Post on 12-May-2018
SEPTEMBER 2011
FFAACCUULLTTYY OOFF SSOOCCIIAALL WWOORRKK
MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK
MSW PRACTICUM MANUAL
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Where to find required forms ........................................................................................................................ 3
Where to find completed practicum reports ................................................................................................. 3
INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................................................. 4
THE MSW FIELD PRACTICUM
1. What is Field Practicum? ............................................................................................................ 5
2. Steps to Setting up the Field Practicum ..................................................................................... 5
3. Student Responsibilities: Field Practicum Proposal ................................................................... 6
4. Ethical Considerations ................................................................................................................ 7
5. The Practicum: Supervision and Evaluation ............................................................................... 8
6. Who is Involved: Roles and Responsibilities ............................................................................... 9
7. Field Practicum Report and Presentation ................................................................................. 12
8. Elements to be Included in Practicum Report .......................................................................... 13
9. Writing Standards ..................................................................................................................... 14
10. Evaluation and Distribution of the Field Practicum Report ..................................................... 15
THE MSW RESEARCH PRACTICUM
1. What is a Research Practicum? ................................................................................................ 16
2. Steps to Setting up the Research Practicum ............................................................................ 16
3. Student Responsibilities: Research Practicum Proposal ........................................................... 17
4. Ethics and Other Forms of Approval......................................................................................... 18
5. The Practicum: Supervision and Evaluation .............................................................................. 19
6. Who is Involved: Roles and Responsibilities ............................................................................. 20
7. Research Practicum Report/Journal Article and Presentation .................................................. 22
8. Evaluation and Distribution of Research Practicum Report ...................................................... 24
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WHERE TO FIND THE REQUIRED FORMS
Required forms related to the Field Practicum and the Research Practicum can be found on line
at the Faculty of Social Work website at www.uregina.ca/socialwork/programs/msw.
Field Practicum
Field Practicum Evaluation Certification of Field Practicum Work License for Thesis, Dissertation, Research Practicum, and Field Practicum
Research Practicum
Research Practicum Evaluation Certification of Research Practicum Work License for Thesis, Dissertation, Research Practicum, and Field Practicum
WHERE TO FIND COPIES OF COMPLETED PRACTICUM REPORTS
Beginning in 2010 all Practicum Reports are stored online at the University of Regina Library at:
1. Go to Ourspace at http://ourspace.uregina.ca
2. Click on Communities & Collections
3. Click on Faculty of Social Work
4. Click MSW Research Practicum Reports or MSW Field Practicum Reports
Copies of Practicum Reports prior to 2010 are stored in the MSW Student Lounge on campus at the University of Regina.
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INTRODUCTION
The purpose of the MSW practicum is to provide students with the experience of developing
graduate level social work skills in a social work practice setting under the supervision and
mentorship of an experienced practitioner. The MSW Practicum has two options: a Field
Practicum and a Research Practicum.
This manual provides information about the practicum options and outlines the following:
1. Steps involved in setting up the practicum placement, including required proposal and
documentation
2. Requirements for completing the practicum including supervision and evaluation
3. The roles and responsibilities of Academic Supervisor, Academic Committee Member,
Professional Associate, and student
4. Guidelines for completing the practicum report
5. Setting up and completing the practicum presentation
6. Completion of the required forms as part of the process to graduate
7. Deadlines for submission of completed practicum report for Spring or Fall convocation
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THE MSW FIELD PRACTICUM
1. What is a Field Practicum?
The field practicum component is completed in the latter stage of a student’s program when
all the course work is complete. The nature and scope of the field-based work must be
approved by the student’s Academic Supervisor and Field Supervisor (Professional
Associate). The field-based portion of the program is carried out under the supervision of
the on-site Professional Associate. It should have a specific social work practice purpose and
direction. The practicum should enhance the student’s knowledge and skills in direct social
work practice in such areas as social work with individuals, families, groups, communities or
organizations.
Generally, the practicum will be undertaken in a social work context that differs from the
student’s usual workplace context. Supervision of the practicum will be done by an
individual who does not normally hold a supervisory position with the student. The
practicum will be unpaid.
The practicum may be done over one or two semesters. A full-time practicum will be a total
of 450 hours over 12 weeks, with four days per week at the practicum site and one day to
be used for activities such as reading, meeting with academic supervisor, or working on the
integrative Practicum Report. A practicum which takes place over two semesters (or a part-
time practicum), requires 450 hours devoted over approximately 24 weeks.
There are three required components in the field practicum:
1) Completion of the field practicum work as outlined in the practicum proposal
2) Completion of the final integrative Field Practicum Report
3) A presentation based on the field practicum experience
2. Steps to Setting up the Field Practicum
a) The student will select a field practicum location/agency and prepare the first draft of
the practicum proposal (see Section 3)
b) Select an Academic Supervisor
Initial review of the practicum proposal is the task of the Academic Supervisor
c) Select a second member of the committee from the Faculty of Social Work
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d) Select a Field Supervisor (Professional Associate)
e) Obtain a copy of the curriculum vitae of the Professional Associate
f) Receive approval of the practicum proposal from the Academic Supervisor, the second
Academic Committee Member and the Professional Associate (Field Supervisor)
g) The Academic Supervisor will forward the approved practicum proposal and curriculum
vitae of the Professional Associate to the MSW Program Coordinator who then forwards
these documents to the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research for final approval. The
Practicum must receive approval of the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research prior
to commencement. A copy of the proposal will be placed in the student’s file along with
the Dean of Graduate Studies approval
3. Student Responsibilities: Field Practicum Proposal
By the end of the first semester for those in full-time studies and after completion of three
courses for those in part-time studies, students should have some ideas formulated for a
possible practicum and a choice of Academic Supervisor.
The first step is to develop the practicum proposal in which students clarify their ideas about
the scope and nature of the field-based work they wish to do, the setting of the practicum
and the learning goals and objectives.
It is the student’s responsibility to develop the 1-2 page practicum proposal in which they
identify:
a) The name and address of the practicum agency they have identified
b) Their learning goals and objectives
c) Their Academic Supervisor’s name
d) The name of the second Academic Committee Member from the Faculty of Social Work
e) Period of practicum or the time period within which the practicum will be completed
(indicate whether full-time or part-time placement)
f) The name of the Professional Associate (Field Supervisor)
g) Scope and activities of the field practicum
h) Learning goals and objectives of practicum and how these will be met. These should be
specific enough so that it will be possible to determine the extent to which these goals
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were met for evaluation purposes on completion of the practicum (see Field Practicum
Evaluation form)
Students liaise with their Academic Supervisors in the development of this proposal.
Supervisors are responsible for ensuring that copies of the proposal are submitted directly
to the MSW Practicum Coordinator or to the MSW Administrative Support Staff Member
who will forward it to the MSW Practicum Coordinator for review.
Students should assume that permission from the institutions or institutional settings
where the Practicum work is located will be needed. Permission should be sought in close
consultation with the Academic Supervisor and Professional Associate. The Academic
Supervisor, in conjunction with the Professional Associate, should ensure that there is
institutional approval for the Practicum.
The practicum proposal must be approved and submitted to the MSW Program Coordinator
at least two months prior to the start date of the practicum.
4. Ethical Considerations
Practicum placements which may situate a student in a position in which questions of conflict of
interest may arise will not be permitted. Thus, students may not be placed in a practicum
situation in which any financial or close personal relationship may give rise to a reasonable
apprehension of bias. This includes but is not limited to:
a) Placement in an agency which is controlled by, or employs, anyone in a close personal
relationship with the student
b) Placement in an agency in which the student is otherwise normally employed. It is
conceivable that a student could be placed in a practicum in a large agency in a different
section or division than the section or division in which the student is normally
employed, if:
The duties related to the placement are demonstrably outside of the normal duties
performed by the student in his or her regular employment
The practicum takes place outside the student’s normal hours of employment with
the agency
The student is not paid, in salary or in kind, for performing the duties associated
with the practicum placement
The Professional Associate is not in the normal reporting structure associated with
the student’s paid employment in the agency
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5. The Practicum: Supervision and Evaluation
Professional Associates are responsible for evaluating the student’s field-based
performances and submitting the completed evaluation form (see Field Practicum
Evaluation) to the Academic Supervisor or the Chair of the MSW program. Evaluations are
graded on a credit/no-credit basis. Performances deemed unsatisfactory in part or in whole
may have to be repeated, with the agreement of all relevant parties.
Criteria for evaluation consists of a review of the student’s progress with respect to the
learning objectives identified in the practicum proposal as well as the student’s overall
performance with respect to professional development as a social worker at an advanced
level of social work practice. Any concerns of the Professional Associate about the quality of
a student’s ongoing field-based performance should be discussed promptly with the student
and Academic Supervisor with a view to the performance being improved.
a) Prior to the start of the practicum or very early in the practicum, the Academic
Supervisor, Professional Associate, and the student meet to review the learning goals
and objectives, supervision, and evaluation requirements (including setting up
evaluation meeting(s). The second Academic Committee Member may attend this
meeting
b) The Professional Associate provides on-site supervision of the student
c) Students are advised to maintain communication with their Academic Supervisor to
discuss the practicum experience and to begin to discuss the integrative Practicum
Report. The Academic Supervisor, the Professional Associate, or the student may
request a meeting at any time during the practicum
d) Upon completion of the practicum, the Professional Associate, the Academic Supervisor,
and student meet to discuss the student’s progress. The second Academic Committee
Member may attend the meeting
e) The Professional Associate submits the Field Practicum Evaluation form
f) The Professional Associate and Academic Supervisor sign the Certification of Field
Practicum Work form which is required by Faculty of Graduate Studies
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6. Who is Involved: Roles and Responsibilities
a) Academic Supervisor
The Academic Supervisor should be knowledgeable about the proposed area of the
practicum work and be accredited by Graduate Studies and Research to supervise Master’s
level work. Students may approach members of the Faculty of Social Work directly and/or
consult with the MSW Program Coordinator for advice about supervisors.
The Academic Supervisor is the student’s primary contact and initial source of guidance
concerning the nature and scope of the field component and potential candidates for the
Professional Associate (Field Supervisor). Preliminary approval of a practicum proposal is
given by the committee which consists of the Academic Supervisor and the Academic
Committee Member. The Professional Associate may be involved in the early stages of
developing the proposal (prior to official appointment).
The Academic Supervisor will ensure that the practicum receives approval from the
Dean of Graduate Studies and Research prior to the practicum commencing. The
Academic Supervisor in conjunction with the MSW Program Coordinator shall ensure
that there is appropriate field supervision of the practicum. The Academic Supervisor
shall determine whether the recommended Professional Associate (Field Supervisor) has
the necessary qualifications (see Appointment of Professional Associate). The Academic
Supervisor is responsible for ensuring that the MSW Program Coordinator receives all
relevant paperwork. Paperwork may be submitted to the Administrative Support Staff
Person who will forward to the MSW Program Coordinator for signature prior to
forwarding to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research. The MSW Administrative
Support Staff Person forwards the necessary paperwork to the Faculty of Graduate
Studies and Research
The Academic Supervisor should ensure that institutional agreement is obtained for the
practicum
The Academic Supervisor will meet with the student and the Professional Associate
(Field Supervisor) at the commencement of the practicum (before or early in practicum)
to review the learning goals and the practicum activities and on subsequent occasions as
necessary. A final meeting will occur at the end of the practicum to discuss the
student’s progress
The Academic Supervisor and the Professional Associate (Field Supervisor) will sign the
Certification of Field Practicum Work form required by the Faculty of Graduate Studies
and Research
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The Academic Supervisor is responsible for assisting the student to prepare the
Practicum Report. The Academic Supervisor is responsible for ensuring that the
Practicum Report meets required standards (content and writing style)
b) Professional Associate (Field Supervisor)
This person is the student’s on-site supervisor for the field-based component of the
practicum and is a member of the institutional (or related) setting where the practicum work
is done. The Professional Associate shall have a professional degree from a recognized
university, have at least a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in any area of study related to the
student’s program, hold a current career position relevant to the student’s program, and
have at least five years of successful professional experience in the area of the student’s
proposed practicum work. A graduate degree in social work is highly recommended. In the
event that the proposed Professional Associate does not have a graduate degree in social
work, it is expected that the committee members will provide specific support to strengthen
the practicum.
Appointment of Professional Associate: Nominees for Professional Associate may be
submitted by the Academic Supervisor or the student to the MSW Program Coordinator.
Nominees are contacted either by the Academic Supervisor or student and, if interested, are
required to submit a curriculum vitae as part of the proposal package that is forwarded to the
MSW Program Coordinator. The Coordinator reviews the curriculum vitae and makes
recommendations to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research. The Faculty of Graduate
Studies and Research is responsible for approving the appointment of Professional Associates.
The appointment may take several weeks to complete so students should allow for this in
their planning.
In addition to supervising and evaluating the student’s field-based work the Professional
Associate shall:
Work co-operatively with the Academic Supervisor and ensure the practicum is
appropriate for the needs of the student and the job-related circumstances of the
Professional Associate
Work closely with the student and ensure all activities and requirements related to the
practicum are carried out and offer advice or suggestions as needed or requested by the
student
Provide guidance with respect to relevant literature (relevant theories and models of
practice) and practice or skills development needs
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Consult with the Academic Supervisor on the student’s progress, on the extent to which
learning goals are being achieved and/or the extent to which specific assignments may
need modification
Provide the student, Academic Supervisor and the Faculty of Social Work with a written
final assessment (Field Practicum Evaluation form) of the student’s performance and
progress in light of expectations and requirements of the field practicum. The evaluation
of the field practicum should be undertaken in conjunction with the student and the
Academic Supervisor
Sign the Certification of Field Practicum Work at the completion of the practicum
c) Field Practicum Committee
The practicum committee consists of the Academic Supervisor and a second Academic
Committee Member from the Faculty of Social Work. The second faculty member must be
accredited by Graduate Studies and Research to serve on graduate student committees.
The second Academic Committee Member will be brought on to the committee prior to the
practicum proposal being approved and will have the opportunity to give feedback and
suggestions to the student at the beginning of the practicum. The Professional Associate
may be involved in the early stages of the development of the proposal (that is, prior to
official appointment). The practicum committee approves a student’s proposal, advises the
student on matters related to the study and writing phase, and decides when a Practicum
Report may proceed for evaluation.
Committee meetings will likely be held to officially approve the proposal. A second
meeting may be held to approve the final draft. Other meetings may be called as
required by the Academic Supervisor, at the request of the other member, the student
or the MSW Program Coordinator.
As noted earlier, the Academic Supervisor is responsible for assisting the student in
preparing the Practicum Report. The Academic Committee Member will be the second
reader and will provide further feedback to strengthen the student’s report. These two
committee members will determine when the report is ready for submission to the
MSW Program Coordinator.
Committee members are expected to review and comment constructively on drafts of
the Practicum Report. If unsatisfied with any aspect of the work at either the interim or
final stage the members are obliged to discuss their assessment to ensure that the
student receives feedback to guide further reasonable revisions. The Certification of
Field Practicum Work form is signed by the Academic Supervisor and Academic
Committee Member only when they are satisfied that the Practicum Report is
completed and ready for submission to the MSW Program Coordinator.
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7. Field Practicum Report and Presentation
All practicum students are required to submit a comprehensive written integrative
Practicum Report and complete a Presentation based upon their field experience.
The integrative Practicum Report should address the elements of the direct practice report
framework outlined below. The student will take into account both the individual and
structural dimensions interacting in their field. The report must be of high academic merit
and include an integration of the practice experience of the practicum with the relevant
social work literature.
a) The student writes the Practicum Report based upon the practicum experience (see
following discussion of Direct Practice Report Framework). Students are encouraged to
consult with their Academic Supervisor regarding content, writing style, and formatting
prior to beginning to write the Practicum Report.
b) The Academic Supervisor will provide primary support and guidance to the student
during the writing stage. The Academic Supervisor is responsible for ensuring that the
Practicum Report meets required standards (content and writing style). The Academic
Committee Member will be the second reader and will provide further feedback to
strengthen the student’s report. These two committee members will determine when
the report is completed and ready for submission to the MSW Program Coordinator.
c) The MSW Program Coordinator will review the final report to ensure that the Practicum
Report meets graduate program standards.
d) The Academic Supervisor and second Academic Committee Member sign the
Certification of Field Practicum Work form which is then submitted to the Faculty of
Graduate Studies. The title page and table of contents of the Practicum Report is
attached to this form when it is submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and
Research.
e) The student will send both the final Practicum Report (in Word or PDF format) and the
signed License for Thesis, Dissertation, Research Practicum, and Field Practicum form to
the MSW Administrative Program Staff member who will forward these to the
University of Regina library.
Presentation: Once the student is ready to make the formal presentation of their field
practicum work, the MSW Administrative Support Staff will post a notice of the presentation
and will circulate the notice to faculty and students.
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8. Elements to be included in Practicum Report
The following list of areas to address is to illustrate the possibilities, not to limit the
potential development of your framework. The report will include:
a) An Introduction: The introduction will include a description of the name of the
placement agency, the period in which the practicum was completed, and a description
and discussion of the goals and objectives of the practicum.
b) The Body of the Report: The body of the report will include:
Description of the agency;
Description and discussion about the primary activities during the practicum;
Details about how the goals and objectives were achieved;
Discussion about the challenges;
Discussion about ethical considerations and challenges.
c) Conclusions: Some elements to be considered in the body of the report are identified
below. This does not mean that the reports will necessarily use these as headings but
that the elements are to be included in the report:
Ideology – beliefs about determinants of problems; beliefs about client/worker
status and implications for relationships and other relevant issues. The discussions
about ideology will include the writer’s ideas about ideology, what appears to be
the agency’s perspective, and how these relate to societal perspectives and
contexts.
Theory - the student will be expected to engage in critical reflection of the
theoretical frameworks which they used and studied during the practicum. It is
anticipated that these would have been identified in the proposal or early in the
practicum placement. These may include those relevant to work at the micro,
mezzo, and macro levels (working with individuals, families, functioning, group
process, community, socio-economic, political realities): integrative theories
including ecological, Marxist, feminist, structural.
Values – your value base given your social location; value base of client
constituencies; potential and actual values clashes between self and clients, client
and society, client and agency, agency and worker, impacts of values on
contracting/goal-setting and understanding of “success” of interventions.
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Ethics –discussions about the extent to which the student was able to practice in an
ethical manner; any ethical dilemmas faced, how resolved, including self-
determination, confidentiality, etc.
Relationships – what are the particular agency practices that build social work
relationships/create obstacles between worker-client; worker-agency; worker-
worker; worker-profession; worker-community; client-community, client-society;
client-agency; worker-self.
Strategies – what are the agency practices with respect to individual counseling,
small group, family counseling, consciousness-raising, collective action, community
development, advocacy, strategies specific for working with particular groups. What
are the strengths of the agency strategies? Which are not appropriate or effective?
Skills – What are the skills that you used, witnessed, or learned during your
practicum: analytic, planning, individual intervention, group intervention,
community intervention.
Conclusions – What conclusions do you make following your practicum? What are
your visions for future work as a social worker; for the social work profession; for
social change?
9. Writing Standards
The Report must satisfy the same general standards of scholarly writing that apply to a thesis or
project as set by the Faculty of Graduate Studies & Research and the Faculty of Social Work.
These standards include:
a) clarity of purpose and rationale;
b) coherence and logic of organization;
c) clarity, cogency and suitability of expression;
d) soundness of sentence and paragraph construction;
e) accuracy and completeness of sections;
f) accuracy and completeness of references, reference list, and appendices.
For general guidelines on report-writing and format, students should consult the current edition
of the APA manual. The Faculty of Social Work advises that The University of Regina, Faculty of
Graduate Studies and Research Guide for the Writing and Typing of Graduate Theses must be
adhered to with respect to: title page, abstract, acknowledgments, table of contents, list of
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tables, list of illustrations and figures, text, list of references, literature cited or bibliography and
appendices. This latter document is available on the University of Regina website, under
Graduate Studies. The length of a Practicum Report should be approximately 50 pages.
10. Evaluation and Distribution of Field Practicum Report
Students are responsible for completing their Report in a timely manner and submitting copies
to the Academic Supervisor and Academic Committee Member. A copy may be submitted to
the Professional Associate as well. Once the academic members of the committee have
evaluated the Report and any changes or revisions have been made the Certification of Field
Practicum Work form is signed by both faculty members. A final unbound copy of the Report
with the signed statement of certification is submitted to the MSW Program Coordinator who
reviews the copy and forwards the relevant forms to the Faculty of Graduate Studies signifying
that the Field Practicum has been satisfactorily completed.
Upon approval and acceptance by the Faculty of Graduate Studies the student will send the final
Report electronically to Bev Apostle (bev.apostle@uregina.ca) along with the signed License for
Thesis, Dissertation, Research Practicum, and Field Practicum form so that the report can be
forwarded to the U of R Library for online storage and access.
Please note the following deadlines for submission of the final Field Practicum Report to the
MSW Program Coordinator
For Spring convocation March 31
For Fall convocation July 31
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THE MSW RESEARCH PRACTICUM
1. What is a Research Practicum?
A research practicum is undertaken when all coursework is complete. The practicum is
undertaken in a field setting with a focus on practical or applied projects that do not require the
same degree of theoretical underpinning that is typically found in a thesis. A research practicum
may include such activities as community-based research (including evaluations and needs
assessments), program development, policy analysis, or development of training manuals.
Ideas for project topics may arise from any of several sources including the courses one takes,
interests relating to one’s professional experiences, reading, and discussion with faculty and
other colleagues. The more critical considerations in selecting a topic are its significance or
usefulness for the field of social work practice, the degree of interest or commitment by the
student, whether it fits the scope of project work and whether it can be completed within the
allotted time.
A research practicum is conducted in a field setting under the supervision of a Professional
Associate (Research Practicum Supervisor) and a committee comprised of an Academic
Supervisor and one other academic member. The research practicum can be completed during
one semester (full-time) or over two semesters (part-time).
There are three required components in the research practicum:
1) Completion of the research practicum work as outlined in the practicum proposal
2) Completion of the final Research Practicum Report
3) A presentation based on the research practicum experience
2. Steps to Setting up the Research Practicum
a) Select an Academic Supervisor
b) Select a research practicum topic and possible field location
c) Select a second Academic Committee Member from the Faculty of Social Work
d) Select a Research Practicum Supervisor (Professional Associate) and obtain a copy of
their curriculum vitae
e) Establish learning goals and objectives of the research practicum
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f) Formalize the research practicum through a meeting of Academic Supervisor, second
Academic Committee Member, Research Practicum Supervisor and student to obtain
approval of practicum goals and objectives
g) Prepare the research practicum proposal (1-2 pages) which outlines the specific
activities to be undertaken (see Section 3)
h) Receive approval of the practicum proposal from the Academic Supervisor, the second
Academic Committee Member and the Professional Associate (Research Practicum
Supervisor)
i) The Academic Supervisor will forward the approved practicum proposal and curriculum
vitae of the Professional Associate to the MSW Program Coordinator who then forwards
these documents to the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research for final approval. The
Practicum must receive approval of the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research prior
to commencement. A copy of the proposal will be placed in the student’s file along with
the Dean of Graduate Studies approval.
3. Student Responsibilities: Research Practicum Proposal
By the end of the first semester for those in full-time studies and after completion of three
courses for those in part-time studies, students should have some ideas formulated for a
possible practicum and a choice of Academic Supervisor.
The first step is to develop the practicum proposal in which students clarify their ideas about the
scope and nature of field-based work they wish to do including the setting of the practicum and
the student’s learning goals. The purposes of the proposal are: a) to help the student clarify and
organize their thinking about a topic and ways of proceeding with it and b) to provide a
comprehensive outline of the intended work and the associated methodology.
The student will develop a 1-2 page practicum proposal in which they identify:
a) Location of research practicum (not to be in your normal place of employment)
Agency name, address and telephone number
b) Name of Research Practicum Supervisor (must have masters level degree and submit a
curriculum vitae for approval by the Faculty of Graduate Studies as a Professional
Associate)
c) Names of the Academic Supervisor and second Academic Committee Member
d) Information about the research practicum timelines
Date of commencement and of completion of project (full-time or part-time).
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e) Indicate choice of final report option – Practicum Report or Journal Article
f) Learning goals and objectives of the research practicum and how these will be met.
Learning goals and objectives should be specific enough that it will be possible to
indicate to what extent they were met during the practicum (see Research
Practicum Evaluation form)
If the practicum involves a research project the following information may also be a part of
the proposal (to be discussed with the Academic Supervisor):
a) Focus of the research practicum – problem/issue that is being addressed; objectives of
project
b) Why it is significant or worth doing
c) Central concepts/ideas/literature review
d) Methods or approaches to be used
e) Sources of information to be obtained (including description of sample if appropriate)
Students liaise with their Academic Supervisors in the development of this proposal. Supervisors
are responsible for ensuring that copies of the proposal are submitted directly to the MSW
Practicum Coordinator or to the MSW Administrative Support Staff member who will forward it
to the MSW Practicum Coordinator for review.
Any required permission from the institutions or institutional settings where the research
practicum work is done should be sought in close consultation with the Academic Supervisor
and Professional Associate. The Academic Supervisor in conjunction with the Professional
Associate should ensure that there is institutional approval for the practicum.
The practicum proposal must be approved and submitted to the MSW Program Coordinator at
least two months prior to the start date of the practicum.
4. Ethics and Other Forms of Approval
A proposal must be approved by the committee before actual work on a research practicum
may begin. Any practicum requiring participation of human subjects must have research ethics
approval in writing from the University of Regina Research Ethics Board. Students need to
consult with their Academic Supervisor in completing the ethics approval forms. Practicum
work may not proceed until ethics approval, if applicable, has been received. Ethics application
forms are available online at U of R Office of Research Services www.uregina.ca/research/.
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5. The Practicum: Supervision and Evaluation
Professional Associates are responsible for evaluating the student’s research practicum
performance and for submitting the completed evaluation form (see Research Practicum
Evaluation form) to the Academic Supervisor or the Chair of the MSW program. Evaluations
are graded on a credit/no-credit basis. Performances deemed unsatisfactory in part or in
whole may have to be repeated, with the agreement of all relevant parties.
Criteria for evaluation consist of a review of the student’s progress with respect to the
learning objectives identified in the practicum proposal. Any concerns of the Professional
Associate about the quality of a student’s ongoing research practicum performance should
be discussed promptly with the student and Academic Supervisor with a view to the
performance being improved.
a) Prior to the start of the practicum or very early in the practicum, the Academic
Supervisor, Professional Associate, and the student meet to review the learning
goals and objectives, supervision, and evaluation requirements (including setting up
evaluation meeting(s). The second Academic Committee Member may attend this
meeting.
b) The Professional Associate provides on-site supervision of the student.
c) Students are advised to maintain communication with their Academic Supervisor to
discuss the practicum experience and to begin to discuss the integrative Practicum
Report. The Academic supervisor, the Professional Associate, or the student may
request a meeting at any time during the practicum.
d) Upon completion of the practicum, the Professional Associate, the Academic
Supervisor, and student meet to discuss the student’s progress. The second
Academic Committee Member may attend the meeting.
e) The Professional Associate submits the Research Practicum Evaluation form.
f) The Professional Associate and Academic Supervisor sign the Certification of
Research Practicum Work form which is required by Faculty of Graduate Studies.
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6. Who is Involved: Roles and Responsibilities
a) Academic Supervisor
Academic Supervisors are expected to have knowledge in the area of a research practicum topic
and must be accredited by the Faculty of Graduate Studies to supervise a Master’s project.
Students may consult with the MSW Program Coordinator and other faculty members for advice
in selecting a supervisor.
The main responsibilities of an Academic Supervisor are to:
a) Discuss and explore research practicum topics with students
b) Assist students to set up the research practicum location and select a Professional
Associate (Research Practicum Supervisor)
c) Advise students on the necessary preparation to establish the research practicum,
develop learning goals and write a research practicum proposal
d) Arrange to meet with the student and the Professional Associate at the beginning and
the end of the practicum and if necessary, on other occasions
e) Ensure that the Research Practicum Supervisor meets the criteria for Professional
Associate of Graduate Studies and Research (Professional Associates must have a
Masters level degree in social work or a related human service area)
f) Ensure that the Professional Associate’s curriculum vitae is obtained and submitted to
the MSW Program Coordinator along with the student’s research practicum proposal
g) Advise students on how to make application for research ethics approval and other
types of approval that may be required
h) Ensure that writing and scholarly standards are consistently upheld
i) Consult with the committee, reach a joint agreement on a project’s readiness for
presentation and sign the Certification of Research Practicum Work form
j) Contact committee members, student and MSW Program Coordinator regarding an
agreed time for the presentation
k) Brief the student on the nature, format and expectations of the practicum presentation
l) Ensure that revisions to a Research Practicum Report are completed in a timely and
satisfactory manner
m) The Academic Supervisor will be responsible to advise the MSW Program Coordinator
when all the revisions have been made and the student has complied with the
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requirements for the completion of the Research Practicum Report. The MSW
Administrative Support Staff will work with the MSW Program Coordinator to ensure
that all the necessary paperwork is sent to the office of the Dean of Graduate Studies
and Research.
b) Professional Associate (Research Practicum Supervisor)
The Professional Associate (Research Practicum Supervisor) supervises the research practicum in
the organization or agency at which the research practicum is undertaken.
The Research Practicum Supervisor must receive approval as a Professional Associate by the
Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research. The Research Practicum Supervisor should submit a
curriculum vitae to the MSW Program Coordinator. He or she must have an MSW or other
Masters degree in a human service related field.
The main responsibilities of the Professional Associate are to:
a) Discuss the research practicum and the student’s learning goals with the student
b) Meet with the student and the Academic Supervisor in order to approve the
learning goals and the research practicum
c) Facilitate the research practicum for the student by ensuring that the student
receives the information and makes the necessary contacts for the research
practicum
d) Meet with the student on a regular basis to review how the research practicum is
proceeding
e) Provide the student, Academic Supervisor and the Faculty of Social Work with a
written final assessment (Research Practicum Evaluation form) of the student’s
performance and progress in light of expectations and requirements of the research
practicum. The evaluation of the research practicum should be undertaken in
conjunction with the student and the Academic Supervisor
f) Sign the Certification of Research Practicum Work form at the completion of the
practicum
g) If she or he so wishes, reads the Research Practicum Report, offers constructive
criticism and attends the research practicum presentation
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c) Research Practicum Committee
The research practicum committee consists of the Academic Supervisor, Professional Associate,
and a second faculty member (Academic Committee Member). The second faculty member
must be accredited by Graduate Studies and Research to serve on graduate student
committees. The Academic Committee Member will be brought on to the committee prior to
the research practicum proposal being approved and will have the opportunity to give feedback
and suggestions to the student at the beginning of the project. The Professional Associate
(Research Practicum Supervisor) is also part of the committee and will provide ongoing support,
feedback, and guidance to the student.
The practicum committee approves a student’s proposal and advises the student on matters
related to the ongoing research process. The Academic Supervisor provides primary support and
guidance during the report writing stage. Once the Academic Supervisor determines that the
Report is ready, the Academic Committee Member will review the document and provide
feedback in order to strengthen the Report. The Academic Supervisor will forward a copy of the
final Report to the MSW Program Coordinator once the committee agrees that it is completed.
Committee members are expected to review and comment constructively on early and final
drafts. If unsatisfied with any aspect of the work at either the interim or final stage the
members are obliged to make their concerns known to the Academic Supervisor and student
and to seek further reasonable revision. The Certification of Research Practicum Work form is
signed by the Academic Supervisor and Academic Committee Member only when they are
satisfied that the Research Practicum Report is satisfactorily completed.
7. Research Practicum Report/Journal Article and Presentation
Students can choose to complete either a Practicum Report or a Journal Article to fulfill the
requirement of the Research Practicum Report. Students are also required to complete a
Presentation based on their research practicum experience.
Option 1: Research Report
A Research Practicum Report requires a clear delineation of the issue under study through a
statement of a problem and identification of objectives of the project. It requires a literature
review of the subject under consideration, presentation of methods used to develop the project
and the presentation and interpretation of results/findings, as relevant.
The Research Practicum Report is to be formatted using the University of Regina Graduate
Studies Guidelines for Theses. The content and format of the Research Practicum Report will
vary depending upon the nature of the work undertaken. The student will work with their
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Academic Supervisor to determine the most appropriate outline and format; as a general guide,
some or all of the following sections may be included:
a) Introduction which will describe the issue under consideration, the objectives of the
project, and the context in which the research practicum was undertaken;
b) Literature Review of the key issues addressed in the research practicum;
c) Methodologies employed in conducting the research practicum, including, if relevant,
research methodologies/strategies, data gathering methods, research instruments,
population sampled; ethical considerations, data analysis procedures;
d) Findings/Outcomes are to be clearly presented including as relevant, quantitative
and/or qualitative tables, charts, quotations from respondents, program developed,
training manual, etc.
e) Discussion of findings/proposed program, etc. should be related to relevant literature
and to social work
f) Recommendations and Conclusions
A Research Practicum Report must convincingly demonstrate the ability to engage in research,
write well and to select, organize and use social work knowledge and ideas confidently. The
scholarly standards approved by the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research apply, as follows:
a) Clarity of purpose and rationale
b) Coherence and logic of organization
c) Clarity, simplicity and cogency of written expression
d) Adequacy of definitions of key terms
e) Accuracy and completeness of sections
f) Accuracy and completeness of bibliography/references
g) Organization of appendices
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Option 2: Journal Article
Students who wish to do an MSW Research Practicum may opt to write up their practicum in the
form of a Journal Article as opposed to a report.
The student carries out the research practicum in the manner designated in the Practicum
Manual but instead of writing a Report, the student writes a paper according to the
requirements of a selected journal.
The decision to write an Article rather than a Report is made when the student writes the
practicum proposal. At that time, the student with the guidance of his/her Academic Supervisor
selects an appropriate journal based on the research/practicum area of interest. The student
should obtain a copy of the “Instructions for Authors” from the journal to determine criteria of
length, style, references and other requirements of the journal.
The student meets all requirements of presenting the research practicum work and then
submits the paper to the journal for publication consideration. The paper will be submitted
from the base of the Faculty of Social Work, University of Regina.
The student’s MSW Research Practicum Committee determines the suitability of the paper to be
submitted to the journal in question and when the paper is ready to go forward to be presented.
A copy of the student’s paper will be kept on file in the Faculty of Social Work, University of
Regina.
The committee determines when a research Practicum Report or Journal Article is at the final
draft stage. In preparing interim and final drafts students should follow current APA writing
standards.
Presentation: Once the student is ready to make the formal presentation of their research
practicum work, the MSW Administrative Support Staff will post a notice of the presentation
and will circulate the notice to faculty and students.
8. Evaluation and Distribution of Research Practicum Report
A revised unbound copy of the Practicum Report with the signed statements of certification is
submitted to the MSW Program Coordinator who reviews the copy and forwards the relevant
forms to the Faculty of Graduate Studies signifying that the Research Practicum has been
satisfactorily completed.
Upon approval and acceptance by the Faculty of Graduate Studies the student will send the final
report electronically to Bev Apostle (bev.apostle@uregina.ca) along with the signed License for
Thesis, Dissertation, Research Practicum, and Field Practicum form so that the Report can be
forwarded to the U of R Library for online storage and access.
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Please note the following deadlines for submission of the final Research Practicum Report to the
MSW Program Coordinator
For Spring convocation March 31
For Fall convocation July 31