Program overview

Program length: 1 academic year or 2 consecutive semesters
Class size: 1-3 students
Location: Phoenix, Arizona

This internship provides the in-depth clinical knowledge and skills that students need to deliver comprehensive social services as well-rounded medical social workers. You will work with physicians, nurses, administrators, social workers, and other allied health professionals as a respected member of the patient care team.

You will learn at an internationally renowned medical center that includes a large designated cancer center and organ transplantation program and serve a large, diverse patient population with common and uncommon medical conditions.

As a social work intern, you help patients and their families cope with chronic, acute, or terminal illnesses, addressing problems that impede recovery or rehabilitation. You may organize support groups for families of people undergoing organ transplants or who have cancer, AIDS, Alzheimer's disease, or other illnesses.

You also advise family caregivers, counsel patients and help plan for patients' needs after discharge by arranging at-home services, from meals-on-wheels to oxygen equipment.

Graduation and certification

If this internship completes your program requirements at Arizona State University, you will receive your master's degree from Arizona State University.

Application process

Your application and all supporting documentation must be received by April 15 for the fall semester. The program starts in August or beginning of the academic year.

Prerequisites

Applicants for the Social Work Internship must be enrolled in the master's degree social work program at Arizona State University. Applicants are not selected based on grades alone, but your university cumulative GPA should be at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. It is suggested that all thesis and coursework be completed prior to the internship.

You are expected to know the biopsychosocial aspects of human behavior and social work practice principles. You must also have effective communication skills and the motivation to contribute in an interdisciplinary medical setting.

Non-U.S. citizen applicants

Admission to Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences is open to U.S. workers in the four categories below. Therefore, visa sponsorship is not available.

1. U.S. citizens
2. U.S. nationals
3. Lawful permanent residents
4. Asylees and refugees

Applicants whose primary language is not English must submit results from the Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-based test (TOEFL iBT). Scores from the speaking portion of the exam are given particular consideration in admission decisions. Learn more about the exam and register online at the Educational Testing Service.

The Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences code for the TOEFL iBT is 5784.

Educational transcripts from schools outside the U.S. must be translated (if they are not already in English) and evaluated for U.S. equivalence by an accredited credential evaluation service company prior to submission. Please refer to the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services for a list of qualified companies. The applicant pays for the examination and credential-evaluation services.

How to apply

Email your CV and cover letter to Bethany Hall, M.S.W., L.C.S.W. (hall.bethany@mayo.edu).

Interview process

Applicants considered for an appointment will be invited for a personal interview with the internship instructor.

Acceptance

Your acceptance to the internship depends upon successful completion of all compliance requirements, which includes a background check, immunizations, drug screen, and verification of health insurance for the duration of the internship. You are also required to submit the Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences online application.

Tuition and financial aid

There is no tuition for the internship.

You are responsible for providing your living accommodations and transportation.

You may hold outside employment during the internship if it does not conflict with your educational responsibilities.

Curriculum

During the internship, you participate in:

• Patient care rounds
• Multidisciplinary patient care team conferences
• Staff and committee meetings
• Program and policy development and implementation
• Weekly seminars with the senior social work staff

As a social work intern, you:

• Conduct psychosocial assessments and clinical interventions that include psychosocial diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up
• Participate in patient care management and discharge planning
• Make referrals to community resources
• Provide patient and family education
• Coordinate support groups

You are assigned a field instructor who is a staff member with two or more years of clinical experience. Your field instructor supervises your clinical assignments. A master's-level social worker coordinates the internship and supervises the field instructors and students. The coordinator also is the liaison to Arizona State University.

Schedule

For the majority of the internship, your learning schedule is determined by the requirements of your university program, but usually includes eight-hour days, two days a week.

Accreditation information

See accreditation information for Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science.