Because experience-based education has great learning potential, CMU requires a practicum in all Bachelor of Arts programs. The practicum complements classroom education by having the student spend a significant amount of time in an off-campus placement. Students reflect on the experience through written assignments, readings, and discussions with supervisors.

Because experience-based education has great learning potential, CMU requires a practicum in all BA programs.

What is a Practicum?
CMU offers two types of practicum courses. Courses of the first type are scheduled alongside other courses during the academic year. These courses require students to gain experience in individual placements (a minimum of sixty hours per three credit hours) and to meet regularly in a practicum class at CMU. The second type, namely, the intensive practicum courses, requires students to spend a block of concentrated time in a placement over a minimum of twelve weeks (for a six credit-hour course). Most intensive practicum courses are developed with specific CMU programs in mind, but they are not restricted to students taking those programs.
Financial assistance is available for some intensive practica. Appropriate practicum placements are arranged with the Practicum Office in accordance with the student’s individual interests and academic goals.

Placements have included local and international placements with …
Environmental organizations, private and public schools, archives, art galleries, personal care homes, recreation centres, orphanages, prisons, publishing houses, parole offices, skate parks, community advocacy centres, food banks, hospitals, non-governmental organizations, media and communications offices, employment counsellors, IT network administrators, music therapy settings, mental and physical disabilities, art programs, autism spectrum disorder programs, family support services, refugees, immigrants, periodicals, newspapers, and much, much more.

Skills Developed
• Understanding organizational structures
• Critical thinking and analytical skills; analysis of complex problems
• Oral/written communication
• Research and interpretation skills
• Ability to meet deadlines; self-reliance; time management, independent work
• Leadership skills

Contact Werner Kliewer at wkliewer@cmu.ca, Practica Director, CMU's Shaftesbury campus
Contact Ruth Taronno at rtaronno@cmu.ca, Practica Director, CMU's Menno Simons College campus

Courses

The following section contains a complete list of courses for its curriculum. For current course listings please see the Course Description section of our website.

PRAC-1000/6 Cross-Cultural Service Learning: A supervised, structured, experience-based learning opportunity that involves the student in the experiential learning cycle of preparation, experience, evaluation and reflection. During first semester the students will explore the issues of urban
poverty in Winnipeg and in Vancouver, as well as the context of Canadian aboriginal people groups. During second semester, students will live and serve within a variety of context in an international location, enabling them to explore issues of race, education, poverty, employment and social
systems. Evaluation in this course will be pass/fail. This course is available only through CMU’s Outtatown Program.

PRAC-2000/3, 2010/6, Practicum: Prerequisite: 30 credit hours of university-level studies.

PRAC-3010/6 Communications and Media Intensive Practicum: Placements are with organizations, companies or independent producers that are engaged in public communications or media production. Prerequisites: COMM- 1000/3, an additional 9 credit hours of Communications and
Media; 60 credit hours of university-level studies, including 30 at CMU.

PRAC-3020/6 Business and Organizational Administration Intensive Practicum: Placements will occur in a management or administration position in either a business or not-for-profit organization. Prerequisites: BUSI-1000/3, an additional 9 credit hours in the Business and Organizational Administration major at the 2000 level of higher; 60 credit hours of university-level studies, including 30 at CMU.

PRAC-3100/3, 3110/6, 3120/9 Intensive Practicum: Prerequisites: 60 credit hours of university-level studies (but in some circumstances students may be eligible after 30 credit hours); 30 credit hours at CMU.

PRAC-3200/3, 3210/6 & 3220/9 Missions and Service Intensive Practicum: Placements will be in settings where the church is actively engaged in mission/service; they may be domestic or international; they will often be cross-cultural, and they may last as long as one year. Prerequisites: 18 credit hours of Biblical and Theological Studies, including 6 credit hours of Practical Theology; 60 credit hours of university-level studies,
including 30 at CMU. It is recommended that students complete BTS-2720/3 or 3710/3 before registering for this practicum.

PRAC-3310/6 Pastoral Ministry Intensive Practicum: Placements will normally be in a congregational setting. Prerequisites: six credit hours in practical theology, including one of BTS-2370, BTS-4400, or BTS-4420, and an additional 12 credit hours of Biblical and Theological Studies; 60 credit hours of university-level studies, including 30 at CMU. If a student does not have the specific course prerequisites indicated above, the
student may qualify by completing specific assigned readings and an interview with pertinent faculty members.

PRAC-3410/6 Worship Intensive Practicum: Placements will most often be in a congregational setting, but other placements may be appropriate. Prerequisites: BTS-4420/3, an additional 3 credit hours of Practical Theology, and an additional 12 credit hours of Biblical and Theological Studies; 60 credit hours of university-level studies, including 30 at CMU.

PRAC-3510/6 Youth Ministry Intensive Practicum: Placements frequently will be in congregational settings, but other placements are also appropriate. Prerequisites: 18 credit hours of Biblical and Theological Studies, including two of BTS- 2300/3, 2310/3, 3300/3, and 3330/3; 60 credit hours of universitylevel studies, including 30 at CMU.

PRAC-3610/6 Music and Worship Intensive Practicum: Placements will most often be arranged with a particular congregation, but other settings are also possible. Prerequisites: MUSC-2300/3; one of MUSC-2310/3, MUSC-2320/3, MUSC-2330/3, and MUSC-3310/3; and an additional 12 credit hours of Biblical and Theological Studies; 60 credit hours of university-level studies, including 30 at CMU.

PRAC-3710/6, 3720/9 Peace and Conflict Transformation Studies Intensive Practicum: Placements will be in a domestic or international location. Prerequisites: PCTS-1010/3 and 1020/3 OR former PCTS-1100/6, and 3 credit hours of group I courses from each of the two categories, “Analyzing Peace and Violence” and “Peacebuilding”; 60 credit hours of university-level studies, including 30 at CMU.

PRAC-3810/6, 3820/9 International Development Studies Intensive Practicum: Placements will be with a development agency, usually in an overseas location. Prerequisites: IDS-1020/3 or former IDS-1100/6, 2110/3(or former IDS-3110), and3111/3; 60 credit hours of university-level studies, including 30 at CMU.

PRAC-3900/3 Disaster Recovery Studies Intensive Practicum II: Placements will be for eight weeks on a disaster site. Prerequisites: DRS-2900 and 3000/3.