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Field Practicum Overview

The field practicum, an integral part of professional social work education, is designed to enhance the student's achievement in practice as well as to provide opportunities for the integration of social work knowledge, values, and skills leading to autonomous practice. The regular three-year curriculum is structured so that the field practicum typically begins winter quarter and extends through the end of spring quarter. Students are assigned to the same field site for the year and enroll in four credit hours of Social Work 789 each quarter. Typically, students are assigned a different field site for the second year; students spend three days (24 hours) per week in field practicum, enrolling in six credit hours of Social Work 889 per quarter. The first-year practicum is arranged in support of the generic base of social work practice. The second year is arranged in support of the student's concentration.

The college utilizes a variety of instructional settings in the Lima and Northwest Ohio area and also offers settings in other communities within the state. To assure high-quality field practicum settings, students may be required to travel within a 50-mile radius of the student's hometown area. In addition, students are required to be enrolled in at least one three-credit-hour practice course during each quarter of field instruction.
  Click here to view a database of all participating agencies.

The MSW Field Coordinator at Lima arranges all placements.  Although placement in a particular agency or geographic location cannot be guaranteed, every effort is made to accommodate the interests of each student and requests for placement in a specific community.  To assure high quality field practicum settings, students may be required to travel within a 50 mile radius of the student’s hometown area.

Attention is also given to requests for the work-study option, stipend opportunities, deviations in scheduling, and public transportation needs. Students are expected to provide their own transportation or use public transportation for their field placements, and are required to participate in the University's professional liability insurance coverage while in the field.  

Master of Social Work (MSW) Field Practicum

The typical Master of Social Work program is comprised of two separate field placements. For Regular PT students, the first placement, (SWK 789), consists of 16 hours per week during Winter and Spring quarters. It occurs in an agency oriented toward generalist social work practice. The second placement, (SWK 889), is 24 hours per week during Autumn, Winter, and Spring quarters for administrative and school social work, or Summer, Autumn and Winter quarters for clinical. It provides learning experiences in the student's chosen concentration of practice, clinical or administrative, and in fields of practice that reflect the student's professional interests. ASAP student only complete the 889 field placement and follows the same format as the regular part time program students.

 

• In the first field placement, students are placed in human service agencies oriented toward a generalist social work practice.   The focus is on social work with interrelated and interdependent human systems:  individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.   The SW 789 Syllabus further defines the philosophical base and overall goals for this placement.

• During Autumn quarter, students are asked to complete a Social Work 789 Field Practicum Questionnaire documenting the kinds of learning experiences requested.   Field Practicum Orientations are conducted prior to entry into field in order to provide comprehensive information about the practicum experience.

• The second year MSW field placement provides learning experiences in the student's chosen concentration of practice, clinical or administration, and in fields of practice that reflect the student's professional interests.   The second placement is designed to permit students to achieve greater autonomy and to maximize skill development in the integration of theory and practice.  ASAP students only complete the 889 field placement and follow the same format as the regular part time program students.

• The SW 889 Syllabus further defines the philosophical base and overall goals of the second year MSW placement.   During Spring Quarter of 789, students are asked to fill out a SW 889 Field Placement Questionnaire documenting the kinds of learning experiences requested for the second year placement.

• Once placement is arranged, most agencies require an interview with the student to determine compatibility in regard to goals and expectations.  Students must confirm placement with the MSW Program Office in Lima following the pre-placement interview. Students must track hours worked on the field hour log.

• During the initial weeks of placement, students and their field instructors develop a learning contract that identifies the goals and objectives to be accomplished during the field practicum. Field instructors then submit quarterly performance evaluations of their students to the MSW Office in Lima.   

• Requests for deviations in scheduling must be discussed with the MSW Field Coordinator at Lima, approved by the Director of Field Education, and reflected in students' educational plans.  

Advanced Standing Alternative Plan (ASAP) Field Practicum

 

• The Advanced Standing Alternative Plan (ASAP) is an option by which student's with a Bachelor of Science in Social Work or Social Welfare from a CSWE accredited program may complete the MSW degree requirements in four consecutive quarters. The field practicum consists of three consecutive quarters in one agency. Students begin course work in Summer quarter, and enter their field practicum in Autumn quarter.
   
• Once enrollment in the ASAP program is confirmed, students will receive an ASAP Field Placement Questionnaire, which asks for information on previous practicum and employment experience and for the kinds of learning experiences requested for the ASAP practicum. Once the student and Field Coordinator arrange a placement, each student interviews with a contact person from that agency in order to determine if the student and agency are compatible in regard to goals and expectations. Students must confirm placement with the Field Coordinator following their pre-placement interview.
   
• During the initial weeks of placement, students and their field instructors develop a learning contract that identifies the goals and objectives to be accomplished during the field practicum. Field instructors then submit quarterly performance evaluations of their students to the Field Office.

ARE YOU READY FOR FIELD?

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES FOR FIELD

HELPFUL HINTS FOR THE FIELD INTERVIEW

For more information or registration, please contact the MSW Office at: 

E-mail: niese.1@osu.edu
Phone: 419-995-8399