Practicum opportunities are available for students in the Master’s of Social Work program. Second-year MSW students who have a primary interest in clinical social work are encouraged to apply. Students must have successfully completed all foundational course and practicum requirements and be prepared to enter into their advanced year of study. Students must also be in good standing in the Master's of Social Work program at UNC Charlotte.
The second-year MSW practicum training experience is a 16-hour week training experience that can include the following weekly activities:
- One therapeutic consultation session per week
- Four to five individual counseling sessions per week
- Co-leadership of a weekly structured group or workshop
- Approximately one hour of referral coordination responsibilities per week
- One hour of individual face-to-face supervision
- One and a half hours of weekly group supervision
- Bi-monthly full-staff meetings and quarterly staff-wide training on diversity and inclusion (as schedules permit)
- Additional activities as determined in coordination with the supervisor
Students are to follow the application procedures for practicum placement as determined by the Director of Field Education within the UNC Charlotte School of Social Work. The application process will begin in early spring for the following fall semester and will include both a written application and an on-site interview with the Practicum Instructor and another staff member. The written application will then be forwarded to CAPS for further review and an on-site interview will be required with the Assistant Director of Training, Dr. Elizabeth Malone, and a Licensed Clinical Social Work Supervisor. Interviews will be conducted in the spring semester for placement in the fall semester. Students will be expected to participate in two consecutive semesters of practicum beginning in fall and continuing through the spring.
If you are a student interested in becoming a trainee at Counseling & Psychological Services, it is important to consider ethical issues related to the potential for dual roles. Prospective trainees who seek counseling at CAPS should be aware of the limits regarding who would be available to supervise them and coordinate their training experiences. Due to the importance of avoiding multiple relationships, a student in the Master’s in Social Work program who is interested in becoming a trainee at this Center would not be eligible to receive counseling at CAPS during their tenure as a trainee. If requested, CAPS can provide referral options to current trainees, including low-cost options, if needed.