Steps to Register for the Social Work Internship Course and FAQs

Note: ALL INTERNSHIPS MUST BE IN-PERSON.

If you are a student interested in participating as an intern in the Internship Program, please follow these steps:

1. Complete prerequisites SOC 2201
2. 70 hours of internship are required per semester
3. Contact the organizations (on and off campus) that interest you from the “Internship Locations” list provided. Many of these organizations have background checks, interviews, TB and other COVID related protocols.
4. Once the organization has agreed to take you on as an intern, complete the internship learning plan form. ***Ensure the form has been completed with the signature of your field supervisor and that you have also signed the form.
5. Submit the completed internship learning plan form as a pdf document to Dr. Morales for a final signature.
6. Finally, once the paperwork is complete, the Department will give you a course code for enrollment.
7. Contact the organization you choose and complete all the necessary requirements BEFORE the semester begins so that you can start your work at the start of the semester.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT SW 4411

1) Can I find my own internship outside of what’s already listed on the department website?

Yes, but it is highly recommended you pursue an internship that is on the department website list. These are organizations we already have relationships with and are our community partners. It is usually easier for you to work with them because they are familiar with our program.

If you still would like to secure an internship outside of what is noted on our website, your internship must be approved by Dr. Morales first AND the internship must have you working specifically with social workers/social service providers. The goal is for you to work firsthand with social service organizations so you can learn more about the field. Please email Dr. Morales the name of the organization, description, and an outlining of your roles and responsibilities.

2) I have located an internship site outside of what’s already on the department website and Dr. Morales has approved it. Now what do I do to get enrolled in the course?

Check in with your supervisor to make sure they agree to do the following: sign the internship learning plan (this is needed before you can enroll in the course), sign your timelog each week to verify your hours (timelog will be available on Canvas once you start the course), and complete a brief evaluation towards the end of the semester.

You also must inquire with the organization to see if any paperwork is required from them. The social work internship program does not complete MOU’s (a specific type of paperwork) or any other forms for organizations.

After you complete all the above steps, download the internship learning plan, complete your portion (don’t forget to sign it yourself!), and have your supervisor sign it. Then, email it to Dr. Morales for processing. Upon approval, you will receive a course code for enrollment.

3) I work full-time and/or have responsibilities that prevent me from taking on an internship. Can I pursue online options?

All students will have to secure an in-person internship for SW 4411. Our program is not a fully online program so there are some courses that require in-person participation such as SW 4411. It is also important for students to have a meaningful social work experience and that involves actually being out in the field and interning with social work organizations.

If you cannot participate in an internship, you may want to consult with an academic advisor to switch from social work to the general sociology option. Many of the required courses are the same as social work but there is no internship requirement in the general sociology option. You

can also speak with your workplace and family to see if there can be some flexibility in your schedule if you want to pursue the internship.

4) I’ve contacted an organization from the internship list and it’s been over a week and I have not heard back. I am panicking that I will not find an internship. HELP!

Try contacting the organization again as well as other organizations. You can contact multiple organizations at the same time which will better your chances in securing an internship faster. Of course, you’ll want to wait several days before you send a follow up email or phone call so you don’t overwhelm the organization. But the main rule here is: Be Persistent!

5) It’s general registration time and I have no internship but I need to take SW 4411 to graduate. What can I do? I have to graduate!

No need to worry. You have until the add/drop period to enroll in SW 4411. But this means you must secure an internship ASAP! Do not wait until the last minute. Because you’ll need to allow 48 hours for the internship learning plan to be processed, this means you must submit the plan at least 2 days before the add/drop period ends.

6) I am worried that the class will fill up before I can enroll. What action do I take if that happens?

If students have a fully completed internship plan (including supervisor signature and their own) submitted before the add/drop deadline AND the internship is from the dept list or approved by Dr. Morales, they will be able to enroll in the course.

7) Do I have to take 2 semesters of SW 4411?

This will depend on when you joined the social work option. Curriculum changes were made in recent years. Please consult your DPR (degree progress report) to see if you are required to take 1 or 2 semesters of SW 4411. If you have questions about this, you’ll want to speak with an academic advisor at the CLASS Student Success Center.

8) I just enrolled in the course and would like to start getting internship hours before the class begins. Can I do that?

Yes, you can start attaining some internship hours before the course begins but you must also complete internship hours while enrolled in the course. In other words, retroactive internships (internships you’ve completed in the past) cannot be used to fulfill the internship requirement.

You will need to keep your own records (number of hours, roles/responsibilities, dates). Once you begin the course, you can access the timelog on Canvas and add them to the timelog. However, you must make sure your supervisor is okay with signing off on these hours on the timelog. Please check in with your supervisor about this before starting your internship hours.

9) If I am doing 2 semesters of internship, can I roll over my hours from the first to the second semester?

Yes, if you obtain extra internship hours in your first semester beyond the 70 hour requirement, you can apply those hours towards the second semester. You must document your hours, roles/responsibilities and dates and note this information on the timelog once you start your second semester of the course. You must also ask your supervisor if they are okay with signing off on these additional hours in the spring semester.

10) What are my options if I am unable to complete 70 hours of field work?

70 hours of internship per semester is required of all students enrolled in SW 4411. If there are extenuating circumstances preventing you from obtaining 70 internship hours, contact Dr. Morales as soon as possible and well in advance of final assignment deadlines.