22 hours |
| Total Hours | 448 hours | 480 hours |
The Importance of Social Work Field Practicums in New Mexico
There is considerable demand for social workers in New Mexico. In fact, the state has set up a task force to help more people enter this field and meet the need for social services in more communities.1 The field practicum components of our online MSW provide valuable experience for meeting this demand, with preparation for taking the ASWB national exam and attaining social work licensure.
Social Work Licensure Requirements in New Mexico
Field practicums are integral to your pursuit of social work licensure. According to the New Mexico Regulation & Licensing Department,2 you’ll need to meet these requirements to become a licensed social worker in New Mexico:
- BSW or MSW from an accredited college or university — field practicums are required for CSWE-accredited MSW programs
- Pass a board-approve exam, such as the ASWB national exam
- Pass the Jurisprudence exam (minimum grade: 70%)
- Verify that you have met the New Mexico Cultural requirements
If you’re interested in independent practice, you must complete two years and 3,600 hours of supervised practice.
Preview Your Social Work Practicum at New Mexico Highlands
New Mexico Highlands designed the online MSW to fit your life, and the social work field practicum is no exception. During your program, we’ll work with you to find a placement in your local community, with the option to pursue an internship or meet the field requirements at your current workplace.
To fulfill your social work practicum with your current employer, your workplace must meet the eligibility criteria and receive approval from our School of Social Work’s Field Education team. You’ll review this option during the SOWK 5240 Field Preparation component of the online MSW.
Social Work Field Practicum Resources
To learn more about completing the social work practicum at New Mexico Highlands, review these resources:
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