B.A.S.W. Field Instruction
Field instruction is a critical part of the Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (B.A.S.W.) program. All students in the second year of this major must complete a year-long Fieldwork Practicum and a seminar that integrates the knowledge learned in the classroom with their experiences in the field.
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The field education model consists of approximately 16 hours of field education, usually scheduled two-three days per week, for a total of 420 hours in the agency. Field placement begins in September and typically ends in early May. Students are expected to be available for their field placement during the agency’s regular working hours. This requirement provides the student the opportunity to participate in such learning experiences as staff meetings and professional consultations. Students who are employed are encouraged to discuss their educational goals with their employers and request accommodations in their work schedules to be available for their field placement.*Some students are able to meet their field education requirement through the social service agency where they are employed in a social work capacity.
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The Integrative Seminar is a required course that meets 15 times during your senior year. It is limited to 15 students, all in the BASW program. The seminar is a supportive learning community, which features a variety of learning experiences including discussions, brief lectures, student presentations, and guest speakers.
Attendance in the seminar is required as part of your obligation to fulfill the 450 hours of the Field Practicum course and is led by your social work faculty adviser. You will not get a separate grade or additional credits for the seminar. -
Rachelle Kammer, Ph.D., the field instruction coordinator for the Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW) program, will contact you about meeting in the spring semester before your fall internship begins. You will need to fill out a form about your interests and experiences and meet to discuss field education options.
Dr. Kammer will try to place you in an internship that balances the program requirements with your interests, schedule, and transportation needs. She also welcomes your suggestions for possible placements in which you might be interested.
Once you have been assigned to an agency, you and your field instructor will need to complete a Field Instruction Educational Agreement form and email it to Dr. Kammer.