Field Practicum

In the Field Practicum, students are prepared for post-graduate employment through a series of supervised clinical experiences in community agencies. Students are paired with Field Supervisors who are social work professionals with at least two years of post-graduate practice experience.

Regular Program students enrolled full-time will have field experiences all four semesters, consisting of 900 total contact hours. Students completing the Regular Program on a part-time basis will complete these 900 hours over five semesters. Advanced Standing students enrolled full-time will complete 600 field practicum hours over three semesters (Fall/Spring/Fall). Students completing the Advanced Standing program on a part-time basis will also complete their 600 field hours in three semesters but will do so during the second half of the program (semesters 5-7).

Activities in the field are sequenced to lead to independent practice, beginning in the initial setting with practice simulations and service-learning in community agencies, then continuing on with shadowing and supervised direct clinical practice. The field experience is integrated across the curriculum, including conducting a research project as part of field practicum experience and assignments paired with practice courses.

The field experience uses closely monitored experiences in carefully selected community settings to allow students more direct experience. This approach is designed to increase student readiness for the more specialized upper-level practice associated with clinical social work in health and medical settings.