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Dual Degree Field Education

Field education is an integral part of your education at the Brown School. It is designed to provide experiences where theoretical knowledge and concepts from the classroom can be applied in a real-world setting. These experiences allow you to practice professional behavior—ethics, comportment, policy compliance—in preparation for continuing your career.

Dual Degree (MSW/MPH)

Students in the dual degree (MPH/MSW) program must complete a total of 8 credits of practicum as a requirement for the program. Each credit is worth 120 hours. These credits are divided as follows:

  • Foundation Practicum:
    • In the spring of the first year in the program, students will complete 3 credits (360 hours) of Foundation practicum
    • Students will also enroll in Integrative Seminar concurrently with the first semester in practicum
  • Concentration Practicum:
    • Students can complete their 2 credits (240 hours) of MSW only practicum once they have completed their foundation practicum
    • This practicum can be completed at the same agency as your dual practicum
  • Dual Practicum:
    • Students can complete their 3 credits (360 hours) of dual (MPH/MSW) practicum after the completion of their pre-requisites courses for MPH as well as any specialization specific courses (if applicable)
    • This practicum must be completed at one agency that is affiliated for both programs
    • Students can search on Handshake for dual affiliated sites

Student Field Education Resources

Forms for International Students in Practicum

Practicum Registration

For the last six years, the Brown School has used the software, Symplicity, to house the student and organization database for field education practicum and career services. Recently, the university made the decision to transition to a new software system, Handshake, to better serve the students, faculty, staff, and organizations. As a result, all new students matriculating in Fall 2022 will utilize Handshake for field education, for practicum registration, scheduling advising appointments and other functions.

Practicum Site Affiliation Request

If you know of an organization that is interested in becoming a field site, send them the following links.

Important: An application does not mean a site will be affiliated. They must be approved and meet the requirements.

MSW Foundation Practicum

  • 360 hours of hands-on application of social work theory to real-life situations.
  • Prepares you for generalist social work practice.
  • Competencies and behaviors are the basis of the foundation-level practicum. The competencies are derived from foundation-level courses and are a mechanism for integrating class and field learning. The competencies and behaviors convey clear expectations for the practicum.
  • Must be completed in the St. Louis area under the supervision of an affiliated MSW professional.
  • Requires an Integrative Foundation Practicum Seminar, a one-credit class, taken concurrently with the first foundation-level practicum. The seminar helps students process their field work and debrief on practice challenges in a supportive environment.

Student Self Evaluation and Student Assessment of the Practicum Experience

Educational Learning Agreement

MSW Foundation Practicum Timesheet

MSW Concentration Practicum

  • 240 field hours required.
  • Builds on foundation skills
  • Prepares you for advanced practice in concentration areas.
  • May be supervised by a non-MSW professional who has a master’s degree in a social work-related profession. Please contact OFE to determine if your field instructor is affiliated.

Student Self Evaluation and Student Assessment of the Practicum Experience

  • Self Evaluation of Competencies and Performance
    As part of your practicum requirements, you must complete this self-evaluation two weeks prior to the end of each practicum experience. Once you have submitted the self-evaluation, an email with a link to complete the final evaluation will be sent to your field instructor.
  • Student Assessment of Practicum Experience
    All students are encouraged to complete the Student Assessment of Practicum Experience (SAPE) at the conclusion of every practicum experience.

Educational Learning Agreements (ELAs)

MSW Concentration Timesheets

Timesheets should be submitted to your Field Faculty at the completion of every practicum experience.

Mandated Reporting

As emerging social work professionals, our expectation is that students adhere to the NASW Code of Ethics and state law and report incidents of suspected neglect or abuse where required by law; however, we encourage students to discuss these situations with their field instructors to gain full appreciation and knowledge of the reporting process. It is also recommended that students familiarize themselves with individual State Laws (where they are completing practicum and/or where they intend to practice after graduation) that define who is a mandated reporter and provide the circumstances under which one is required to report. Two websites that may be helpful in finding the applicable state laws are:

Dual MSW/MPH Practicum

  • Students can complete their 3 credits (360 hours) of dual (MPH/MSW) practicum after the completion of their pre-requisites courses for MPH as well as any specialization specific courses (if applicable)
  • This practicum must be completed at one agency that is affiliated for both programs

Student Self-Evaluation and Student Assessment of Practicum Experience

Educational Learning Agreements (ELAs)

ELAs for Dual MSW/MPH Students

Please select the ELA that corresponds to your MSW concentration and MPH specialization (Generalist) *Please note if you have a different MPH specialization, please contact your Field Faculty member for further instruction.

Site Visits

All students will receive a mid-point site visit from an OFE field faculty member. Students must complete a pre-site visit worksheet and submit a Portfolio Product (see section titled “Portfolio Products” below) prior to the site visit. These items must be uploaded to Canvas prior to the site visit.

Portfolio Products

Students starting the dual degree or MPH program must complete two Portfolio Products, approved by their field instructor. Portfolio products consist of any item produced in the course of practicum that is ideally beneficial both to the student and field instructor/organization, and demonstrates attainment of the MPH specialization competencies selected to be addressed in practicum (same competencies reflected on the student ELA).

These products can include, but are not limited to: Data sets (with explanation of analyses and outcomes measured), presentations (slide deck with notes, or video/audio recording), policy briefs, educational materials, webinars, fact sheets, letters to the editor, implementation plans, logic models, etc.

Each portfolio product must be submitted with a cover page, which can be found below.

  1. Portfolio product 1 is due by the site visit date;
  2. Portfolio product 2 is due by the last day of practicum.

Portfolio Product Cover Sheet

MPH Specialization Practicum Proposal Form

All dual students must submit the MPH Specialization Practicum Proposal Form for approval by the specialization chairs. The form is hosted on Brown Hub. Please click this link and go to the OFE Program Forms to find the form that corresponds with your specialization.

Dual MSW/MPH Practicum Timesheets

Timesheets should be submitted to Canvas at the completion of your practicum experience.

For specific questions about Dual Degree practicum, contact Kate Barbier.

Key Contacts

Key Contacts
Jewel

  • Jewel Stafford, MSW

  • Assistant Dean, Office of Field Education, Teaching Professor, Director, Racial Equity Fellows Concentrations: Individualized, American Indian/Alaska Native
  • staffordjd@wustl.edu
  • 314-935-2785
Alison
Elizabeth

  • Elizabeth Fuchs, MSW

  • Lecturer, Concentrations: Social & Economic Development – Domestic, Master of Social Policy (MSP) program
  • e.fuchs@wustl.edu
  • 314-935-3456
Atia
Sunghei Han
Kate Barbier