Social Work

FAQs

Q.  What is field education?
Field education offers the social work student an opportunity to apply classroom learning in an agency-based supervised field experience. The field education courses at both the undergraduate (BSW) and graduate (MSW) levels consist of two components: (1) the field placement experience and (2) the field integrative seminar. The field placement is the agency site where the student engages as an intern under professional supervision.   The field integrative seminar, facilitated by the faculty liaison, provides an on-campus  forum for the integration of academic learning with agency-based field placement.

Q.  How many hours is the student at the field placement site?
The BSW and 1st-year MSW students are required to complete a minimum of 400 hours of field education over two semesters. These students are at the field placement site for 16 hours per week (two full days, excluding lunch). The 2nd-year MSW students are required to complete a minimum of 500 hours over two semesters spending 18 hours per week (three days) at the field site.

Q.  What days will the student be at the field site?
BSW classes are scheduled on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, leaving Tuesdays and Thursdays for field placement. MSW classes are scheduled on Tuesdays and Thursdays, leaving Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays for field placement. The student’s agency schedule must be discussed and approved by the field supervisor.  Also, there may be certain days/times when the field supervisor requests that the student be at the field site (e.g., agency meetings, special events). This can be arranged depending on the student’s class schedule. Please note that a student may not miss classes to be at the field site.

Q. How does an agency/organization become an approved field placement site?
Potential field sites must identify a contact person to complete the Field Site Information Sheet found under Agencies/Organizations and read over the responsibilities of both field agencies and field supervisors. The field director will review the completed application and approve a site visit. Most of these visits are scheduled in the late fall. Applications received during the year will be held and contact will be made prior to scheduling these late fall visits.

Q. How does the student apply for field education?
Only eligible BSW and MSW students are allowed to enter field education. All social work students must complete the appropriate field application by the announced due date. Incoming 1st-year MSW students will receive a field application with their program acceptance letter.  BSW students and current 1st-year MSW students, who will be entering 2nd-year field placement, are required to have individual interviews with the field director to discuss field options. Additional information will be provided about scheduling these interviews upon receipt of the field application. Incoming 1st-year MSW students and advanced-standing MSW students will be contacted by phone. Following these interviews and phone contacts, the field director will assess available placement slots and inform each student of field placement options. The student will be given an agency person’s name and contact information in order to schedule an interview.

Q. How does the student choose a field placement site?
Students are asked to review the list of approved field sites and explore the websites of field sites that are of interest. Students may not negotiate their own placement site.  Occasionally, a student may do field placement at the place of employment. However, in these instances the internship tasks, responsibilities, and supervision must be completely separate from the student’s work responsibilities and supervision. This arrangement must be discussed with and approved by the field director. A student cannot do two worksite placements.

Q.  After the interview is completed, how does the student confirm his/her field placement assignment?
Most times the agency contact person will inform the field director of the placement decision. However, it is the student’s responsibility to contact the field director upon completing the interview so that the field director can follow-up with the agency. If the student decides not to accept, or is denied, a placement, the student must discuss options with the field director.

Q.  What if I am denied placement?
A student who is rejected for placement by three agencies in one semester for reasons related to inappropriateness (i.e. behavior, attitude) or lack of readiness for placement may be dismissed from the program.

Q.  Who is a field supervisor?
The field supervisor is the agency person who provides the student with on-site supervision. This person is responsible for providing weekly supervision and evaluating student performance. Some students may be assigned to work with task supervisors as well. However, the student is accountable, first and foremost, to the field supervisor, who directs the learning experience in field.

Q.  Who is a faculty liaison?
The faculty liaison is the assigned faculty person responsible for providing the communication link between the School of Social Work and the field placement site.  The liaison monitors the overall placement experience through agency visits and facilitation of the field integrative seminars.  The liaison is responsible for assigning the final field education grade.

Q.  Where can I find field education information, including objectives, assignments, policies and procedures, etc.?
We no longer use a written field education manual. Become familiar with the School of Social Work’s website. There is a dedicated area for “Field Education.” Here you will find all the information you need about field education, including objectives, evaluations, assignments, roles and responsibilities, policies, etc. All necessary field education forms are found here and can be downloaded to your computer. Additional material will be distributed in your field seminar class.