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Practicum education placement

All Social Work majors are required to complete a 400 hour practicum. You will be placed with an agency in which you will practice generalist social work skills, such as assessment, interventions, and evaluation at various levels of practice, including work with individuals, groups, and families. You will also gain experience in policy work, advocacy, research, and community organization.

With the number of social work settings available in the Grand Rapids area and off-campus, we will find an agency whose needs are well-matched to your interests and skills.

Agencies with whom we place students have the following characteristics:

• they have the volume and flow in programming so that you will have a wide range of learning experiences with multi-level client systems
• their programs and intervention methods are clearly defined and implemented.
• they offer opportunities for practicing generalist social work skills: interviewing, documentation, intervention, networking, advocacy, group work and organization of community resources
• they provide services to diverse population groups, including diversity in race, ethnicity, immigration status, religion, and gender
• their philosophy and delivery of service complies with the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics

The 2025–2026 Field Education Handbook is available to read online.

Consider these exciting local options

These local practicum education sites are examples of where students have been placed in the past and will offer you countless opportunities for experience and growth.