MSW Student Guide
Section 3.03.03: Field Instructor Criteria and Credentials for Global Field Placements
When students are placed globally*, they need to meet the CSWE requirement or the equivalencies established jointly by the Office of Global Activities and the Office of Field Education.
The U-M SSW is required to meet the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Educational Policy and Standards, specifically standard M3.3.6 regarding the supervision of students in field placement. The goal of the below policy is to ensure that the social work perspective is reinforced in the global fieldwork setting. Standard M3.3.6 states:
"The program ensures that all master’s students receive field supervision from an individual who holds a master’s degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program and who has at least two years of post-master’s social work degree practice experience in social work.
a. The program describes its process for ensuring that field supervision is provided by an individual with the required degree and practice experience.
b. The program describes its process for assigning a qualified field instructor to provide supervision when an individual with the required degree and practice experience is unavailable in the field setting.
c. The program describes how these processes are articulated to students and field personnel.
d. The program addresses all program options."
Given that social work is defined differently in each county in regards to the scope of practice and the educational qualifications of field instructors, the Office of Global Activities and the Office of Field Education will determine on a case-by-case basis how a globally-based field instructor’s credentials and experience can be “translated” to create equivalencies that meet CSWE’s standards.
Several principles govern the decisions related to the approval of globally-based field instructors. These principles will be discussed and agreed upon by U-M SSW and the hosting country before the approval of any global field placements:
• It is important to delineate and agree upon the roles and responsibilities of the field instructor who will supervise the student in a global field placement.
• Social work intern supervisors in hosting countries will have demonstrated a commitment to continuing education and have an interest in developing social work knowledge and skills.
• Regular communication between the U-M SSW and the hosting county’s student intern program is critical to effectively support students.
• The Ethics in Social Work Statement of Principles (2018) developed by the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) and International Association of Social Workers (IASW) along with any country-specific codes of ethics will be used as the ethical guidelines for student field placements in a hosting country.
The following guidelines will assist U-M SSW in meeting standard M3.3.6b when evaluating a globally-based field instructor in a location where the educational and degree standards for field instructors in the host country differ from those in the United States. U-M SSW through the Office of Global Activities and the Office of Field Education is responsible for approving all global field instructors.
• When possible, a field instructor with an MSW degree and two years of post-master’s social work degree practice experience in social work will be assigned to students.
• In cases when there is not a qualified MSW field instructor in-country, U-M SSW will discern options to provide supervision and oversight consistent with CSWE policy.
The OGA and OFE offices will work closely with the hosting country to ensure that the above requirements have been met before approving a student’s global field placement as is documented by the appropriate paperwork that will be kept on file by the OFE.
*Global field placements are defined as placements located outside of the United States. Placements located in US Territories are considered global field placements.
The U-M SSW is required to meet the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Educational Policy and Standards, specifically standard M3.3.6 regarding the supervision of students in field placement. The goal of the below policy is to ensure that the social work perspective is reinforced in the global fieldwork setting. Standard M3.3.6 states:
"The program ensures that all master’s students receive field supervision from an individual who holds a master’s degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program and who has at least two years of post-master’s social work degree practice experience in social work.
a. The program describes its process for ensuring that field supervision is provided by an individual with the required degree and practice experience.
b. The program describes its process for assigning a qualified field instructor to provide supervision when an individual with the required degree and practice experience is unavailable in the field setting.
c. The program describes how these processes are articulated to students and field personnel.
d. The program addresses all program options."
Given that social work is defined differently in each county in regards to the scope of practice and the educational qualifications of field instructors, the Office of Global Activities and the Office of Field Education will determine on a case-by-case basis how a globally-based field instructor’s credentials and experience can be “translated” to create equivalencies that meet CSWE’s standards.
Several principles govern the decisions related to the approval of globally-based field instructors. These principles will be discussed and agreed upon by U-M SSW and the hosting country before the approval of any global field placements:
• It is important to delineate and agree upon the roles and responsibilities of the field instructor who will supervise the student in a global field placement.
• Social work intern supervisors in hosting countries will have demonstrated a commitment to continuing education and have an interest in developing social work knowledge and skills.
• Regular communication between the U-M SSW and the hosting county’s student intern program is critical to effectively support students.
• The Ethics in Social Work Statement of Principles (2018) developed by the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) and International Association of Social Workers (IASW) along with any country-specific codes of ethics will be used as the ethical guidelines for student field placements in a hosting country.
The following guidelines will assist U-M SSW in meeting standard M3.3.6b when evaluating a globally-based field instructor in a location where the educational and degree standards for field instructors in the host country differ from those in the United States. U-M SSW through the Office of Global Activities and the Office of Field Education is responsible for approving all global field instructors.
• When possible, a field instructor with an MSW degree and two years of post-master’s social work degree practice experience in social work will be assigned to students.
• In cases when there is not a qualified MSW field instructor in-country, U-M SSW will discern options to provide supervision and oversight consistent with CSWE policy.
The OGA and OFE offices will work closely with the hosting country to ensure that the above requirements have been met before approving a student’s global field placement as is documented by the appropriate paperwork that will be kept on file by the OFE.
*Global field placements are defined as placements located outside of the United States. Placements located in US Territories are considered global field placements.