Student Toolbox

Use of a student’s place of employment as a practicum site can be facilitated when possible as a means of meeting the program’s mission to prepare social workers to meet the needs within the WKU service area. In order to maintain quality education, such placements are carefully developed and supervised. The student, employment supervisor, agency administration, field instructor, field liaison and BSW/MSW Field Director are involved in this process. Policies have been developed that are designed to ensure new learning experiences in such situations. The program does not guarantee approval of employment based placement.

The agency must be able to meet the educational objectives of the program and requirements of CSWE. This includes the availability of a field instructor who holds a BSW (for BSW students) or MSW (for MSW students) from an accredited program and two years of post-BSW/MSW practice experience. WKU includes the additional criterion of compliance with state licensure laws. MSW Generalist students are not allowed to have the same field instructor for both years. WKU faculty or contractual community BSW/MSWs may act as external field instructors if needed. The same faculty member may not serve as the student’s field liaison and field instructor. 

Employment Based Request

A student who is employed at a social service agency and requests an "employment based placement” must submit a completed Employment Based Internship Placement Request form to the BSW/MSW Field Director. This form requires specificity and clarifies the distinction between employee and learner roles.

Clear separation of the student’s learner and employee roles are emphasized; students are asked to identify ways in which their practicum responsibilities differ from their regular employment responsibilities. If a suitable arrangement cannot be reached, the student must be placed elsewhere. Each request must be approved by the BSW/MSW Field Director.

Paid Internship

A student who has been hired for a paid internship that is unaffiliated with their place of employment must submit a Paid Practicum Compensation Form to the BSW/MSW Field Director. This form asks for specific internship details and must be approved by the BSW/MSW Field Director.