Frequently Asked Questions

Practicum Education Coordinator
The Practicum Education Coordinator provides administrative support for all aspects of practicum education within their specific campus and/or assigned curriculum. Practicum Education Coordinators have primary responsibility for recruiting and assessing practicum placement agencies and Practicum Instructors, engaging students in the practicum planning process and assigning students to specific practicum placements. Practicum Education Coordinators often act as consultants to Faculty Liaisons, Practicum Instructors, agency directors and students in resolving practicum difficulties.

Faculty Practicum Liaison
The Faculty Practicum Liaison provides consultation to Practicum Instructors and students to ensure integration between classroom and practicum. The Faculty Liaison is in a strategic position to enhance communication regarding curriculum matters, practicum learning opportunities, new developments and demands of practice, and new projects undertaken by the School of Social Work.

Practicum Instructor
The agency-based Practicum Instructor provides practicum instruction and practice supervision to the practicum student at their placement site. The Practicum Instructor also evaluates the student performance and level of competency on practice behaviors.

An External Practicum Instructor provides educational supervision to the practicum student when there is not an agency-based Practicum Instructor available. This position carries the same responsibilities as an agency based Practicum Instructor.

Task Instructor
In some placement sites, the Practicum Instructor assigns or is assisted by other agency staff member/s in aspects of the supervision and/or training of the student in service delivery.

The Learning Plan is the template used for students to document their learning process in practicum. It is set up in relation to the Council on Social Work’s Competencies and Behaviors. Students enter their planned agency activities which relate to how they will demonstrate competency at the midpoint and end of their practicum. Students track their progress throughout their practicum by entering how they demonstrated that particular behavior at the completion of the activity. This tool is linked to the midpoint and final evaluations of which the student completes a self-evaluation and the Practicum Instructor completes an evaluation of the student based on the outcomes of their learning activities.

The Learning Plan, Midpoint Evaluation and Final Evaluation, can be found within Sonia under the Forms tab.

Sonia is the online practicum management software program that students, Practicum Instructors, Task Instructors, Faculty Practicum Liaisons, and Practicum Education Coordinators use to access placement information, required forms, reference documents, and to document their practicum activities.

Students and Liaisons access Sonia by using their IU username and passphrase. Practicum Instructors and Task Instructors access Sonia by using their work email address and the password that they have created.

Log into Sonia here

1. The Practicum Education Coordinator secures sites and Practicum Instructors as potential placements.
2. In Sonia, each student uploads a copy of their resume and completes the following forms:
   • Practicum Application
   • Background History Addendum
   • Student Code of Conduct
   • Student Practicum Contract
3. The Practicum Education Coordinator matches each student with a setting. Then the Practicum Education Coordinator makes contact with the potential Practicum Instructor sending them the student’s resume for review. The Practicum Education Coordinator informs the student of this potential match. If the Practicum Instructor agrees to interview the student, the Practicum Instructor makes contact with the student. Once a match is confirmed, the student completes the Student and Agency Placement Agreement form in Sonia. It is then routed to the Practicum Instructor for review and submission. At this time, the placement is confirmed and can begin at the start of the semester.

Yes, a student can do their practicum at their place of employment if the following conditions are met:

• A placement opportunity that meets all practicum criteria is available;
• The student’s practicum learning experiences are directly linked to the nine social work competencies and behaviors;
• The student has a person different than their current supervisor as a practicum instructor;
• In Sonia, the student submits a Practicum Application and a Petition for Employment-Based Practicum that outlines the proposed placement;
• A practicum coordinator reviews and approves the petition.

Practicum is a learning experience. As is true with all learning experiences, feedback is needed as students learn how to perform the skills and function as a professional social worker. To ensure that students are following good social work practice skills and ethics it is necessary to provide good social work supervision. In addition, supervision ensures that the clients served by the student are receiving quality services.

Practicum 481 and 482 = two semesters; a total of 400 hours:
Concurrent:

• 12.5 hours a week for 16 weeks

Seminar included in 481 and 482.

Educational qualifications to be a Practicum Instructor:
BSW with a minimum of two years post BSW experience

or

MSW with a minimum of one-year post MSW experience.

Practicum I (555) = one semester; a total of 300 hours: (Select one)

• 18.75 hours a week for 16 weeks
• 23 hours a week for 13 weeks summer semester.

Seminar included – 5 sessions.

Practicum II & III (651/652) = 600 hours at one placement:
Concurrent: (Select one)

• 18.75 hours over the two semesters.
• 21 hours if taken in conjunction with a summer semester.
• 37.5 hours per week if it is a block placement in the Spring Semester (please note that Block Placements are only available in the IU Indianapolis Face to Face program).