Prepared by:
Dr. Linda J. M. Holloway
Associate Professor
Social Work , Psychology, and Counseling
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General Information, Policies, and Procedures:
1.
All core and specialty coursework must be completed prior to enrolling in practicum. Students are allowed to take a maximum of 9 hours during the semester in which they are enrolled in Practicum.
2.
The Practicum Coordinator will contact you at an appropriate time (Once you have made application for practicum) to discuss your potential placement. Please do not call the Practicum Coordinator; he/she will be in touch with you. We try to match your interest areas with an available site.
3.
We have working agreements with several schools and agencies. You will be placed at one of the sites.
4.
Please do not contact any site unless you have been told to do so by the Practicum
Coordinator. The agencies have requested that students not contact them directly.
5.
Generally there are no night or weekend placements.
6.
School counseling placements: Placements will be made within the School
Systems.
7.
Rehabilitation counseling placements: The Coordinator for Rehabilitation does all the placements within the state Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. Your application forms will be given to him/her/ and he/she will contact you directly.
8.
The placement process:

Practicum application filed by appropriate deadlines

Coordinator contacts you to discuss placement

Coordinator makes the contact with proposed site to discuss your qualifications and to see if the site supervisor will interview you

Your are contacted to set up appointment for interview at the site

The site supervisor notifies the Practicum Coordinator if it is a good match and if the student is accepted

If the student chooses not to accept an appropriate placement, then he/she will have to take whatever site(s) are available once all other students have been placed which could result in not having a placement site for that semester.
9.
You will not begin on-site until after the first class meeting. At that time you will receive your paperwork (contracts and agreements).
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10.
Please provide an updated resume with your application. Site supervisors will want to know what other kind of work experience and/or training you might have had.
11.
Practicum experiences are graded on the basis that you must have a grade equivalent of “B” or better. If you fail practicum, you will be allowed to repeat the course only once with an approved Plan of Improvement. The Plan of
Improvement will be developed by your University Site Supervisor and must be signed by the student.
12.
Practicum: You will be required to have a minimum of 100 hours-of these 100 hours; 40 hours must be in direct client contact. It has been our experience that it takes much more than 100 hours to get the number of direct hours so you need to plan accordingly. The 100 hours are to be dispersed over the entire semester which simply means those students registered for the Fall and Spring will complete a total of 8 to 10 hours a week. Thus, those students registered for the
Summer will complete a total of 13 to 16 hours per week.
NOTE: Thanks for your cooperation in advance. We look forward to you having a wonderful and exciting experience during your practicum.
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PRACTICUM
APPLICATION & PLACEMENT
PROCESS/PROCEDURES
Deadline for Submitting Applications I.
The practicum application packet should be completed and submitted to the main office CCN Room 217 by 5:00 p.m. one semester prior to the semester in which you plan to enroll.
Application Deadline Semester of Enrollment
Fall Semester
Spring Semester
July 1
November 1
Summer Semester April 1
All applications are due in the main office (CCN
Room 219) by 5:00 p.m. to:
Ms. Janice Donegan, Department Secretary;
Office Phone: (256) 372-4767
II.
Important Information
Your experience in Practicum is a very important part of your degree program. It is anticipated that you will have the opportunity to utilize the skills you have developed in your degree program at your placement site. Assignments are made with agencies, schools, or institutions of higher education. Selecting the most appropriate field site is vital if you are to benefit most. Therefore, it is very important that you begin to plan for your practicum early in your degree program.
Applicants for practicum are asked to carefully read and follow the guidelines stipulated with this packet. Failure to do so may result in the student being denied the opportunity to enroll in practicum for the particular semester requested.
All students enrolled in the masters degree program must complete a 100-clock hour Practicum which must be completed in one (1) semester.
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III.
The Application Process/Procedure
Prerequisites
Before submitting the application the student must:
1.
Completed Courses:
Counseling Psychology
PSY 502 Behavioral Statistics
PSY 585 Research in Psychology (Prerequisite –
PSY 502)
PSY 558 Use & Interpretation of Test
PSY 555 Personality/Counseling Theory
PSY 559 Counseling Techniques (Prerequisite –
PSY 555)
PSY 556 Group Dynamics (Prerequisite – PSY
555 and PSY 559)
PSY 592 Professional Orientation/Issues
PSY 595 Counseling Diverse Populations
PSY 560 Occupational Psychology
PSY 514 Advanced Developmental Psychology
NOTE: School Counseling, Clinical Psychology, and
Rehabilitation, please see your advisor concerning prerequisites.
2.
Total course enrollment for the student during Practicum must not exceed 9 hours.
Electives may be taken while enrolled in Practicum.
3.
Have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0. Students with an incomplete (“I”) in any course will not be permitted to enroll in practicum. A grade no less than “B” is required for Personality & Counseling Theory (PSY 555), Counseling Techniques
(PSY 559) and Group Dynamics (PSY 556).
4.
Attach a copy of transcript along with the practicum application.
5.
Provide a copy of your current resume along with the practicum application.
6.
Provide documentation of malpractice/liability insurance coverage (policy) for the period of practicum, is required by the agency.
Guidelines
The Guidelines must be adhered to when applying for practicum
1.
The final decision for placement will be made by the Practicum Coordinator.
However, students will have input in the practicum placement.
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2.
Students are not to contact potential field sites before receiving the approval of the Practicum Coordinator.
3.
Students will not be allowed to be supervised by relatives, friends, neighbors, current work supervisors or in any other situation which may be considered as a dual relationship or that constitutes a conflict of interest .
4.
Students may be required to interview at the potential site before being assigned.
Contact persons at the sites have the option of offering or declining to offer you a placement. You should approach each visit just as you would a job interview.
5.
Students are expected to begin and end their practicum experience within the semester of enrollment.
6.
Students who are placed in the field for Practicum (100 clock hours) should complete no more than a maximum of 8 - 10 clock hours per week during
Fall/Spring and 13-16 hours per week during Summer .
7.
As a part of the supervision process, students will be required to attend the practicum class at the designated time period during enrollment.
8.
All students will be expected to adhere to the Code of Ethics and Standards of
Practice as upheld by ACA or APA.
9.
Site or field placement will be within 50 miles of the University.
IV.
Basic Information
1.
Field placements are made during the Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters.
2.
Agencies, institutions and schools are providing a valuable service to our department. They are not required to adjust their schedules to accommodate the student. Since sites with evening and weekend hours are very limited, students are required to adjust their schedule to accommodate the hours available at the site.
3.
Some sites requires practicum student to have a clearance procedure. In cases where this apply, students must meet the requirements established by the agency before beginning their practicum hours.
NOTES: Please submit the application and all other requested documents to the
Main Office – CCN Room 219 (Ms. Janice Donegan, Department
Secretary) within the specified deadlines. Mail the ACA or APA Liability
Insurance application to the appropriate addresses.
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(Form Must Be Typed)
Please select the semester and year in which you plan to enroll in Practicum.
1. Term: Fall__________ Spring__________ Summer__________
2.
Name:____________________________ Student Number #:________________
3.
Address:__________________________ Phone:_____________________(home)
___________________________ _____________________(work)
___________________________ ______________________(cell)
4.
E-mail:___________________________
5.
Which of the programs are you enrolled?
___________ Clinical Psychology
___________ Counseling Psychology
___________ Rehabilitation Counseling
___________ School Counseling
6.
Present Employment:________________________________________________
7.
Nature of your work:_________________________________________________
8.
What other counseling or related experiences have you had?
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9.
Type of counseling setting desired: Be specific.
10. Identify at least three (3) field sites in which you would like to complete your
Practicum.
(1). Practicum Placement Site:_______________________________________________
(1) Practicum Site Supervisor:_________________________________________
(name)
Address___________________________________________________________
Telephone Number______________________________
Services Provided___________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
(2). Practicum Placement Site:_______________________________________________
(2) Practicum Site Supervisor:_________________________________________
(name)
Address___________________________________________________________
Telephone Number______________________________
Services Provided___________________________________________________
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_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
(3). Practicum Placement Site:_______________________________________________
(3) Practicum Site Supervisor:_________________________________________
(name)
Address___________________________________________________________
Telephone Number______________________________
Services Provided___________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
11. Please attach a copy of your resume, student copy of your transcript, and proof of purchase of liability insurance to your application.
12. Date and time of application___________________________________________
Thank you.
Note: Please be advised that all students enrolled in Practicum must have liability insurance to conduct Practicum. American Counseling Association 1-800-347-6647. www.AmericanCounselingAssociation
or APA 1-800-374-2721. www.apa.org
Thanks!
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