The Practicum

The RCT Practicum experience is designed to connect students with experiences in religion and conflict transformation. The Practicum seeks to expose students to work in at least one of the following areas in peacebuilding: conflict studies, spiritual formation of peacebuilders, trauma healing, human security, and restorative justice. Local, National and International Practicum opportunities may be utilized and may be taken during a summer, a semester, or year-long placement. Generally, students are responsible for securing their own placement sites, although assistance may be offered through the RCT program office. The Practicum is optional but it may be taken for credit, substituting for one of the course electives, or it can be included as field education if it fulfills the requirements for both. Scholarships are available for qualifying students.

Practicum Guidelines:
  1. There are four ways to fulfill the practicum requirement:
    • Summer practicum in local, national or international placements.
    • Semester-long practicum in a local placement.
    • Year-long practicum in local, national or international placements.
    • Field education provision: Students wishing to use field education placements for the practicum must be able to demonstrate how the field education engages in the practice of conflict transformation and its related areas (e.g. the five areas of the RCT program). Students must follow guidelines set forth by their field education office, and must also meet requirements established for the practicum.
  2. Credit and Non-credit: The practicum may be taken for academic credit or for non-credit. If taken for credit, the practicum may be used to substitute for one of the program electives. The practicum requirements are the same for both cases, however.
  3. How to Apply
Practicum Requirements:
  1. Students must have taken the core course prior to taking the practicum.
  2. Time Commitment: All Practica must carry at least 200-hours contact hours to receive four (4) credits.
  3. Written Reflection: Students are required to submit a written reflection on their experience. This may be in the form of a journal, a documentary, a reflection or research paper, etc, but must be comparable to at least a  ten-page paper.
  4. On-site Supervision: Students are expected to identify the person to provide on-site supervision during the placement.
  5. Faculty Mentoring: Students must identify a Faculty of Record to facilitate the student learning experience.
  6. Expectations for students in the supervision process include:
    • Maintaining regular communication with the faculty of record, and meeting at least three (3) times to plan the experience, debrief after the experience, including sharing written reflection;
    • Signing a learning agreement with the on-site supervision that outlines student’s role and learning goals during the placement.

On-site Supervision:

Students are expected to identify the person to provide on-site supervision during the placement. Supervision by the sponsoring organization will be directed toward facilitating the student learning experience. Supervision will help the student engage and understand the organization’s work and the issues involved. Expectations for supervisor include,

  1. Signing a learning agreement with the student that outlines student’s role and learning goals during the placement;
  2. Monitor student’s role and contribution to the organization and provide evaluation of student work in light of the learning agreement.
  3. Submit a report to the RCT program administrator with evaluation of student’s learning experience and contribution to the organization.

Faculty Supervision:

Students must identify a Faculty of Record to facilitate the student learning experience. Faculty mentoring will be directed toward helping the student reflect on their practicum experience in light of their academic studies, especially certifying that the student’s practicum clearly engages in religion and conflict transformation. Expectations for faculty of record include:

  1. Meeting at least three (3) times to help plan the experience, monitor progress, debrief after the experience, including going over student written reflection;
  2. Helping the student to identify learning goals and evaluate outcome.
  3. Submit a report to the RCT program administrator evaluating student’s written reflection and learning experience.