BRANDMAN UNIVERSITY

Field Practicum Student Orientation

The following is an orientation of events to provide clarity on the process that exists for all students
who become eligible for entering Field Practicum. Please familiarize yourself with this process.
Also, please review the program and field practicum information provided on our social work
website. Many of your questions will be answered on the website. Students are expected to be
aware of the program information and policies posted on this website.

https://my.brandman.edu/schools/sas/Pages/Home.aspx

 Students must complete 27 social work credits as a prerequisite for beginning field
practicum. Students’ academic advisors and social work staff flag students who are
within two sessions of having completed the required 27 social work credits and an e-
mail with instructions to complete an application for field practicum is sent to eligible
students at this time. Once students receive this email, they begin the process of applying
for field practicum. Students must have 27 social work credits with a passing grade of
C or better in order to begin a field practicum. There is no exception to this policy.
Please visit the website to see the prerequisites for admission to Field Practicum.

 Students complete the application and submit all related underlying documents requested
within the timeline given in the application instructions. Students are required to identify
a minimum of three social service agencies in their locality for consideration on their
application. Students are not responsible for making contact with these agencies, and
are not responsible for soliciting the agencies for internships. Students are asked only to
identify social service agencies in their location. Students are expected to remain in the
same field placement throughout the three practicum sessions.

 The Director of Field Education (DOF) and the Contract Coordinator (CC) conduct initial
contact, contract with, and the DOF approves of the agencies as eligible field practicum
sites. Agencies contract with the University, rather than with students and the process
has legal aspects that must be addressed by this process. Students are asked to refrain
from attempting to make arrangement with agencies, as students are not agents for the
University regarding contractual agreements that occur for field practicum. Students
cannot begin accumulating field practicum hours before the agency has been
approved by the DOF and a contract has been signed. Any student who engages in
work with an agency prior to being released to begin practicum by the DOF, volunteers
those hours which will not count towards their total clocked hours for practicum. There
is no exception for this policy.

 Once students have completed the online field application, the DOF receives an
automatic notification and reviews the submitted applications and attached documents.

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 Students are notified by the DOF that a Readiness Interview is required and sends options
for scheduling a phone interview. Students are responsible for returning contact with the
DOF and scheduling their interviews. Interview notification goes out a minimum of 7
Weeks prior to the student beginning practicum and are completed in a three (2) week
window. Interviews are scheduled on a “first come, first served” basis. Students are
responsible for calling the DOF at the scheduled appointment time. No student may
begin a placement prior to the readiness interview being completed. All student who do
are unable to schedule and complete the Readiness Interview within the designated time
will be deferred to the next open practicum enrollment. There is no exception to this
policy.

 Once students have successfully completed the Readiness Interview, the hold on their
registration for all three practicum sections will be deactivated by the CC. This allows
students to plan for their remaining course schedule. Practicums are taken consecutively
over three sessions. There is no exception to this policy. Students should be aware that
successful completion of the three practicum sessions is dependent on their performance
in field and that students must receive a passing grade in the seminar component of
Practicum to successfully move to the next practicum. Exceptions to this are determined
by the Faculty Field Liaison and the DOF.

 A mid-session review is held during each practicum session. This review is completed by
the Faculty Field Liaison and submitted directly to the DOF without student input or
involvement. Students must be approved to continue in field practicum. There are 400
required hours of field practicum distributed throughout the three practicum sessions.
Students should expect to complete approximately 16-17 practicum hours a week during
each practicum course. Completion of these hours will predominantly require
availability on weekdays. Please note that the priority of placement arrangementsis for
regular work hours (8-5 Monday through Friday). It is rare that a placement will be able
to accommodate evening or weekend hour needs. Please plan accordingly. Any
exception will be determined by the DOF and discussed individually with the student.

 Once the DOF has approved a field practicum site as appropriate for BASW student
placement (the agency must comply with Council on Social Work Education standards)
and said agency has agreed to partner with Brandman University Social Work Program -
the DOF notifies eligible students to then make an appointment with the point of contact
person at the agency and arrange for an interview (The point of contact will be identified
in the notification received from the DOF). Students are expected to interview at a
minimum of two agencies (maximum three) to identify all their potential options.
Exceptions to this expectation are at the discretion of the DOF. Agencies then notify
Brandman of their acceptance of any student that has interviewed with them. (An
interview does not guarantee placement. Agencies must agree to accept a student).

 Students negotiate their practicum work schedule with their Agency Supervisor directly.
Please note – in order to get the full benefit of working in an agency environment, it is
strongly recommended that students schedule two full days during the work week to be

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at the agency, rather than 3-4 hours daily. Exceptions to this recommendation are
discussed during the Readiness Interview.

 Agencies are required to complete all requested contractual documentation and submit
them to Brandman University prior to student beginning the practicum. Please note –
The Social Work Program has limited control over an agencies timely response in
returning inquiries or processing paperwork. As such, delays in securing a desire
placement can and will occur that can lead to a student beginning their practicum
after the school session has begun. If this occurs, the DOF will provide
accommodations for a student to remain in seminar class and make up any lost time.

Please note – A student can decline an agency assignment. However, if declining an agency
offer of an appropriately vetted and contracted agency that falls within the areas of practice
that the student indicated, or is a reliable and sound placement where the student will
receive quality experience and supervision, causes delay in the student starting practicum –
the Program providing accommodations for that student to continue in Practicum is not
guaranteed and that student may have to defer to the next open Field Practicum session.
Determination of continuation is at the discretion of the DOF in consult with the Program
Director.

 A final instructional e-mail is sent out to students reminding them of all documentation
that must be received prior to beginning field and any other final directions by the CC

 Once all of these steps are successfully completed, the students begin the practicum class
and start practicum, the first week of the academic session.

This completes the overall orientation of how Field Practicum is established. If you have any
questions or concerns you may contact the DOF at the below listed information. You will receive
an e-mail with dates and times to schedule your Readiness Interview with Professor
Beaulieu. Please contact her once you receive this e-mail and schedule your appointment.
Interview slots are first come, first served.

Sibyl Beaulieu, MSW, LMSW

Assistant Professor and Director of Field Education
Social Work Program
Brandman University – Riverside Campus
3550 Vine Street, Ste. 200
Riverside, CA 92501
951.413.2914
sbeaulie@brandman.edu

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