Field
Education
The learning experiences provided through
field education, or field practicum, are essential
to the objectives of the social work curriculum and
are governed, as is the classroom, by clearly stated
educational objectives. The department considers
the placement agency to be a laboratory where,
under the supervision of a qualified field instructor,
the student puts into action that which is being
taught in the classroom. The objectives of the field
instruction sequence are to help the student to:
- acquire professional skills in defining and
solving social work problems
- acquire the specialized knowledge and skills
needed to address a particular problem or
population that are not necessarily addressed
in the classroom for all students
- critically assess and contribute to the effectiveness
of various patterns of service delivery
in conjunction with other institutions and
personnel
- obtain a holistic view of the needs of a given
population or problem area, as a basis for
professional engagement
- acquire professional ethics and attitudes, e.g.,
integrity and responsibility, self-discipline,
self-awareness, and commitment to others and
to the goals of the social work profession.
A wide variety of agencies throughout the five-county Southern California
area are generally selected by the department for use as instruction sites.
(For a representative list of field instruction agencies, click here.)
The program is structured so that students participate not only in direct
service but in staff meetings, consultation, research activities, and
staff development programs. Each student has two different field placements
during the two-year program. Students are assigned to a first-year placement
that exposes them to both macro and micro practice and to a broad range
of clientele. The second-year placement is coordinated with a student’s
choice of concentration and specialization. Approximately 1,200 hours
are required in a field placement over the two-year period, for which
a total of 21 units of pass/fail academic credit are given. Field days
are full eight-hour days, usually two days per week for first-year students
(Monday and Wednesday) and three days per week for second-year students
(Monday, Wednesday, and Friday). Field placements may include evening
hours.
First-year and second-year field placements
are defined as separate, year-long courses.
A student may not advance to the second-year
course until the first-year is satisfactorily completed.
A failing grade at the end of either year
shall require the repetition of the full year of
field instruction or be cause for termination.
It is important to note that all MSW students are expected to travel
to their field placement. Most placements are located a considerable
distance from campus. As public transportation can be unreliable and time-consuming,
access to a car or other reliable transportation is necessary. Reasonable
efforts will be made to place students with disabilities in accessible
agencies and locations.
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