Field Practicum FAQ's

What is Field Education?

Field Education is a core requirement of the BASW and MSW programs. It is an integrated course involving:

The Agency: human service organizations
The Field Instructor: professional Social Work practitioners who are "teachers" in the field, and the faculty of the School of Social Work.
Field Liaison: professional Social Work practitioners, both full-time faculty and faculty adjuncts, who are the official university representatives and provide linkage, mediation, monitoring, consultation and advocacy to students and field instructors.
Field Education: provides the social work student with an opportunity to apply classroom learning in an agency-based supervised field experience.

How many hours will I be in placement?

Foundation Year, 16 hours per week x 10 weeks = 160 hours per quarter
Advanced Year, 20 hours per week x 10 weeks = 200 hours per quarter
Part-time students do not have a field internship in their 1st year of study.
Part-time students (2nd year), 16 hours/week (160 total per quarter)
Part-time students (3rd year), 20 hours/week (200 hours per quarter)

When does school begin and when do I start my field placement?

The Fall Quarter begins the third week in September. There is a Field Orientation for new students prior to the student reporting to the agency. Once the orientation is complete, the student will report to the agency where he/she will remain for 10 consequetive weeks. After Winter break, students return for the Winter Quarter, another 10 weeks, and the Spring Quarter runs through the first week in June when the year ends. You will take a break from field in December and return the 1st week of January. For a list of specific dates, please go to our Calendar . Students may not accumulate hours in an effort to complete the requisite hours before the specified ending date for field.

How many days will I be in placement?

The days in field are based on the students' class schedules. Normally, 16 hours requires 2 eight-hour days. For 20 hours, students usually do 2 eight-hour days and one 4 hour on another day. Title IV-E students may go to webpage for more information about scheduling. There may be certain days/times when the agency will require you to be there outside the usual days/times (e.g. meetings, trainings, special events). You will need to discuss any scheduling conflicts with your Field Instructor and/or you Field Liaison.

I am a part-time student and work full-time and need flexible hours. Can I do my placement on evenings and/or weekends?

Most agencies require students to be in placement from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekdays. If an agency offers atypical hours, ie after 5 p.m., the Field Instructor must be onsite and/or leave a preceptor to supervise the student. In general, you should be available for placement during normal hours.

Can I use my employment site as a field placement site (called a job conversion or job-related placement)?

The use of an employment site as a field placement site must be approved by the Director of Field Education. Approval is granted ONLY if certain conditions are met AND the situation is educationally sound and appropriate for the particular student. For a list of criteria, please see Job Conversion Application or Job-Related Placement Application.

Are there any placements where a stipend is provided?

There are a few agencies that offer a stipend, but it varies year to year. However, because of the limited number of stipends available, students should plan to finance their education through other sources. The School of Social Work does offer a stipend through the Title IV-E Child Welfare Program and the Mental Health Stipend Program.

How important is it to have a car?

Some agencies require students to have a car to perform field assignments that involve outreach, home visits and community work. Not having a car may limit your placement options. Please indicate on your field application and/or notify the Director of Field Education if you do not have a car.

If I have a criminal record, will that affect me being placed at an agency?

The School of Social Work expects students with prior convictions (misdemeanor or felony) to inform the Director of Field Education of such convictions prior to placement. Agency policies have become more restrictive regarding criminal backgrounds of field students. Therefore, persons with convictions may not be allowed to work or be placed in certain agencies. Thus, students who fail to inform the Director of Field Education of a prior conviction and the conviction becomes known to the School of Social Work, the student in question will be administratively dropped from the field course and will not be allowed to enroll in the future. If a student's criminal background prevents him or her from obtaining an educationally sound placement and/or professional liability insurance, the student will not be able to enter field.

How are field placements chosen?

The Director of Field Education, in consultation with the Field Education Faculty, assigns placements MSW students based on the pool of agencies that have requested an intern and take into account the student's specific learning needs, past experiences and career plans. Advanced Year students will have the opportunity to select 2 agencies in which they would like to intern. Advanced Year students will only interview with the field site to which they are assigned by the Director of Field Education. Students should not contact an agency directly without approval from the Field Education Faculty.

Who is my faculty field liaison?

Your faculty field liaison will facilitate the Integrative Seminar which is held monthly. They also schedule and visit the student/field instructor to review learning goals and objectives to ensure they meet CSWE accreditation standards.

What are the procedures to make up missed field work days?

All absences from field work must be made up. The plan to make up time should be developed with the field instructor and approved by the faculty field liaison. Students may NOT make up time during days when the University is closed, i.e. University holidays.

I was turned down by my field placement or I found out that my field placement is no longer available. What should I do?

If you have already contacted the Director of Field Education, you can assume they are working on a referral. If you do not hear from them within 5 days, please make a follow-up phone call or send an email. If you have not notified them, please do so immediately.

I called for an interview at a field placement but have not heard back. Or, I had an interview but have not heard whether I was accepted. What should I do?

Call the agency contact person to follow-up. If you have called two times and have not heard back, please contact the Field Director.

I am a first year MSW student and I am not happy with my field placement referral. What should I do?

If there are compelling reasons for you to request another referral (e.g. you have a conflict of interest with the agency; the placement is very similar to professional experience you already have; you have insurmountable transportation problems; etc.), then you should speak to your Field Liaison who will contact the Director of Field Education. However, keep an open mind about the placement. Consider this as your opportunity to stretch and explore the field. First Year MSW students, Foundation Year, should not expect to choose their placement.

What do I do if I have a problem with my field placement?

First, you should speak to your field instructor. If the problem cannot be resolved, you should then contact your faculty field liaison. The liaison will advise you and/or contact your field instructor to discuss the problem. Also, refer to the field manual for appropriate protocol for dealing with field problems.

I have questions about the field course assignments (e.g. learning agreement, journals, process recordings, macro project, field evaluations, etc.)? Who should I ask about them?

You should speak to your faculty field liaison. He/she will also specify due dates for those assignments not specified on the field calendar.

Do I receive a grade for field?

Field Education is course graded on a Credit - No Credit basis. The grade is assigned by the field liaison based on recommendations by the field instructor.