Scheduling of the Undergraduate Field and Practice Courses

The senior practice sequence involves three separate, inter-related courses; and throughout the senior year, the student must register each quarter for each of the three courses:

SW 396, 397 & 398

The practice class is taught fall, winter, and spring for two hours on Mondays and Wednesdays, from 1 to 3 p.m.

SW 491A, B & C

The integrative seminar is taught fall, winter, and spring, once a week, for two hours. There are from one to three sections of this seminar offered each quarter, also, on Mondays and Wednesdays. The student must commit to the same seminar for each of the three quarters.

SW 492A, B & C

For the field practicum, the student must complete 120 hours in the field during fall quarter, 160 hours during winter quarter, and 160 hours during spring quarter.

The field practicum is to be arranged in at least half-day blocks of time, thus, precluding the student making short visits to the agency between other classes.

Problems in scheduling for the field arise when the student has additional class commitments to complete for graduation beyond the senior practice sequence and when a student is employed part-time. Often these problems can be resolved, but sometimes they are insurmountable. It is important for the student to remember that this sequence is required for the major, that the three parts must be taken concurrently, and that no part of it can be waived in order to schedule other classes or to meet other commitments.

As part of the field placement process, course-scheduling issues must be discussed with the faculty advisor and a field faculty member in order that a clear and complete yearly scheduling plan is formulated. After the senior practice sequence begins, additional scheduling issues that involve field practicum hours must be resolved with the field instructor. Unexpected or unresolved scheduling issues must be brought to the attention of the field director.