Planning & Scheduling
You will complete four internship courses in working towards your master’s of social work degree, two in the foundation year course of study and two in the advanced year, for a total of up to 1200 hours, 600 in each year.
GSSW Practicum Manual 2023-2025
The where, when and how of it.
Your placement can be in a hospital, outpatient mental health clinic, substance abuse program, nursing home, foster care agency, school or homeless shelter - working with children, teens, adults, older adults, and/or families - and we’re always adding new sites. We welcome any leads you might offer, but you cannot choose your own internship. The Practicum Development Department careful vets each agency to make sure they meet all the Council on Social Work Education's criteria. Whatever the setting, you can be sure you'll be learning the skills you need.
Most placements begin in September and you have the option of completing your internship as
- 21 hours per week for 30 weeks OR
- 15 hour per week for 40 weeks
If you begin your internship in January, you must do 21 hours per week for 30 weeks.
Most internships are offered during regular daytime hours. Understanding that many of our students are balancing school, work and family, we try our best to develop internships that offer some evening and weekend options, but you will need to be available at least one day during regular (daytime) business hours for your internship.
Although we try to place you as close to home or your workplace as possible, it is not unreasonable to expect up to a 60-75 minute commute to your field placement.
Getting the internship
After we identify a potential internship position, you should expect to visit the agency for an interview. Whether you are a Foundation Year or an Advanced Concentration Year student, you will be asked to submit a registration form and a well-written professional resume that illustrates your work, social service or volunteer experience. You want to present your best self, so it is important that resumes are proofread for spelling and grammatical errors (The Writing Center can help you review and improve your resume). You should dress in an appropriate and professional manner for your interviews. The Practicum Development Department forwards your resume to the potential internship agency - please do not contact them on your own - and then the practicum instructor or other agency representative will contact you to schedule an appointment for an interview.
