Social work majors facing long internship hours

by Linsey Heiser staff writer

Internships are an essential part of the social work program's structure, designed to prepare students to enter the social work field with the necessary skills and knowledge.

All social work majors must complete 650 hours of interning before they graduate.

Internships begin during the second 'semester of a student's junior year, which start at about eight hours a week.

During their final semester at Cabrini, students intern about 35 hours a week, along with taking their senior seminar.

This may seem like a lot, but according to Dr. Carol BennettSpeight, director of the social work department, students are pre- pared for the long hours.

"The students know what they are getting into," she said. ''They must have an incredible commitment."

In order to be accepted into the internship program, a student must submit a completed Admission to Field Placement Program form and a Student Self-Study form.

They must also interview with a screening committee, and, most importantly, have a minimum 2.3 overall grade point average.

The students are placed at different agencies based on interest and location.

Some of the field practices include the American Red Cross, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the Family and Community Services of Delaware, Chester and

Montgomery counties.

Students do not usually get paid for internship work. Some students are not happy about this fact,

''The students know what they are getting into. They must have an incredible commitment."

-Dr. Carol BennettSpeight, director of the social work department as well as the long hours involved, but social work professors do not see any changes being made.

"I've found that most students do not have a problem with the hours because they look forward to the hands-on experience," Dr. Margo Bare, social work field coordinator, said. "You can't do that by looking at a book."

At these internships, students are doing actual social work as if they already have a professional degree.

''This is the best way to learn by using professional experiences," Bare said. "Students are expected to act and work in a professional manner."

Marleny Vasquez, a senior, is a social work major because she likes helping people and likes working in a group process.

Vasquez is currently interning at Womenspace, which is a rehabilitation center for women in Ardmore.

Vasquez would like to see fewer hours, but she understands why she works the hours she does.

"I'm getting really good training," Vasquez said. ''I learn lots of different things."

Vasquez also wishes that she would get paid.

"I feel that social workers do not get paid as much as they should," she said.

She understands, however, the reason for the lack of pay. ''There is not a big enough budget to pay every one," she said.

Although these internships may be time consuming, the students find it is usually worth the effort.

According to Bare, many students get hired by the agencies where they complete their internship.

Also, half of all social work majors from Cabrini go on to graduate school.