Practicum
Through research, curriculum and critical pedagogy the School of Social Work seeks to prepare students to be critical practitioners and agents of change. As part of this preparation (and as a requirement for graduation) each student completes a field placement. These placements allow students to blend theory learned in the classroom with hands-on practical experience, preparing them to function as professional social workers upon graduation. As such, the field placement becomes the culminating experience of each student's education at the School.
The Field Education Office endeavors to integrate the philosophy of the School of Social Work into the placement process. We encourage a collaborative process between the students and the Field Education Office staff. Early in their academic program we begin to work with students, assisting them at both the graduate and undergraduate level in securing a placement that meets both their learning goals and the requirements of the program. We also assist students in exploring opportunities for placement in both traditional and non-traditional settings.
We invite you to browse this web site to learn about field placement offered by the Social of Social Work. Registered students, Faculty Advisors, and Field Instructors must sign into the online Database to access secure content (ex. applications). Registered students should note, further information is provided in the Orientation Sessions.
Check out a list of clarifying definitions to help those new to SSW better understand the services we offer.
Accomodation Needs
If you are a student with a disability, we want to ensure that we arrange any necessary accommodations for your disability in the practicum/field placement setting. Please note that practicum/field placement accommodations may differ from classroom accommodations due to the particular demands of the learning environment. We urge you to discuss your accommodation needs early in the term with the practicum/field placement coordinator and a disability counsellor from Counselling & Disability Services.
Our past experience strongly suggests that there is an increased likelihood of success in practicum settings when students with disabilities disclose their need for accommodation at the earliest possible stage. Furthermore, we believe that the optimal process for determining appropriate accommodation involves collaboration among the student, CDS disability counsellor and the practicum coordinator.
Please contact the:
Counselling and Development Centre
(416) 736-5297
Room N110
Bennett Centre for Student Services
http://www.yorku.ca/cds/
ATTENTION BSW Students:
Important Information Regarding OSAP:
For students who are planning to do their practicum this September 2013 or after, please note that you will need to take 9 credits per term during the Fall/Winter term to be eligible for OSAP, as a result of new changes at the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities and the York OSAP Office.
Students who take less than 9 credits per term, however, can apply for another Federal Government loan program for part-time students which is also administered by the OSAP Office. For more information about this program, please go to:
http://sfs.yorku.ca/aid/part_time/index.htm
Resources
- Reume/Cover Letter Handout
- Cover Letter Sample 1
- Cover Letter Sample 2
- Questions Students Can Ask at Interview
- Social Work Practicum Interview Practice Questions
- Code of Ethics (CASW)
More information is available at Career Centre Website: http://www.yorku.ca/careers/
Manuals
- BSW Practicum Manual (2012-2013)
- MSW Advanced Standing Practicum Manual (2012-2013)
- 2 Year MSW Practicum Manual (2012-2013)
Presentations
- BSW Direct Entry & Post Degree Beginning Placement Jan 2013
- BSW Direct Entry Planning for Placement Orientation (Oct 2012)
- BSW Post Degree Planning for Placement Orientation (Oct 2012)
- BSW Direct Entry Applying for Placement Orientation (Jan 2013)
- BSW Post Degree Applying for Placement Orientation (Jan 2013)
- MSW Part Time Applying for Placement (Jan 2013)
- MSW Part Time Placement Process Orientation (May 2013)
- MSW 2 Year - Yr. 2 Planning/Applying for Placement (Jan 2013)
- MSW 2 Year - Yr. 1 Applying for Placement (May 2013)
- MSW Full Time Applying for Placement (May 2013)
- Field Instructor Seminar - Intro to Field Education (Jan 2013)
- Securing & Starting a Placement - FAQ's (Apr 2013)
Tutorials
- Online Placement Database Application Tutorial
- Online Evaluation Process
- Online Evalutation FAQs (for Student)
- Online Evaluation Tutorial (for Student)
- Online Evaluation Tutorial (for Field Instructor)
- Online Evaluation FAQs (for Field Instructor)



