MSW practicum trainees primarily engage in individual therapy under supervision, while also being part of group therapy, psychoeducational workshops, and referral specialist and care management services. They also take part in outreach activities and a weekly seminar/case conference. Through these experiences, trainees explore their clinical interests and develop skills to assess client needs, plan and implement evidence-based treatment, and connect students with appropriate campus and community resources.
Weekly hours run 20–24 to meet the MSW program's 600-hour requirement and are set before each semester collaboratively by the trainee and the Practicum Coordinator.
| FALL/SPRING SCHEDULE | |
|---|---|
Activities |
Hours per Week |
| Individual Therapy | 5-8 |
| Initial Consultations | 2 |
| Group Therapy/Workshops | 2.5 |
| Referral Specialist | 1-2 |
| Outreach Programming | 2 |
|
Supervision |
|
| Individual Supervision | 2 |
| Group Supervision | 0.5 |
|
Other Training |
|
| Seminar/Case Conference | 1.5 |
| Case Management/Documentation | 3-4 |
| Care Management Team Meeting | 1 |
| Total | 20-24 |
Trainees see Purdue students within CAPS' brief-therapy model, typically carrying a caseload of 8–10 individual clients seen every other week. To build their caseloads, trainees are generally assigned two Routine Initial Consultations — the first individual-therapy appointment (Intakes) — per week, until their caseload becomes full.
The most common presenting concerns for the cases assigned to them include anxiety, depression, relationship concerns, and adjustment difficulties.
Each semester, trainees process-observe one Understanding Self and Others (USO) interpersonal process group, with the possibility of co-facilitating in the spring based on their clinical development and readiness.
Trainees also lead a weekly psychoeducational workshop series, beginning by observing a staff therapist, then co-leading, and eventually leading independently.
The social work intern provides referral specialist contact appointments. Alongside the CAPS referral specialist the social work intern will learn to help students navigate and connect to campus and community resources.
Practicum students may engage in a variety of programming and outreach including invited presentations to departments, classes, residence halls and fraternity, sorority and cooperative life. Outreach opportunities for practicum students are often conducted jointly with a member of the CAPS staff.
Social work interns receive 2 hours of weekly individual supervision from a licensed clinical social worker.
Social work interns receive 0.5 hours of supervision of group therapy per week from a licensed mental health provider.
A weekly 1.5-hour practicum seminar combining didactic meetings and case consultation/conference. Didactic meetings build clinical knowledge, multicultural awareness, and professional identity, while case consultation develops skills in presenting cases and giving and receiving consultation with colleagues.
Unique to the MSW practicum, trainees attend a 1-hour weekly care management team meeting, learning how care managers follow up with complex clients and connect them to specialized or longer-term community services.
The remaining weekly time is dedicated to documentation and client communication as needed, along with preparation for seminar, consultation, and supervision.
Last modified: November 6, 2026