Brown School Global Practicum Guidelines
A global practicum is defined as a field placement completed in a Core Affiliated Practicum (CAP) site in a country or U.S. territory outside of the United States. International practicum students are required to comply with all OFE&CP field-related requirements, guidelines and timelines. Students will also be required to attend to mandated competencies and behaviors established in the Educational Learning Agreement (ELA) and declared area of specialization or concentration.
Students interested in completing an international practicum must receive joint approval from the Office of Field Education (OFE) & the Global Programs Office (GPO).
The approval for an international practicum involves a multi-step process in which students will work with faculty and staff through a
guided selection process.
The following conditions must be met if students are interested in global practicum:
- Student has consulted with OFE and Global Programs regarding Brown School’s international practicum placement or attended an information session:
- Review the process and discuss interest in international practicum
- Review the Core Affiliated Practicum (CAP) sites
- Student must be enrolled in one of the following concentrations or specializations and demonstrate an interest in pursuing a career in an international field of social work and/or public health:
- International Social and Economic Development (International SED) – MSW
- Global Health specialization (GH) -- MPH
- Individualized in Internationally-focused concentration – approved by Global Programs Office
- All other students must petition for approval from Global Programs Office. Please note that while the petition may be approved, funding is based on availability after ISED and GH students are funded and is, therefore, not guaranteed.
- Student must successfully complete (with a B or better) at least one of the following international courses before commencing the international practicum:
MSW, Dual MSW/MPH, Individualized with International Topic:
- S20 SWHS 5030 International Social Development
- S30 SWDP 7821 International Child Welfare
- S31 SWPP 4100 Social Work Practice with Refugees and Immigrants
- S40 SWSP 58762 International Social and Economic Development Policy
- S60 SWCD 5056 Development Practice in International Settings
- S60 5040 Environment, Climate, and Communities: Vulnerable Populations
- S60 5043 Global Anti-Poverty Interventions
- Approved global field-based course
MPH, Dual MPH/MSW, Individualized with International Topic:
- S55 MPH 4003 Global Burden of Disease
- S55 MPH 5102 Global Health
- S55 MPH 5107 Policy, Power and Politics in Global Health
- S55 MPH 5321 Global Hunger and Undernutrition
- S55 MPH 5370 Public Health Interventions in Developing Countries
- S55 MPH 5132 Global Mental Health
- Approved global field-based course
- Student must be in good academic standing (cum GPA of 3.0 or higher and have no current academic or disciplinary actions)
- MPH student will have completed the seven prerequisite public health courses
- MSW student will have completed the MSW foundation courses and foundation practicum
- MPH/MSW dual degree student will have completed the seven prerequisite public health courses and the MSW foundation courses and foundation practicum
- Advanced Standing MSW students will have completed at least one semester of courses at Brown School
- Submit an application indicating top three sites by clicking on the apply now button above. Components of the application include a personal statement about why the student wants to pursue a global practicum, learning goals for a global practicum experience, how the practicum fits into their long-term professional objectives, a resume, risk forms and other information used to evaluate the student’s application for approval.
- If selected by the Brown School to do a global practicum, you will be nominated for one of your three ranked choices. It is rare that a student doesn’t get one of their choices, but could happen based on agency needs and preferences and students’ skills and backgrounds. Your selection by the Brown School Global Programs office is not a guarantee that you will be selected by an agency, as they reserve the right to determine best fit for the practicum position. Once selected by the Brown School, you need to apply directly the agency you have been nominated for. Once approved by the agency, please notify the Director of Global Programs so you can be processed for a Khinduka Scholarship.
7. You will also be required to attend the pre-departure sessions. At the sessions we will cover the practicum documents required by OFE and GPO which must be submitted by the specified dates. This includes the ELA, Geo-Blue health insurance for the duration of your travel at roughly $40 a month, registration with MyTrips, registration for credit and in Handshake, and other documents, which will be communicated to you. We will also talk about cultural sensitivity and health and safety issues.
If approved for a global practica, scholarship money is available through the Khinduka fund. The exact amount will be determined by the number of applicants. Once selected for a global practicum, you will be notified of the award amount.
If you are an international student that wants to go home to do your practicum, you do not need to apply through this process. However, you will work with the GPO to affiliate the agency in your home country.
If you have questions about the global practica process, please contact Tammy Orahood, Director of Global Programs at orahood@wustl.edu.
Note: if a link is blue it means you've clicked on it before. If it's red, it means you have not. The color has nothing to do with approval or not. Unlinked sites are not available this summer.