In their second year, students are provided an internship in a school and work under the supervision of a certified school social worker. The program is designed to provide students with the knowledge, skills, values, and experience needed to prepare them for certification as school social workers. Through the combination of course work and the practicum, students in the school social work program are provided a specialized curriculum that will enable them to become effective practitioners within the context of the public school system. In addition to the requirements of the clinical concentration, students in the school social work program are required to take three classes specifically designed for their specialization. These include a three-quarter clinical case seminar that integrates academic work with the school social work student's field experiences in the school setting.
Students bring case material for analysis and discussion.
The course on Exceptional Children is directed at the role of the school social worker in providing service to these children and their families in a school setting. Methods on evaluating disorders as well as current research in the field is covered. The course on Public School Systems and Service Populations is designed to acquaint students with the organization of the public schools, implementation of special education mandates, services to culturally and economically diverse populations, and the role of the social worker in a variety of public school settings.