Things You Should Know about Field Placement
Field education (also called field placement and field experience) is an important and integral part of professional social work training. Your field practicum offers an intensive laboratory for linking classroom theory with actual social work practice.
The primary objective of field instruction is to provide you with an opportunity to engage actively in actual professional tasks that supplement, complement and reinforce classroom learning.
Full program students are required to do two placements. Advanced standing students are required to do only one placement.
Placements are done either as a “concurrent placement” with classes (16 hours per week over two semesters) or as a “block placement” (40 hours per week for 12 weeks) for a total of 480 hours per placement.
Program Requirements for Field
There are specific program requirements for taking field. Students must take their first field placement concurrently (fall-spring) with SW 8201 and SW 8202 or in a summer block placement immediately following completion of SW 8201 and 8202. Second year full program and advanced standing students must take their field placement concurrently with specifically required concentration courses or in the summer following completion of these courses. See current MSW Student Handbook for details on required concentration coursework for field.
Students in their first placement and advanced standing students participate in a practice seminar group that meets bi-weekly.
Tuition is paid for field placement credits. Your field placement is an academic course.
Registration Details:
- Full program students in their first placement (SW 8010) register for 4 credits for fall semester and 4 credits for spring semester. Students doing a block placement for SW 8010 register for 8 credits for the semester in which they are in field.
- Students in their second placement (SW 8020) register for 3 credit for fall semester and 3 credits for spring semester. Student doing a block placement for SW 8020 register for 6 credits for the semester in which they are in field.
- Advanced standing students in their only placement (SW 8030) register for 4 credits for fall semester and 4 credits for spring semester. Students doing a block placement for SW 8030 register for 8 credits for the semester in which they are in field.
Internships in your place of employment may be allowed within certain guidelines. Refer to the Policy and Application for Internship at Place of Employment.
It is very difficult and time-consuming to work, take classes and do an internship! Before committing to an ambitious schedule, realistically consider time commitments and your own requirements for well-being.