Field Experience Information
The Clinical Counseling field experience consists of three experiential learning opportunities in the form of one practicum and two internships. Each field experience provides a supervised clinical experience with an emphasis on the knowledge and practice of counseling skills, theories, competencies, and best practices.
The Field Experience Coordinator oversees the development of centralized processes for managing the field placement activities, including the application, site approval, placement, site and/or student evaluation, and manages the Clinical Training Manager, the clinical documentation software used to streamline documentation and communication processes for all MSCC locations.
Students applying to practicum or internship will work with the field experience coordinator to secure a supervised practice in an appropriate mental-health-related setting. Each student is responsible for collaborating with the field experience coordinator to ensure the site and supervisor meet appropriate requirements. The field experience coordinator must approve the site and the site supervisor before the student can begin the practicum or internship. Students must ensure their field experiences meet their specific state board standards and requirements as well as those of the program.
Where can I find detailed information about practicum or internship?
All field experience policies, procedures, and guidelines can be found in the field experience handbook. Students are strongly advised to thoroughly review the field experience handbook as it is the most important preparation you can do for field experience.
What is Clinical Training Manager?
Clinical Training Manager by Tevera is a clinical documentation software managed by the Field Experience Coordinator. Students will be invited to access Tevera during the first semester of their program to begin field placement preparation. The cost of this tracking software is a one-time student fee of $200.00-$250.00. Students will be prompted to complete the application for their respective site on Tevera, as well as, log hours for both direct and indirect experience, provide evaluation of their site, and review their evaluations from their instructor and site supervisor. Once the application is complete, the field experience coordinator will finalize the student's registration for class.
What is the process of applying for practicum or internship?
Students may apply for practicum and internship through the Clinical Training Manager software. Students are asked to complete the entire application and upload the required documentation to the Clinical Training Manager portal. In order to begin at a practicum/internship site, students must have their site approved by CMU, purchase liability insurance and provide proof of current liability insurance, and complete all of the MSCC documents related to their application. Please refer to the field experience handbook for all requirements to begin practicum and internship.
When should I start the application for field experience?
It is ideal to begin searching for a field experience site in your first semester of the program. Students are to work with the field experience coordinator to identify a location. It is ultimately the responsibility of the student to identify a field site. Once students have communicated to the field experience coordinator that they have secured a site, the student will be invited to access Clinical Training Manger (CTM) to complete the application. Access to CTM is contingent on student report of secured site. The application must be completed, signed, and submitted before they are registered into the field experience course. Regardless, once a student accesses CTM, a one-time fee of $200.00 will be added to their tuition for practicum.
Who will supervise me?
During this experience, students will be supervised by a CMU instructor and Site supervisor. It is the responsibility of the student to identify a qualified supervisor. The site supervisor can be a Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Social Worker, Psychologist, or Psychiatrist so long as they have training in supervision (must provide proof in application).
When do I take practicum and internship?
Practicum is traditionally taken either the fall or spring semester of the student's second year. Internship can be divided over two to three semesters and traditionally begins in the fall of the student's third year. Summer field experience may be possible but will last 10-weeks versus the traditional 8-week summer course.
How many hours are in practicum and internship?
During practicum, students must undergo a minimum of 100 hours of training (60 hours indirect and 40 hours direct). In internship, students are required to document a minimum total of 600 hours (360 hours indirect and 240 hours direct). Students may take 2 to 3 graduate credit hours of Internship per semester, depending on student's needs. Students must discuss internship plan with program coordinator prior to applying.
For example, students may break up their internship hours in to two semesters:
100 training hours x 3 graduate credit hours = 300 training hours x 2 semesters (i.e. Fall, Spring) = 600 Internship hours
Or over three semesters: 100 training hours x 2 graduate credit hours = 200 training hours x 3 semesters (Fall, Spring, Summer) = 600 Internship hours
Field Experience Forms
All Forms are stored and managed in our clinical training software, Tevera.
