Student FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the key to a successful field practicum internship?
There are several factors that promote a successful field practicum internship. In particular, students and field practicum instructors who begin the field practicum internship with a positive attitude toward developing a solid supervisor-supervisee relationship often have a successful year experience. In addition, developing clear expectations and goals is integral to a successful field practicum internship. The successful student also possesses a high level of professionalism, understands and applies ethical social work practice, uses good judgment, is open to feedback, and actively seeks new learning experiences. Additional characteristics contributing to student success include flexibility, openness to change, initiative, and the ability to work independently. Student field practicum evaluations are completed collaboratively by student, field practicum instructor, and field practicum faculty liaison.
How are my internship referrals determined?
Students are assigned to their field practicum internship in their Generalist Foundation Year through a field practicum placement application and interview process where more is learned about social work related or other transferable skills. In the specialization year, students interview at two field practicum agencies and are placed in the site that is a mutually good fit for student and agency. (See MSW Student Field Practicum Placement process in Chapter 4)
How many hours of internship are required?
Students are required to complete a minimum of 16 field practicum hours per week (BSW, two-, three-, and four-year MSW program options), or 20 hours per week (one- and two-year Advanced Standing program options). Students are also required to track their hours on the cohort specific Field Practicum Internship Time Log throughout the semester in IPT and will be submitted at the end of each semester as verification of their completion of field practicum hours. Internship days are usually scheduled on days when students do not attend classes on campus. Field practicum days and hours are traditionally Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Students are required to complete at least one eight-hour internship day per week, and may inquire if the agency will allow the student to break up the other eight hours over two days. Lunch break is not included in the total internship hours and students’ daily field practicum hours must be adjusted accordingly (i.e., total 8.5 hours if getting a half hour lunch break). Days and hours are ultimately arranged between the field practicum instructor and student, and approved by the university field practicum faculty. (See Field Practicum Attendance and Hours in Chapter 5)
Are there any special requirements before I start my field practicum internship?
Yes. All students starting field practicum internships will need to attend a field practicum orientation which is to be held on the APU campus prior to beginning the academic year. In addition, students are to complete all field practicum agency requirements such as background checks, paperwork, and/or health screenings. In some instances, the student is responsible for covering the costs of these pre-placement requirements. It is also the student’s responsibility to ensure that all the requirements are completed prior to beginning field practicum internship. In addition, some agencies will require specific workshops or trainings to prepare to work with a specific client population. (See Field Practicum Education Placement Process and Requirements in Chapter 4)
If I am in the MSW part-time program, when do I start field practicum internship?
MSW part-time students complete their generalist foundation year internship in the second year of their academic program. Specialization year internship begins in the third (Inland Empire) or fourth (Azusa), both final years of the MSW program. (See Field Practicum Education Placement Process and Requirements in Chapter 4)
Are there evening and weekend internships available?
Weekend field practicum internships with supervision are very limited. Students are required to set aside weekdays, during traditional work hours (generally 8 a.m.–5 p.m.), to complete field practicum internships. Some field practicum placements may require early evening internship hours to accommodate clients' schedules. Field practicum hours outside of typical business hours must be approved by the APU field practicum faculty to ensure proper supervision and safety protocols are in place for the student. (See Field Practicum Attendance and Hours in Chapter 5)
Are background checks required for students in internship?
Background checks and/or live scan fingerprinting may be required by some agencies. Please be aware that agencies may not assume the financial costs and it is therefore the responsibility of the student to incur all costs. (See Background Check in Chapter 4)
Am I required to go to internship on holidays or school breaks?
The University does not require students to complete practicum internship work during university observed holidays. However, the student and the Field Practicum Instructor should determine if she/he will continue practicum internships during the holiday periods due to client service needs. Agency programs rely on their interns to help maintain client continuity of care. Please note, any additional hours accumulated during the APU winter break will not count towards the Fall or Spring hour requirement. Extended absences from social work interns could disrupt services and professional rapport with clients and constituents. With departmental support, students will be required to shorten their December break and return to field practicum one week before classes resume in January (if required). The nature of the internship and the agency’s intern attendance policies will determine the student’s responsibility to the clients during these periods. Students are strongly encouraged to review the APU field practicum education calendar and begin this dialogue with their field practicum instructor from the beginning of the academic year. (See Attendance and Field Practicum Hours in Chapter 5)
Can I change my internship?
Students may not switch internships if they merely do not like where they have been assigned. Field practicum internships and students are matched through an intentional selection process. On rare occasions, field practicum internships do not work out for various reasons. In this event, the student and the field practicum instructor should first meet about the issue, with a follow-up meeting with the field practicum faculty. If the issue cannot be resolved, the Director of Field Practicum Education with field practicum faculty feedback shall make the final decision on the student’s field practicum internship status.
What if I am unable to complete the minimum number of field practicum hours during the semester?
Together with the agency field practicum instructor and APU field practicum faculty liaison, students monitor accrual of field practicum hours for each semester. However, it is the ultimate responsibility of the student to track and record all accrued field practicum hours each semester in the semester time log in IPT with agency field practicum instructor approval. At mid semester, the completion of hours will be examined also. If a student will be short in completing the minimum required field practicum hours for the semester, then a field practicum support plan is developed and implemented. The student may receive a grade of “Incomplete” for the semester. (See Field Practicum Attendance and Hours in Chapter 5)
What is a floating holiday?
Students are often placed in community-based agencies that close on holidays that are not observed by the university. Therefore, students in field practicum internships will be given two floating holidays per semester to offset the missed field practicum days. With Field Practicum Instructor approval, students may utilize these floating holidays to make up for a regularly scheduled internship day in the event the agency is closed (due to a non-university holiday or other agency-related event) or due to illness. (See Floating Holidays in Chapter 5).
What happens if I have an excess of hours for the semester?
The social work intern and agency Field Practicum Instructor will develop a field practicum schedule that meets the needs of the agency and client population served. The agency, student and field practicum faculty liaison monitor the student’s accrual of hours towards the minimum requirement for each academic semester.
The minimum field practicum internship hours requirement is that students complete a minimum of 400 hours (BSW students), 480 hours (two year, three, and four year MSW students) or 600 hours (MSW advanced standing and PPSC students) in the assigned agency during the academic year. This is the minimum standard. In some cases, students will exceed the minimum number of hours per semester. Students are expected to remain in field practicum internship until the end of the semester and will not reduce the number of hours at their internship site without the permission of the agency and either the BSW Field Practicum Education Coordinator or the Director of Field Practicum Education. Students are to be additionally reminded that the internship experience is an integral part of Social Work education and having the mindset of “just doing the time” can be detrimental to the entire learning experience. (See Field Practicum Attendance and Hours in Chapter 5)
Am I required to use my personal car?
Due to the current nature of field practicum internship assignments, agencies may expect students to have access to an automobile for field practicum-based client visits, commuting from multiple agency sites, and for community-based meetings. Students are never allowed to use their own vehicles to transport clients. However, students may be allowed to transport clients in agency vehicles if certain conditions are met, as outlined in the Transportation Waiver Form. Students are advised to meet with field practicum faculty to discuss any transportation issues. (see Automobile Use & Transportation in Chapter 6)
What happens if I am ever dismissed from my internship?
In the event of a dismissal, the field practicum faculty liaison should be notified immediately about this situation. The field practicum faculty liaison will discuss with you and your field practicum instructor the reason for the dismissal. In most cases, the student and field practicum faculty liaison will meet with the BSW Field Practicum Coordinator (for BSW students) and/or Director of Field Practicum Education (for MSW students) to determine a course of action. (See Field Practicum Education Appeal, Probation, and Termination Procedures in Chapter 5)