- What is Field Education?
Field Education is an integral part of the curriculum and a core requirement for the BASW and MSW programs. Each field course includes two major components: the practicum agency internship and the practicum school-based labs. It provides the social work student with an opportunity to integrate and apply course theoretical knowledge and engage in social work practice in a community-based agency setting with supervised field experience.
More than 330 social service organizations, including hospitals, community mental health services, government entities, schools, senior care networks, family health centers, and counseling agencies throughout San Diego and Imperial Counties provide highly qualified professional training and learning for our SDSU students.
- When does the field course begin and end?
Field education consists of several field courses. Students are in the field course for the entire SDSU Academic Year, which includes the Fall and Spring semesters (two 15-week semesters). The fall semester usually begins at the end of August and continues until mid-December and the Spring Semester usually begins in mid-January and continues until mid-May.
Please note that the BASW and MSW I Field Orientation Practicum Labs are held one week before classes begin.
Please refer to the respective field course application materials for the Orientation Lab dates and the Field Education Calendar Web page in each academic year for further details.
- How are the field education course(s) and structure designed?
Foundation Year and Advanced Year field practicum placements must be in different agencies, each of which must meet the criteria and objectives for that year of field instruction. Students are assigned to the MSW I Foundation Year practicum that exposes them to a generalist experience, including micro, mezzo, and macro practice and a broad range of clientele.
The MSW II Advanced Year practicum is coordinated with a student's choice of concentration and specialization.
Each field practicum course is divided into two required components:
- How many hours will I be in the Field Practicum Agency Internship?
Undergraduate Field Experience, BASW, students are in their field placements 16 hours per week, beginning the first week of classes, for a total of 480 hours per academic year.
The graduate field practicum consists of 1050 hours of field practicum, divided into two years of study, the first consisting of four hundred-sixty hours and the second of five hundred-ninety hours.
MSW I Foundation Year Field Practicum students are in their field practicums for 10 hours per week, for the first two weeks of the fall semester only and then 16 hours per week thereafter.
MSW II Advanced Field Practicum students are in their practicums for 20 hours per week, beginning the first week of classes.
- Are there specific hours I must be in the practicum internship?
Students shall be available for placement during usual agency business hours in order to participate in appropriate professional learning experiences and receive professional supervision. Evening and weekend placements are not available, although a small portion of practicum hours may take place after regular hours, e.g., one-two evenings per week to meet with clients and/or professional community activities, provided there is appropriate professional supervision at the agency.
Practicum hours will be determined by the student's course work schedule, including the field course labs, and the agency schedule. Students are required to be in their field placements for a minimum of a 4-hour block of time. Please plan to discuss your schedules with your assigned field instructor during the agency placement interview and/or when you are notified of your placement confirmation.
- What are field practicum labs?
All students in field practicum courses attend and participate in regularly scheduled labs that meet on a class day throughout the academic year. These labs are a major component of each field course. These practicum labs are taught by the student's assigned field faculty instructor, who also serve as the student's school liaison to the practicum.
The labs introduce the student to professional social work, professional values, ethics, use of professional self, client intervention strategies and techniques, evidence-based practice models, etc. Students in the labs explore issues of diversity and culturally sensitive practice; apply theory to actual work with clients through case presentations, role-plays and case discussions; practice skill application and development; discuss personal and professional values and transference issues. These labs also focus on providing group process and learning experiences, encourage professional self-examination, and problem-solving activities.
Since the lab sections are agency-driven, students are assigned their lab units, including the lab course times and field faculty instructors. Students will be informed of their Field Course Lab Schedule before they register for fall semester classes so they will have time to plan their classes and internship schedules.
- How are field placements chosen?
The entire field placement process begins in the spring semester prior to the fall semester when the student enrolls in his/her respective field course. Each year, students will be notified as to when their field applications will be posted on-line.
The Field Faculty Placement Committee, in consultation with the Coordinator/Associate Coordinator of Field Education, assign field placements to BASW and MSW I students based on prior social service experience, professional goals, geographic location, and the student's specific learning needs. The faculty strive to provide a placement that will challenge and broaden the student's educational and life experiences.
MSW II students are afforded more input in selecting the advanced practicum agency, program, type of setting, target populations, etc. There are several means available to assist students in selecting their advanced field practicum that will best meet their needs in continuing field education, e.g. attending the MSW II Placement Planning Meeting and the Agency Placement Fair, reviewing the MSW II concentration master lists, and consultation with faculty. By February of each year, students will be able to review the advanced field practicum application placement process materials for further details.
- Are there any placements where a stipend is provided?
Stipends vary from year to year. A few MSW I agencies offer training stipends and additional stipends may be available for MSW II students. Prospective and current MSW students are encouraged to review the two CalSWEC /MSW School Stipend Programs (in child welfare and mental health), and scholarships available on the SDSU SSW web site, and contact the SDSU Office of Financial Affairs for further information.
- Can I conduct my field practicum internship at my employment site?
Only in special circumstances can a MSW student have an internship assignment where the student is employed. During the field placement process, there are additional field application materials for the student to complete and approval must be granted by the Coordinator of Field Education. Approval will be 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 refer to the "Field Practicum Internship at Employment Site Application" which is distributed during the spring semester along with the MSW I and MSW II Field applications.
In accordance with SDSU SSW policies, BASW students are not able to experience an internship at their employment site.
- How important is it to have a car?
Usually agencies require students to have a car to perform field assignments that involve home visits, collaborative meetings, community work, etc. Because public transportation is less extensive in San Diego than in other metropolitan areas, it is strongly recommended that students have access to their own reliable car. Students are responsible for their own day-to-day field activities transportation. Please note that not having dependable transportation will limit the student's placement options. However, the school will make every reasonable effort to accommodate non-driving students.
- What specific requirements must be completed prior to my starting the placement?
Most field placement agencies require a fingerprinting check, security clearance evaluations, random drug testing, and health, immunization, and TB screenings. Students are required to complete the requested screenings before official placement confirmation can be provided. Each agency will notify the student as to which of the above screenings are requested.
- Do I need to have professional liability insurance?
Yes. The School and all field practicum agencies require student liability insurance coverage.
Each student enrolled in the field practicum course is required to participate in the School of Social Work Professional Student Liability Insurance policy each year for a modest fee. During the field placement process, students are required to submit a check for the insurance policy fee, along with their completed field applications, by the application due date.
- 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 assigned field faculty instructor. Students may NOT makeup time during days when the University is closed, i.e. University holidays, break periods, etc.
- 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 instructor. The faculty member 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 projects, field evaluations, etc.)
You should speak to your field faculty. 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 a yearlong course graded on "Report in Progress, Credit, or No Credit basis. The grade is assigned by the Coordinator of Field Education based on the recommendation of the field faculty instructor. The student must pass the practicum agency internship and the practicum lab components in each field course to receive a grade of credit.
