Practicum is a distinct and vital component of our social work degree programs. Practicum is designed to provide positive learning environments that cultivate leadership, increase knowledge, develop, and refine skills, and strengthen social work values in preparation for professional practice. Students will work directly with social work professionals and mentors as they connect theory, knowledge, and skill-building gained in the classroom to social work practice settings. While in their practicum placements, students are expected to learn and contribute, demonstrating social work competencies and having an impact at individual, group, and community levels.
The UK College of Social Work Advantage
Our practicum program offers students a rapidly growing array of practice opportunities in more than 1,200 sites across the country.
We empower our students to drive the practicum placement process and select the agency that will work the best for them. Students can select from existing partner agencies or suggest new placement sites, and explore those that align with clinical, child welfare, school, and military certificates, as well as substance use disorder and other areas of focus and practice. Students are encouraged to explore both breadth and depth of experience in practicum and can stay in the same agency across their Foundation and Advanced placements or change agencies if preferred. Students are also able to leverage their employment activities if they are working in an agency setting that would support social work competency development. We also support flexibility in completing Advanced placements and offer a one-semester block placement model for those looking to accelerate their practicum experience.
Our faculty, staff, and agency practicum instructors are committed to developing outstanding social work professionals — leaders who will serve individuals, families, and communities through innovative and effective practices that are guided by strong ethics and values, a commitment to social justice, and a keen and compassionate understanding of the human condition.