SEPTEMBER 2011

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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