Work-Study Field Practicum Option
The work-study field practicum option is intended for employed students who have a work setting suitable for field practicum instruction and who wish to utilize the work setting to meet the field practicum requirement. The prescribed time, either two or three days per week, must include new activities supervised by an appointed agency field instructor other than the student's work supervisor. The agency and the College of Social Work will negotiate performance expectations, field instruction time, and supervision for interested applicants. A work-study practicum can be completed in a single agency for a minimum of eight credit hours and a maximum of twenty-six credit hours. The work-study option must be discussed with and approved by the coordinator of field instruction in advance of beginning Social Work 789 and/or 889. No academic credit is given for life experience or previous work experience in lieu of the field practicum. There is no exception to this policy.
Work-Study Practicum Application
The work study option is intended for students who have a work setting suitable for a field practicum. Students cannot use their present employment position as field placement, but may petition the Field Education Office to complete their field placement in a different service/department within their agency. The following requirements must be met:
- Preferably, students will be employed in their work setting for a minimum of six months prior to applying for the work study option.
- Field placement hours must be clearly defined and separate from paid employment responsibilities.
- Learning activities must be located in a different program or division of the agency, and must exceed the student's present job skills and knowledge.
- The student's work supervisor must be different than the field placement instructor.
- A letter from the agency executive must provide written approval and commitment
to the work study.
All paperwork, arrangement of placements and liaison for Lima program students will be completed by the Lima MSW Program office.
Click here for a sample work study request form. (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)
