Field Curriculum

Field placements expose students to the broad field of social work and a wide range of experiences. The internship experience is directly related to classroom learning and serves to synthesize theory and practice. Through this experience, students gain deeper insight into their commitment to social work values and ethics, as well as their professional identity.

Becoming a professional social worker demands that a student embark on an exploration of challenging theories, complex analyses of policies and programs, and self-examination as they use new information to address the complex problems presented in professional social work.

Field Placements are assigned twice per year: in August and in January.

Students must apply by the deadlines to be placed for the desired semester/module. BSW students must complete a total of 450 field hours, and MSW students must complete 900 field hours to meet the academic requirements.

Students complete internship hours during the traditional workday in an agency setting, with regular hours defined as when services are provided to clients and supervision is available (evening, night, and weekend hours are the exception, as few agencies function at full capacity during those times). Students complete hours when varied agency services are provided, as well as when agency activities occur (staff meetings, trainings, opportunities to observe other helping professionals).

The field courses in each year of the program, Generalist SW7007/7008 and then Specialized SW7502/7503, must be taken consecutively to maximize learning experiences.

Field Hours

BSW students complete a total of 450 hours while completing the BSW program.

  • SW 4100 - BSW Field Course (450  hours)

MSW students complete a total of 900 hours while completing the MSW program.

  • SW 7007 / SW 7008 - Generalist Field Courses (450 hours)
  • SW 7502 / SW 7503 - Specialized Field Courses (450 hours)

In the final analysis, students’ learning outcomes are directly linked to their investment and commitment to the field experience. Agency participation, field supervision, and academic learning are essential to creating a constructive field experience; the student’s personal investment in getting the most possible learning from fieldwork, however, is the most essential element in creating a rich and meaningful learning experience that fully engages and builds social work competencies.

Formats

Single:

  • 2 days per week (16 - 18 hours)
  • two consecutive semesters

Block:

  • 4 days per week (40 hours for 12 weeks)
  • one semester

 

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