SW 102 Pathways to Practicum Education
This required course is designed for BSSW students to take in the spring semester of their junior year and serves as a critical bridge between academic coursework and the senior-year practicum education experience. It is a prerequisite for SW_113: Field Practicum & Seminar I and SW_114: Field Practicum & Seminar II. The course introduces students to the structure, expectations, and competencies of the Department of Social Work's Practicum Education model, as guided and informed by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) through its Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS). Students will gain an understanding of the practicum education placement process and the integration of theoretical frameworks, evidence-informed practice, and person-in-environment perspectives into field practicum learning. Emphasis is placed on ethical decision-making, professional identity, cultural humility, and readiness for direct practice. The course prepares students to enter practicum as competent, reflective, and ethical emerging social work professionals grounded in the NASW Code of Ethics and the core values, principles, and competencies of the profession.
Practicum Education is a required component of the BSSW program and is completed during the senior year. Students must successfully complete SW_102 during the Spring semester immediately prior to the senior year, along with all required prerequisite courses, followed by the senior-year Practicum Education sequence: SW_113 (Fall) and SW_114 (Spring). These courses must be completed in sequence. Refer to the individual course descriptions for specific prerequisite requirements. Failure to successfully complete SW_102, SW_113, or SW_114 as required may require the student to repeat the course the next time it is offered, which may delay graduation.
SW_102, SW_113, and SW_114 are restricted courses intended exclusively for students pursuing the BSSW degree. These courses are part of the required BSSW Practicum Education sequence and are not available to students pursuing a Social Work minor or to students who are not enrolled in the BSSW program. Social Work minors and non-majors/non-minors should not enroll in SW_102, SW_113, or SW_114. Enrollment in these courses is limited to eligible BSSW students who have met the applicable program, prerequisite, and Practicum Education requirements established by the Department of Social Work.
Prerequisite
SW 128 Introduction to Social Work
Distribution
SW