Practicum Education: What To Expect

Learn about our practicum education, including how it works and how it supports your professional development.

Overview

Practicum is a vital part of your MSW education. As a Part-Time Online MSW student, you’ll apply classroom learning in real-world settings during your practicum experiences, developing essential skills that help you navigate complex social work challenges and make a meaningful impact in the communities you serve. You’ll complete two practicum experiences—a generalist experience focused on foundational social work practice and a specialization experience emphasizing practice with individuals, families and groups.

Your Commitment

Practicum education is a core part of the Pitt MSW experience and requires thoughtful planning alongside your academic, professional and personal responsibilities.

Total Practicum Hours

Generalist Practicum: 360 total hours completed over two semesters
Specialized Practicum: 720 total hours completed over three to four semesters

What To Expect

Scheduling varies by placement. Weekly hours may fluctuate based on agency needs and semester timelines. Students are expected to assess their availability, anticipate scheduling constraints and plan accordingly.

You and your Practicum Advisor will collaboratively identify sites that best meet your learning objectives. Successful participation depends on a clear understanding of the time commitment and a proactive approach to scheduling.

How Placement Works

Students begin the placement process early in their MSW journey, completing the following steps shortly after starting the program and before their first generalist practicum.

The Pitt practicum team is committed to working with you to find a suitable placement. However, available sites may not always align perfectly with specific interests and schedules. So, students may need to remain open and adaptable in their preferences.

Step 1

Complete Your Practicum Application

You’ll indicate your professional areas of interest and provide information about your educational background, experience, transportation, scheduling constraints and more.

Step 2

Identify a Placement Site With Your Practicum Advisor

Collaborate with your practicum advisor to identify agency sites accessible from your local geographic area that support your goals and meet the required CSWE competency standards.

Step 3

Proceed With Advisor-Led Placement Process

Your Practicum Advisor will facilitate the placement process in accordance with agency contractual agreements, guiding all aspects from initial contact to placement.

Step 4

Begin Your Practicum

Begin your generalist placement in your first year. Your specialized placement will take place during your third year.

Placement Opportunities Rooted in Experience

For more than 100 years, the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work has partnered with agencies and organizations to support meaningful, high-quality social work education. That legacy continues today through a broad network of practicum sites that reflect the evolving needs of individuals, families and communities.

Career-Aligned Placement Pathways

Placements are designed to support your professional goals while meeting program competencies. Students complete practicum experiences across schools, health care systems, senior services and mental health agencies, among others.

You’ll be paired with a Practicum Advisor who will guide and manage your placement process—students may share preferences, but all placements must be arranged through the advisor due to required university-agency agreements.

Employment-based placements: Students to complete practicum hours at their place of employment
Agency-based placements: Students to complete practicum hours at an agency

Note: Employment-based placements are not guaranteed and require careful review and approval to ensure placement supports accreditation-required learning competencies.

Specialized Practicum Experience

Tailored Placements for Targeted Impact

During the advanced year of the MSW program, students complete a specialized practicum designed to deepen skills within a specific area of practice. These placements build on the generalist foundation and support advanced, competency-based learning aligned with professional goals.

Students pursuing one of our four certificates will complete practicum work that aligns with their specialized area.

Children, Youth and Families

Sample placements:

Child welfare agencies
Schools and educational programs
Youth and family service organizations
Community centers

Integrated Healthcare

Sample placements:

Hospitals and primary care clinics
Integrated health systems
Mental health and behavioral health clinics
Long-term care facilities

Mental Health

Sample placements:

Community mental health centers
Inpatient psychiatric facilities
Substance use treatment centers
Private practice settings

Gerontology

Sample placements:

Senior living communities and retirement centers
Mental health settings
Community-based family service agencies
Hospitals, hospices and long-term facilities

“I work with people of all different populations and at all stages of recovery. I collaborate with nurses, doctors, security, providers, CYF caseworkers, parole/probation officers, advocates, families and more. It has been such a positive experience for me—and is absolutely preparing me for my future practice as a social worker.”
— Maria Veltre, Master of Social Work, Class of 2025

“My placement has been amazing, giving me the chance to learn and grow in so many areas of social work. It’s helped me build real-world skills and has me feeling more confident and ready for whatever comes next in my career.”
— Ashleigh Trudell, Master of Social Work, Class of 2025

“My placement is at an adult trauma facility. It’s been incredible to work in a major hospital system serving adults who have experienced complex trauma and often have other mental health care needs. Completing intake assessments, planning and facilitating treatment processes and treatment termination have been both rewarding and meaningful to my growth as a social worker. I’m confident in my ability to function at this professional level due to the mentorship and learning I’ve gained in this program.”
— L. Harley Bobst, Master of Social Work, Class of 2025

“My placement has been the best part of my first semester. I learn so many new things every day, and I’m getting to have a variety of experiences, including emotional support sessions, resource coordination, home visits and more. My supervisor is incredibly knowledgeable, and the other social workers on the team have been welcoming and supportive. I will be a better and more competent social worker from my time here.”
— Caitlin Sanders, Master of Social Work, Class of 2026

“My placement is at a community behavioral health organization for adolescents and transition-aged youth ages 12–22. As a therapy intern, I only have the most positive things to say about the community I serve. My daily tasks include providing brief support for clients in person and virtually, completing intakes, one-on-one therapy and group therapy in Pittsburgh Public Schools, all of which have provided me with amazing skills and experience I’ll use after graduation.”
— Kyle Brignall, Master of Social Work, Class of 2025

“Practicum education is a cornerstone of the MSW program, offering students learning opportunities essential for becoming effective and compassionate social workers. At Pitt, our strong partnerships with community organizations enable students to engage with diverse populations and a host of pressing social issues. These experiences enrich their professional journey and prepare them to make meaningful impacts in their communities and beyond.”
— Tonya Slawinski, Director of Practicum Education

A Strong Support System

Practicum education at Pitt is supported by a hands-on, team-based advising model designed to guide you through every phase of your practicum experience. Rather than navigating placement on your own, you’ll work with dedicated professionals who each play a distinct role in supporting your success.

Practicum Advisors

Practicum Advisors serve as your primary point of contact for placement planning and work closely with you to assess goals, identify potential sites and coordinate placement logistics in alignment with program and accreditation requirements.

Practicum Instructors

Practicum Instructors serve as teachers, guides and role models, volunteering their time to give back, stay current and engage with real-world social work practice across diverse settings, while helping you connect coursework to your evolving interests and long-term career goals.

Practicum Liaisons

The Practicum Liaison, a CSWE-accredited MSW professional with at least two years of experience, supports MSW students by coordinating with agency staff, conducting site visits and reviewing evaluations and timesheets each term; in rare cases, they may also serve as the Practicum Instructor.

Interested in Learning More About the MSW Practicum?

Schedule time by emailing admissions@msw.pitt.edu

Where Social Work Meets Social Justice

At Pitt, we’re committed to transforming our world, our future and ourselves.

We develop and sustain collaborative partnerships to understand, prevent and ameliorate complex social problems with innovative approaches that promote justice and equity.

Learn More About How To Apply