Community Service Practicum

Community Service Practicum

The Community Service Practicum is a nonclinical experience that offers students frontline exposure to social issues, including the range of problems clients face, the policies that restrict access to service, and the ways in which mental health professionals can initiate systemic change. The experience helps students narrow their areas of interest for dissertation ideas and career goals and increases preparedness for future practicums. In addition, the experience provides students with an opportunity to network with agencies and individuals—an invaluable and necessary aspect of building a career. Of course, the work students do during their practicum also benefits the communities in which they are placed.

Practicum work may involve:

• Developing a new service or program
• Enabling an organization to apply for external funding based on a pilot study developed by students
• Disseminating information about the organization through a variety of communications channels
• Providing the support needed to lobby for legislative change through such means as petitions, fundraising, and networking
• Program evaluation or a needs assessment

There are many types of sites to chose from, including nonprofit and professional organizations, political offices, consumer advocacy groups, and more. In the near future, the School will offer a web-based database of approved sites for clinical and community service practicums. In the meantime, please refer to the practicum handbook for information on training sites.

Students enroll in the Professional Development Seminar in the term preceding the practicum, and again concurrently with the practicum. In addition, students enroll in at least one of four classes during the practicum:

• Community Psychology and Mental Health (350)
• Professional Development, Issues & Ethics (505)
• Intro to Adlerian Psychology and Psychopathology (402)
• Social Psychology & Individual Differences (641)

Students who have taken one or more of these courses before beginning the practicum must take another course from the above list during both practicum semesters.

The practicum begins in students’ second semester and extends over two semesters—approximately eight to ten hours per week over the course of 25 weeks. Students earn one credit per semester.