fieldwork: The fieldwork process: MSW Adv-standing Program

So how do you get started with your practicum? Before doing any research or contacting an agency, please review these steps to understand the process.

brief overview

Field Practicum is a dynamic course that challenges students to apply social work practice knowledge, skills, and values within an organizational and community context. Field Practicum is a vital dimension of students’ undergraduate and graduate social work education. The hours of field practice prepare students to enter the work force as professional social work practitioners.

As a MSW Advanced-Standing student, you are required to complete 600 hours of supervised field work. Each semester, you are required to complete 300 hours, which averages between 18-19 hours per week.

Process for Securing Practicum Placement

1. (Boise only) If possible, attend the Field Agency Fair held every February. The school will provide details.

2. Read the MSW Fieldwork Manual.

3. Complete the online IPT Student Tutorial. The school will provide you with a IPT account and default login information during your initial orientation.

4. Submit your Field Placement Application via IPT. This must be completed by the end of August to prepare you for your foundation practicum.

5. Review the Field Agency list available via IPT and select up to three preferred agencies (you will learn more about this as part of the IPT Student Tutorial). You may wait to research agencies until after meeting with the Practicum Director.

6. Make an advising appointment with the Practicum Director (Boise) or Site Coordinator (other sites).

7. The Practicum Director (Boise) or Site Coordinator (other sites) will contact a number of agencies to inform them of your interests and learning needs.

8. The school will provide students with agency contact information. The student then arranges for an interview with an agency Field Instructor.

9. If no placement agreements are made after the initial interviews, the student contacts the Practicum Director (Boise) or Site Coordinator (other sites) for additional agency contacts.

10. Once the student and agency agree upon placement, the student informs the School of Social Work by filling out the Field Placement Confirmation form via IPT.

11. The practicum staff will confirm the placement and enter all information into IPT.

12. The student will be assigned to a Faculty Liaison and register for practicum seminar class.

13. Placement begins in Fall semester. Students and their Field Instructor decide on internship schedule and begin drafting the student's Learning Agreement (available via IPT).

14. Learning Agreement due by the end of the third week of the semester.

15. Student arranges for Field Instructor, student, and Faculty Liaison to meet and discuss Learning Agreement and agency/school related issues.

16. Student and Field Instructor meet once a week for supervision during the semester.

17. Student participates in practicum seminar weekly or as scheduled.

18. At the end of each semester, the student and Field Instructor fill out separate practicum evaluations of the experience. These evaluations will filled out via IPT.

field practicum timelinE

graduation year

February	If possible, attend Agency Field Fair (Boise only)
March	Set interview with Practicum Director (Boise only) Set initial interviews with agency Field Instructors (Boise only)
April	Finalize placement for Fall semester (Boise only)
August	Confirm first day of field work with Field Instructor by August 1 (Boise only) Begin practicum the first week of the Fall semester
September	Learning contract due by end of third week of Fall Semester
October	Faculty Liaison meets with student and Field Instructor to evaluate performance and progress
December	Evaluations due by the end of the semester via IPT Faculty Liaison may contact or meet with student and Field Instructor Semester break - students not in field work for approximately three weeks
January	Faculty Liaison meets with student and Field Instructor to evaluate performance and progress Begin field work IV starting the first week of Spring semester Revised Learning Contracts due (via IPT) by the end of the first week of Spring semester
February	Faculty Liaison meets with student and Field Instructor to evaluate performance and progress
March	Mid-term - Faculty Liaison meets with student and Field Instructor to evaluate performance and progress
March/April	Spring break - students not in field work for one week
May	End of semester Evaluations due by the end of the semester via IPT Faculty Liaison meets with student and Field Instructor to evaluate performance and progress

 

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