Southern Utah University

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Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Spring Semester 2026

Beginning Field Practicum (Face-to-Face)

SW 4891-01

Course: SW 4891-01
Credits: 6
Term: Spring Semester 2026
Department: FLHD
CRN: 10927

Course Description

This course provides social work students with practical experience within a social services agency. The focus of beginning practicum is for students to apply content, theory, and skills in professional practice under direct supervision of a field instructor. (Fall, Spring, Summer) [Graded (Pass/Fail)] Prerequisite(s): Instructor permission Registration Restriction(s): Senior standing required and Social work majors only

Required Texts

  • The Social Work Practicum: Preparation for Practice by Cynthia Garthwait (8th ed., 2021).
    ISBN: 9780135879016
  • SUU BSW Practicum Manual (available on Canvas)
    • Students are expected to read the entirety of the Practicum Manual before seminar begins
  • NASW Code of Ethics
  • CSWE Core Competencies (available on Canvas)
  • All other required reading will be available to students on the Canvas site
  • Intern Placement Tracking (IPT) is the website in which the Learning Plan, on-site and supervision hours logs, and end-of-term Evaluations will be completed: https://www.alceasoftware.com/web/login.php
    • Logins and passwords for IPT will be emailed to students and Field Instructors when placement begins, the organization ID is suusw

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, you will be able to:
1. Review the function that the NASW Code of Ethics has within the practice.
2. Navigate the practicum placement agency’s/organization’s role within the context of helping individuals improve the ability to function within the environment.
3. Describe the purpose and process of supervision.
4. Evaluate the importance of self-care in this field and demonstrate the ability to practice it.
5. Begin to apply and practice your role as a professional within the field of social work.
6. Navigate and apply generalist social work concepts to the population you are working with at your field education site.

Course Requirements

Canvas Announcements:
Please pay attention to Canvas Announcements as I use Canvas Announcements to communicate about important information and updates.
Learning Agreement:
As a student in this course, you are responsible for the content presented in this course and for your own learning. If you need help, PLEASE ASK. If you have questions about the material that you are interested in or curious about that is not addressed in the course, PLEASE ASK. If you do not understand a concept being taught/discussed, PLEASE ASK. I am a resource to you; however, if you do not communicate that you need help, I cannot help you.
Emotional Safety
Due to the emotionally and psychologically vulnerable content that will be discussed throughout this course, it is essential that all participants contribute to an environment of emotional safety. In the event of a student participating in emotionally unsafe comments/behavior, the instructor will provide feedback which will serve as a warning. At that time, the student will be invited to converse with the instructor about what made their comments/behavior emotionally unsafe. If the behavior is repeated, students will be referred to campus services. If you find you are emotionally overwhelmed by content in this or any other course, the Counseling and Psychological Services Center (CAPS) is a resource available to you. The phone number for CAPS is: (435) 865-8621.
Grading:
Pass/Fail - 85% of total possible points = passing grade.
While there are a few assignments/requirements that will be possible for you to miss and still pass, there are many assignments/requirements for this course that will result in you failing the course if you do not complete them.
Grammar and following instructions matters! Your grade will be affected by these things. Please pay attention to page requirements - both minimums and limitations. You will lose points if the page minimum is not reached (headings don’t count). While your grade will be impacted according to assignment rubrics for incorrect grammar and poor writing mechanics, because of the amount of time it takes to do so, I will not be editing your papers as I grade them.
  1. Papers are graded on creative thought and personal insights, integration of course concepts and principles, and clarity of writing and thought. Please feel free to show me your paper or talk to me about it at any time.
APA 7 Writing: 
All papers should use APA 7th edition format. This format should include 1" margins, double spacing, headers, appropriate citations, and references. Please cite all reference work where specifically used. Even if you rewrite a sentence into your own words, it must be cited. Papers are graded on creative thought and personal insights, integration of course concepts and principles, and clarity of writing and thought. The SUU Writing Center and OWL at Purdue are excellent resources for using APA.
AI Policy:
Since writing, self-reflection, and critical thinking skills are part of the learning outcomes of this course, I expect that all work submitted for this course will be your own. Additionally, you are not allowed to use any generative artificial intelligence tools (e.g. ChatGPT or Dall-E 2) at ANY STAGE of the work process, including preliminary ones. AI-generated submissions are not permitted and will be considered as plagiarism. If it is discovered that you are using AI to generate work that you turn in as your own, SUU Policy 6.33 for Academic Integrity will be followed.

Course Outline

Seminar Attendance (200 Points Total)
A critical component of the field education/practicum experience is attending and participating in the scheduled practicum seminar which is intended to support students in the integration of classroom theory, experience and other knowledge into their field education while supporting development of the CSWE Core Competencies. Students are expected to prepare any assigned readings in advance and actively contribute to discussion. Students will earn 20 points each time they attend and engage in practicum seminar, attendance with no participation will result in partial credit.
HIPAA Training and Quiz (20 points)
You will be expected to complete the HIPAA Privacy module, followed by the quiz to confirm your learning and comprehension of the material.
Learning Plan Submission (200 Points)
Complete the Learning Plan form that can be found on IPT. You can also find a copy of the Learning Plan in the Field Manual appendices for reference. Your assignment will be considered submitted when it is signed by yourself and your field instructor on IPT. You can choose to complete this plan with either your on-site supervisor and/or field instructor, but at least one should be involved. Your field instructor will sign off on the completed Learning Plan on IPT once you have signed it.
For each core competency, you will need to identify:
  • Under each competency, choose at least 3 practice behaviors and identify how your previous and/or current BSW coursework is relevant to each of those sub-competencies
    • If you are unable to identify a link between your BSW coursework, specific tasks/activities at your practicum, and the CSWE Core Competencies, you may work with your on-site supervisor and field instructor to create a project that will meet this criteria and benefit your placement.  Any hours you spend working on this project may count towards your practicum.
  • At least 1-2 specific tasks/activities to practice/demonstrate your understanding of how to apply the CSWE Core Competencies and their sub-competencies
  • How you and/or your on-site supervisor/field instructor will evaluate your progress towards each task/activity
Self-Care Plan (50 points)
For this assignment, students will create a plan for self-care as a professional. Students are encouraged to utilize information and assignments they may have gained and/or completed during previous courses for this assignment. Additionally, please cite three outside sources, one of which must be a scholarly source, about the importance of self-care in this field. You will also consult with at least three professionals about what they do for self-care (they do not have to be social workers). Students are NOT required to adopt what others do; this requirement is simply for the process of brainstorming and gathering information. Students should refer to this process within the narrative of their plan. This assignment can be formatted in whatever way makes sense to the student. It could be a table, bulleted list, essay style narrative, a flow chart, or infographic.
Self-Care Plan Reflection (50 points)
Students will complete and submit a 2-3 page paper in which they reflect on how they did or did not follow their self-care plan. Important components of this reflection include addressing the consequences of following or not following their plan as well as lessons learned about what they do and/or don’t need in order to avoid compassion fatigue and burnout as a professional within this field. This may be formatted in whatever way makes sense to the student as long as it is done so with professionalism (proper grammar, readability, etc…).
Mid-Term Site Visit (100 points total)
You will use the provided link in the Canvas assignment description to schedule an appointment for your professor to visit with you and your field instructor and/or task manager at your placement site during weeks 6-8. Please plan on about 30 minutes for this visit. For full credit, this meeting needs to be scheduled (not completed) by the end of week 6. After the site visit, please submit a 1-2 page summary about feedback received and how you will apply it.
Developmental Stages of Internship Reflection (50 points)
Students will complete a brief and concise reflection about their developmental stages as a practicum student following the model presented in practicum seminar. Students will list each developmental stage and add a brief narrative about how they have progressed and/or where they are within each stage within the context of their field education. This may be formatted in whatever way makes sense to the student as long as it is done so with professionalism (proper grammar, readability, etc…).
Generalist Practice Case Study (150 Points Total)
For this assignment, students will choose a case they have worked with during their practicum experience and create a presentation about how generalist social work practice and the NASW Code of Ethics are applicable to it. Students are expected to practice autonomy in how they complete this assignment in preparation for workplace assignments. The things that must be included in this assignment are a brief summary of the case and how all levels of social work practice are applicable and/or may be helpful in this case in planning interventions for the individual/family/group. All identifying information about the client(s) must be protected. This may be formatted in whatever way makes sense to the student as long as it is done so with professionalism (proper grammar, readability, etc…). Students will present for 5-10 minutes each in the final two weeks of classes.
Field Instructor Evaluation (150 Points Total)
Your Field Instructor is expected to complete your Evaluation form found on IPT. It should be signed by both you and your field instructor by the last day of the semester. You are encouraged to go over the completed evaluation with your field instructor in one of your final supervision meetings for the term, as well. Breakdown of grading is as follows:
·    A score of 2 or higher for 7-9 competencies - 150 points
·    A score of 2 or higher for 6 competencies - 125 points
·    A score of 2 or higher for 5 competencies - 100 points
·    A score of 2 or higher for 4 competencies - 75 points
·    A score of 2 or higher for 3 competencies - 50 points
·    A score of 2 or higher for 2 competencies - 25 points
·    A score of 2 or higher for 1 competencies - 0 points
Practicum Hours and Supervision Log (200 points)
Please submit the Practicum Hours and Supervision Log forms that can be found on IPT no later than the last day of the semester. You can also find PDF versions of these forms in the Appendix of the Practicum Manual. In order to receive credit for this assignment:
·    15 hours weekly on site (210 hours total)
·    1 Hour minimum of Supervision weekly must be documented (14 hours total)
Spring Practicum Fair
Your attendance is expected at the Spring Practicum Fair to assist in informing next year’s students about your site experience and expectations.

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

  1. Assignments should be submitted when they are due, however due to the nature of practicum the focus is more on learning and competency than anything else. The HIPAA quiz, learning plan, site/supervision hours, and presentations will not be accepted late without formal DRC Accommodations.
  2. Otherwise, all work is due on the last day of instruction as indicated by the University Academic Calendar.
  3. I ask you to do your best to adhere to deadlines, as it helps space out the work throughout the semester so you are not trying to complete everything at once at the end of the term. This also helps me have ample time to grade thoroughly and give quality feedback. If your work is going to be more than a week late, please reach out and just check in with me so we can discuss if you have any support needs.
  4. If you’re experiencing a physical and/or emotional health challenge and feel an exception not covered above should be provided to you, please follow these steps: a) Reach out to the DRC first and ask for accommodations as this is the best way to ensure an equitable treatment for all, b) please then contact me via email so I can best support you c) If you are not in crisis, but want to discuss late work or any other issues, please reach out.
  5. All assignments are due by 11:59 pm on the due date unless otherwise noted, and should be submitted via Canvas. Please always check the time that assignment is due. In some cases, there will be an assignment due at another time for a specific reason.

Attendance Policy

Attendance:
As this is a face-to-face class and a vital element of the practicum experience, attendance is expected and required. If you are ill or instructed to isolate, you may request that I stream the class, but evidence of your illness or other status may be required.

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.