The Field Practicum is an essential element of Texas A&M University-Commerce's graduate social work education. The design of our Field Practicum Program facilitates the integration of classroom theory with agency-based practice and provides support to students as they engage in this dynamic process.
The Field Practicum prepares students to apply the generalist/advanced generalist practice model. This model is reinforced through the knowledge and skills content of the social work courses. Therefore, regardless of the field setting, students should be familiar with this frame of reference and its application in social work practice.
Students utilize critical thinking skills to apply the advanced generalist model in various settings or contexts of practice.
Goal/Objectives of the Field Practicum
The primary goal of the Field Practicum is to provide students with opportunities to gain experiential knowledge of advanced generalist practice. Upon successful completion of the field practicum students will have attained the following educational objectives:
a. The ability to synthesize knowledge and theories underlying social work practice;
b. The ability to apply theories and knowledge in supervised advanced generalist
practice experiences;
c. The ability to demonstrate practice skills inherent in advanced generalist social work practice across multiple intervention levels;
d. The ability to utilize appropriate research methodologies to evaluate the effectiveness of their interventions, social policies, and agency programs;
e. The ability to work effectively with diverse client groups, especially populations vulnerable to discrimination and oppression;
f. The ability to demonstrate professional behavior incorporating the application of social work values and ethics;
g. Competency as an advanced generalist practitioner.
The Field Practicum will consist of 900 hours
of internship experience. The first agency internship in
the two-year program, called Foundation Field Practicum (FFP),
will consist of 260 hours to be completed during the student's
spring semester of the Foundation Year. The second internship
(Advanced Generalist Field (AGF), required of both two-year
and advanced standing students, will consist of 640 hours
over three semesters. Both internships will provide opportunities
for students to apply theory, knowledge, skills, and values
across multiple levels of systems (individuals, families,
groups, organizations, and communities). Concurrent coursework
will provide students with the educational foundation to
apply the problem-solving model across client systems. Assignments
throughout the curriculum, required for classes and for the
practicum, will allow students to demonstrate competency
in working with various systems.
