RATIONALE: Orientation to Practicum in Child and Family Services Is a One Credit Pass/Fail

Syllabus: Preparation for Practicum

RATIONALE: Preparation for Practicum in Child and Family Studies is designed to assist you as you plan your practicum experience.

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Preparation for Child and Family Services Practicum will identify expectations of the practicum experience. Students will investigate and locate an appropriate practicum site and develop professional and educational goals for the practicum experience.

COURSE OBJECTIVES: 1. Identify experiences desired in a practicum site that match career goals. 2. Become aware of resources available to locate a possible practicum site in the field of family studies. 3. Locate possible practicum sites which provide career related experience. 4. Develop specific goals and objectives for a practicum site. 5. Complete a TYPED contract for a practicum with an agency (3 copies). 6. Provide a contact form

Practicum Prerequisites:

Students must be a Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) major or an American Humanics/Nonprofit Leadership Alliance student. All students must be junior or senior standing. In addition, HDFS students must have completed all of their 300 level courses prior to the time the practicum begins. Therefore you can plan your practicum experience while taking your 300 level courses, but you cannot start your practicum until all the 300 level courses have been completed. If you have taken a 300 level course but did not receive a passing grade, you can still enroll in practicum while retaking the course.

All students must have consent from the practicum supervisor prior to registering for the practicum course. Your authorization will be granted once you have completed the first five requirements on the Schedule of Assignments link.

Some practicums (for example, hospital child life) require specific course work or practical experience prior to the internship. Talk with your academic counselor and practicum supervisor early in your college career to prepare for these internships COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND ASSIGNMENTS:

1. Read the syllabus 2. Complete the Practicum Selection Checklist 3. Meet with Stephanie Bebensee (SDSU) or Nicole Graves (University Center), to determine the number of credits you should take during your practicum. 4. Submit the Practicum Credits Form 5. Identify three practicum sites which match your career goals and submit the Practicum Site Information Form. 6. Get practicum supervisor approval for contacting the sites regarding a practicum. 7. After meeting with the site and confirming that a practicum can be completed, student will send a follow-up thank you letter (no emails) to the site and copy to the practicum supervisor. 8. The student will meet with the practicum agency supervisor to discuss the requirements in the practicum contract and to develop specific goals and objectives for the practicum experience. Submit three printed copies of the TYPED and signed contract to the practicum supervisor. 9. Complete the Practicum Contact Form

Note: Spring and Summer Practicum will begin NO earlier than the first day of classes.

.College of Education and Human Sciences Academic Honesty Policy In written papers and other class projects (electronic format, hard copy, or otherwise) it is unethical and unprofessional to present the work done by others in a manner that indicates that the student is presenting the material as his/her original ideas or work. Cheating, assisting others, or plagiarizing on tests, quizzes, problems, research papers, or other assignments will result in written notification to the student involved, the academic advisor, the department that offers the course, the appropriate College or Administrative Dean, and parent/guardian (when student is dependent for financial aid purposes). Plagiarizing is submitting uncited materials as your own work, which was in fact produced by others. Examples include uncited work from journals, books, work of others, or electronic sources.*

In addition, the penalty for academic dishonesty may be one or more of the following, at the discretion of the instructor, and based on the seriousness of the situation: A grade of zero on the test, quiz, homework, problem, or other assignment for the student(s) involved. A grade of F for the course. Referral of the matter to the Student Conduct Committee or the Graduate School for disciplinary action. Students have the right to appeal an academic dishonesty charge. Procedures for this process are available in Department offices and the Dean’s office. No final course grades will be given until all avenues of appeal have been completed or the case resolved. If repeated offenses occur in either a specific class or in 2 more different classes, the matter will be automatically referred to the Student Conduct Committee/Graduate School.

* World Wide Web (www), CD Rom, video and audio, graphic materials, etc.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY LITERACY PROFICIENCY

Beginning Fall 1999, all students enrolled at South Dakota State University are required to demonstrate information technology literacy (ITL). ITL refers to the ability to locate information from multiple sources, to evaluate and select relevant portions of that information, and to organize, effectively use, and communicate the information in various formats (ITL Task Force, 2/18 /99). As a graduation requirement, all SDSU students will meet the following goals:

1. Graduates will understand how information is defined and distributed and how that knowledge is used to direct their search for specific information. 2. Graduates will be able to locate information from a variety of sources. 3. Graduates will develop skills in using information technologies. 4. Graduates will be able to critically analyze and evaluate information obtained using this technology. 5. Graduates will be able to understand the ethical, legal, and sociopolitical aspects of information and its technologies.