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Department of Social Work

Practicum Education

Thank you for visiting our site to learn more about Social Work Practicum Education at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU). Both the MSW and BSW practicum education programs at MTSU offer robust, experiential learning opportunities in a variety of settings and populations. MSW students will complete a 900-hour practicum experience while BSW students complete a 425-hour practicum. 

Located in the center of Tennessee and approximately 30 miles from Nashville, MTSU has a variety of diverse partnerships with agencies  and organizations to ensure quality learning opportunities for students in the field.

Practicum Education Coordinators

The BSW and MSW programs each have a designated Practicum Coordinator who oversees agency recruitment and approval, student placement and progress, and the execution of the nine core social work competencies in field placement.

MSW Practicum Coordinator – Amanda Widup
BSW Practicum Coordinator – Jessica Teter

Practicum Education at MTSU

The purpose of the practicum is to provide an educationally directed practice experience for the social work student. The field experience provides opportunities for social work students to apply the knowledge and skills gained in the classroom to real life interactions with clients. Students can observe the benefits and challenges of working within various organizational settings with diverse client populations. Through this experience, students become socialized to the profession and can deepen their understanding of the profession’s values and ethics as well as its commitment to social, economic, and environmental justice.

The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) has identified practicum education as the signature pedagogy of social work education:

“Signature pedagogy represent the central form of instruction and learning in which a profession socializes its students …. In social work, the signature pedagogy is practicum education… the two interrelated components of curriculum—classroom and field—are of equal importance within the curriculum, and each contributes to the development of the requisite competencies of professional practice. It fosters a learning environment where anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion are valued.” (CSWE,2022).

  • BSW students will need to receive weekly practicum instruction from a social worker with a BSW, MSW, or higher level of licensure. The MSW student will need weekly supervision from someone holding an MSW or higher level of licensure in social work. This individual will need to have worked for two years post-graduation.
  • The social worker will need to have been employed at the organization longer than 6 months.
  • Ability to supervise and instruct students
  • Acceptance of the BSW and MSW social work educational model
  • Commitment to work cooperatively with MTSU SW Department
  • Demonstrate professional social work values, knowledge, skills, and behaviors.

  • Agency’s philosophy of service compatible with values and ethics of social work profession
  • Services provided by agency must be appropriate for meeting social work competencies
  • Appropriate supervision available to students with a supportive culture for student learning
  • Agency provides adequate workspace and equipment for student
  • Agency provides orientation to student
  • Agency has no discriminatory practices
  • Agencies willing to work in partnership with MTSU Social Work Department

Practicum Instructors are required to provide at least one hour of scheduled supervision to the student each week.

Inquiry Form for Potential Agency Partners

If your agency or organization would like to become an official partner with the MTSU Department of Social Work and offer practicum education opportunities to students, please complete the following inquiry form. If you are unsure about the criteria to become a field instructor or approved partner, please review the information under the FAQ  section.

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Department of Social Work
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Congratulations to our outstanding faculty!

Dr. Carmelita Dotson, John Pleas Honoree

Dr. Cathy McElderry, Women's History Month Trailblazer 2025

Maigan Wipfli, director of the June Anderson Center for Women and Nontraditional Students at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tenn., presents the 2025 Women’s National History Month Faculty Trailblazer Award to MTSU Department of Social Work professor Cathy McElderry at the inaugural Women’s Celebration Dinner and annual Trailblazer Awards held Wednesday, March 5, in the Student Union Ballroom on campus. (MTSU photos by Cat Curtis Murphy)

Professor Violet Cox-Wingo, Harold Love Community Service Award

This annual award from the Tennessee Higher Education Commission recognizes students, faculty, and staff in Tennessee higher education who are providing exceptional public service to their communities. A task force of higher education professionals reviewed nominations from across the state, and you were determined to represent the best of the best in the Volunteer State!

Violet Cox-Wingo