Your field education internship is about applying and doing, and is the opportunity for you to connect the theoretical and conceptual contribution of the classroom with the practical world of the practice setting. Classroom and field education each contribute to the development of your competencies of professional practice. Graduate school is a rare opportunity to have so many people – your field supervisor, faculty and other students – supporting your professional development.
How Field Education Works:
Students are required to complete one field internship at a program or agency in their local community and work with the social work department field office to identify acceptable field sites. The most important objective of the field internship is to prepare students for competent social work practice. Internships enhance learning by providing students with opportunities to integrate and apply theories, research, values, methods and practice skills acquired throughout the curriculum to the reality of work with individuals, families, groups and communities. Internships and concomitant seminars stress the importance of learning to recognize and respect the dignity and worth of diverse client systems regardless of race, color, gender, age, creed, ethnic or national origin, ability, political, or sexual orientation. Below is some important information about the field experience.
- Field instruction is concurrent with coursework; students are required to take co-requisite Social Work Practice and Field Seminar courses at the same time while interning.
- In the field internship students spend three days each week (24hrs) in the field for four e-terms.
- Based on student and agency need, some flexibility in the day and time may be possible; however, there are no placements on the weekend.