Thank you for your interest in establishing a partnership with CSUSB School of Social Work. If your agency is interested in being a practicum for our social work students, please follow the steps below:
Step 1: Please read the Practicum Education Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and review the required forms listed below prior to beginning the application process.
Step 2: After reading the Practicum Education FAQ’s and forms in Step 1, if you remain interested and your agency qualifies as a practicum site, please complete:
- Each potential Practicum Instructor will need to complete a form.
- Email forms to Practicum Education email at sw.practicum@csusb.edu.
- Once we receive the forms, the Director of Practicum or the designated Practicum Coordinator will contact the agency to set up a site visit.
Step 3: Once the department receives a copy of the Agency Application and Practicum Instructor Information Forms, a meeting will be scheduled. A university practicum team member will meet with the agency to further assess its potential to be a practicum site. When assessing a site, the representative will discuss practicum options for BASW and MSW level placements. Questions to consider prior to moving forward:
- Does the agency have the capacity and potential for providing adequate experience?
- Are there resources and learning opportunities at the agency appropriate to support the practicum program?
- Can the agency provide supervision and instruction to ensure a quality practicum experience?
- Field instructors that meet our criteria, and
- Does the agency have Practicum Instructors that meet the CSUSB School of Social Work criteria?
The agency-assessment will consider:
- Commitment to high educational standards as reflected by the Council on Social Work Education.
- Overall responsibility for the development of the agency’s participation in this social work educational joint venture should rest with the agency’s Executive Director or designee.
- Learning experience with individuals, families, groups, agency administration and communities (as indicated by the Learning Plan Agreement/Comprehensive Skills Evaluation) must be made available by the agency.
- Availability of records prepared by students for learning instruction and evaluation at the School, subject to professional safeguards.
- Physical facilities necessary to accommodate students will be provided by the agency. When possible, these will include desk space, a meeting room for seminar instruction where indicated, facilities for private interviewing, tutorial instruction, resources necessary for home visits, provisions for essential clerical services, and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Step 4: If the agency, respective Practicum Instructor and/or Designee, and Practicum Director agree that the agency is a strong fit for program, the Practicum Director or designee will initiate the Learning Site Agreement / Contract with the agency and CSUSB’s Procurement (Contracts) Office. Once the Agreement/Contract has been signed by all required parties, the agency will be notified in writing of approval. Prior to placing students annually, respective Practicum Coordinators/Practicum Director are required to confirm placement site has a current contract. Contracts can take up to 6 months to be negotiated and fully executed.