Practicum
Explore the Practicum Program
Practicum provides students with opportunities to work directly with professionals in real world applications. Professionals that are committed to preparing future social workers and demonstrate their application of skills and the social work competencies. Students will gain practice experience as interns in a wide variety of social work and inter-professional settings and begin developing their professional networks. Social work provides broad career pathways and includes school and clinical social work, child welfare, gerontology, policy advocacy, community organizing and organizational administration, mental and behavioral health, international practice, and medical social work, among others.
THE UK DIFFERENCE
Forging an Impactful Path
Practicum connects students with placements that provide opportunities to learn and contribute as the demonstrate skills competency and lean into their professional interests.
Student-Driven Process
At UK, Students drive their practicum process and can select from an expansive agency list of that provide a variety of learning environments or suggest an agency that reflects their professional interests, including their employers.
Flexible Placement Plans
Students can explore organizational depth and breadth by opting to stay in one agency for both placements or intern in different agency settings, as well as consider employer-hosted placements when appropriate. Block placements and external practicum instructors are also strategies we use to ensure students have flexibility in their learning plan.
Strategic Advising & Career Prep
Strategic advising helps students navigate the practicum placement process and determine the best timing and approach for their career planning. Students also receive career counseling, mentoring, and post-graduation mentorship to ensure successful transition into social work practice. UK’s social work graduates have the highest clinical licensure pass rates in Kentucky.
Multiple Certificate Options
MSW students have the option to earn specialized certificates in Clinical Social Work, Child Welfare, Military Behavioral Health, and Substance Use Disorder with unique coordinated practicum opportunities.
Centers and Labs
CoSW is home to several unique research centers and labs, including the Training Resource Center, Interdisciplinary Research Center on Children and Families, Kentucky Kinship Resource Center, Self-Care Lab, Suicide Prevention and Exposure Lab, and Military Behavior Health Lab. Practicum placements within these entities provide unique learning and research opportunities
Practicum
by the numbers
3K+
Practicum placement Opportunities
#1
KY rank for licensing pass rates
97%
Students who receive some type of financial aid
WHAT'S NEW AT CoSW?
Events
Calendar of Events
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3 events,
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Monthly Staff Meeting for Centers & Labs Training Resource Center Staff. The meeting is held the 3rd Wednesday of Each Month at the Training Resource Center. This is an in-person 
Launch your social work career through your practicum experience—formerly known as field education. Attend an information session to learn about the process, opportunities, and support available as you prepare for 
Criminal Justice students are invited to attend our informal monthly meeting. This is a great opportunity to connect with other students, ask questions to your advisor, and meet with program |
1 event,
The College of Social Work invites you to a powerful and immersive event exploring the lived experiences of individuals navigating reentry after incarceration. The program will begin with a photo |
1 event,
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You are invited to join the Office of Faculty Advancement in Connect & Accomplish: Online Co-working Sessions These dedicated 2-hour blocks are back this semester, offering weekly opportunities at the |
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This course offers an exploration of the distinctive and complex grieving experience inherent in foster care and adoption, providing participants with a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and emotions associated
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ARC Meetings & IEPs: The Basics will help foster and adoptive parents understand the process of an ARC Meeting and gain a better perspective of what an IEP will look |
1 event,
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You are invited to join the Office of Faculty Advancement in Connect & Accomplish: Online Co-working Sessions These dedicated 2-hour blocks are back this semester, offering weekly opportunities at the |
5 events,
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Monthly Staff Meeting for Centers & Labs Training Resource Center Staff. The meeting is held the 3rd Wednesday of Each Month at the Training Resource Center. This is an in-person 
Turn Your Goals into Reality Explore our Doctorate of Social Work (DSW) program during an online info session. Registration link is below. The UK Difference Our Doctorate of Social Work 
Social Work students are invited to attend our informal monthly meeting. This is a great opportunity to connect with other students, ask questions to your advisor, and meet with program
Launch your social work career through your practicum experience—formerly known as field education. Attend an information session to learn about the process, opportunities, and support available as you prepare for
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New Placements: Preparing & Adjusting Family Roles will help foster and adoptive parents introduce new placements into their existing family units. It gives ideas and strategies on how to prepare |
1 event,
Hybrid Event
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Hybrid Event
The Sport Social Work Research Lab is hosting a Lunch & Learn: Advancing Youth Sport Quality and Access Through LiFEsports. The Lunch & Learn will be led by Dr. Dawn |
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Healing After a Foster Child Leaves Your Home will equip foster parents understand, cope with and heal from the unique pain of a foster child leaving their home. It offers |
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First Steps: Kentucky’s Early Intervention System explores the services provided by this program. Participants learn how to refer children ages zero to three who have developmental delays, or medical conditions
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The Internet Safety training explores questions caregivers often have related to internet safety. It examines recommended guidelines for internet access and usage among children. It provides resources related to parental |
1 event,
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Positive Discipline for Teenagers will provide foster/Adoptive Parents with effective tools that will guide them to positive discipline and communication with teenagers that are in their care/home. It discusses the |
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Developmental Stages & Children’s Responses to Grief defines grief and explores how children process and express grief at different developmental stages. It offers insight into the unique experiences of grief |
3 events,
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Trust-Based Relational Intervention– Empowering Principles: Psychological Strategies April 14, 2026 5:30 PM-7:30 PM EST Via Zoom R. Alex Colston, LMFT 2 credit hours This training is part of the TBRI®
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ASK-VIP LGBTQ+ Foster/Adoptive Parent Support Groups are specifically designed for foster/adoptive parents who identify as LGBTQ+ as well as foster/adoptive parents who are caring for children or teens who identify 
This group is an opportunity for kinship caregivers to come together to find support, community, and resources in the care of relative and fictive children. This group will focus on |
5 events,
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Clinical supervision is a crucial aspect of social work practice that ensures ethical and competent service delivery. The goals of clinical supervision are to improve the quality of services provided
$120
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Monthly Staff Meeting for Centers & Labs Training Resource Center Staff. The meeting is held the 3rd Wednesday of Each Month at the Training Resource Center. This is an in-person 
Explore our Master of Social Work (MSW) program during an online info session. Registration link is below. The UK Difference Our MSW program is an Advanced Generalist program that prepares
Launch your social work career through your practicum experience—formerly known as field education. Attend an information session to learn about the process, opportunities, and support available as you prepare for
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Get ready for an evening full of energy, good vibes, and fun from around the world. Join the Sport Social Work Research Lab on April 15 for games, sports, live |
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You are invited to join the Office of Faculty Advancement in Connect & Accomplish: Online Co-working Sessions These dedicated 2-hour blocks are back this semester, offering weekly opportunities at the |
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1 event,
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ASK-VIP Support Groups are expressly designed to meet the needs of foster and adoptive parents in an inclusive, safe, and compassionate environment. They are led by seasoned facilitators who have |
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2 events,
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Monthly Staff Meeting for Centers & Labs Training Resource Center Staff. The meeting is held the 3rd Wednesday of Each Month at the Training Resource Center. This is an in-person
Launch your career through your practicum education! Attend an information session to learn about the process, opportunities, and support available as you explore hands-on learning in real-world settings. The UK College of |
4 events,
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You are invited to join the Office of Faculty Advancement in Connect & Accomplish: Online Co-working Sessions These dedicated 2-hour blocks are back this semester, offering weekly opportunities at the
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Building a foundation to help autistic children feel safe, supported, and connected. Caring for an autistic child or adolescent may bring questions and challenges that kinship caregivers do not always 
Please join us as we discuss the Master of Science in Criminal Justice program! This info session will be held virtually over Zoom. Please register below and select the appropriate
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Supervision is one of the most effective ways to improve clinical practice and organizational outcomes, yet it is often underutilized as a space for reflection, accountability, and implementation support. This
$30
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ASK-VIP Support Group for Foster/Adoptive Parents of Teens is specifically designed for foster/adoptive parents who are caring for teenagers or those considering fostering and/or adopting teenagers. This support group offers |
1 event,
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ASK-VIP LGBTQ+ Foster/Adoptive Parent Support Groups are specifically designed for foster/adoptive parents who identify as LGBTQ+ as well as foster/adoptive parents who are caring for children or teens who identify |
2 events,
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You are invited to join the Office of Faculty Advancement in Connect & Accomplish: Online Co-working Sessions These dedicated 2-hour blocks are back this semester, offering weekly opportunities at the
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Monthly Staff Meeting for Centers & Labs Training Resource Center Staff. The meeting is held the 3rd Wednesday of Each Month at the Training Resource Center. This is an in-person |
3 events,
Are You Wildly Passionate About Social Work? Explore the Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW) program during an online info session. REGISTER HERE The UK Difference Graduates from our
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This 90-minute session will assist therapists in how to recognize attachment disruptions shape regulation and relationship patterns in families. Participants will learn core principles from current attachment and adoption‑informed treatment
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Pursue your Passion for the Greater Good Explore College of Social Work’s newest Criminal Justice program during our online info session! REGISTER HERE The UK Difference Graduates from our |
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