MSW Student Guide
Section 3.08.05: Global Field Placement Guidelines
The Office of Global Activities (OGA) and the Office of Field Education (OFE) develop limited global field placement opportunities that meet the Global Social Work Practice pathway and the Global Activities Scholar Program (GASP) field requirements. These placements provide advanced field practice experiences and reflect the richness and emerging trends of the social work profession.
Global field placements are approved by the director of OGA, the director of field education, and the associate dean for educational programs to ensure that the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accreditation and field curriculum standards are met. Participating students receive professional, credentialed supervision typically from someone with a minimum of two (2) years post-MSW experience who is preferably licensed. GASP students commit 4–5 days per week (or 8 advanced field education credits) toward their global field experience.
Participating students must complete a local field placement in the fall and winter terms before completing the global placement during the spring/summer term. GASP students must be in the Global Social Work Practice pathway.
Extensive course planning and scheduling are required. Global field placements have implications for the financial aid package and the curriculum schedule, which is why only selected students are able to participate. GASP students work closely with the Office of Global Activities upon admission and will be required to attend mandatory meetings both before departing for the global field placement and after returning from abroad.
Students must accept that all arrangements for funding, travel, lodging, food, and other living expenses related to the field placement are the responsibility of the student. We recommend that students begin researching funding opportunities as soon as possible.
Special field schedules are required for GASP students:
Out-of-Sequence 16-month AND MasterTrack Curriculum Schedule
Incoming Fall: 2 credits (2 days/week) of SW 515 Foundation Field Education in a local field placement.
Winter: 4 credits (2 days/week) of SW 691 Advanced Field Education in a local field placement.
Spring/Summer: 8 credits (4–5 days/week) of SW 691 Advanced Field Education in an international field placement.
Fall: No field enrollment. Classroom-based coursework only.
Advanced Standing Curriculum Schedule
Incoming Fall: 4 credits (2 days/week) of SW 691 Advanced Field Education in a local field placement.
Winter: 4 credits (2 days/week) of SW 691 Advanced Field Education in a local field placement.
Spring/Summer: 8 credits (4–5 days/week) of SW 691 Advanced Field Education in a global field placement. Advanced-Standing students must enroll in a minimum of eight (8) credits of SW 691 during the spring/summer term, which means dedicating 4 elective credits to field education.
20-Month Curriculum Schedule - N/A
Students must remain in good academic standing in the two (2) terms prior to the global placement AND must earn a grade of satisfactory (S) for both SW 515 and SW 691.
In some special circumstances, students may be approved to complete 6 credits of SW 691 for the global field placement. However, this is only with advanced approval by the OGA Director. Less than 6 credits is not allowed.
MSW students have the option of participating in a global experience through a Global Independent Study (GIS). However, they will not receive field education credit for a GIS and they must follow all independent studies requirements by working with their academic advisor and the Office of Global Activities.
Global field placements are approved by the director of OGA, the director of field education, and the associate dean for educational programs to ensure that the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accreditation and field curriculum standards are met. Participating students receive professional, credentialed supervision typically from someone with a minimum of two (2) years post-MSW experience who is preferably licensed. GASP students commit 4–5 days per week (or 8 advanced field education credits) toward their global field experience.
Participating students must complete a local field placement in the fall and winter terms before completing the global placement during the spring/summer term. GASP students must be in the Global Social Work Practice pathway.
Extensive course planning and scheduling are required. Global field placements have implications for the financial aid package and the curriculum schedule, which is why only selected students are able to participate. GASP students work closely with the Office of Global Activities upon admission and will be required to attend mandatory meetings both before departing for the global field placement and after returning from abroad.
Students must accept that all arrangements for funding, travel, lodging, food, and other living expenses related to the field placement are the responsibility of the student. We recommend that students begin researching funding opportunities as soon as possible.
Special field schedules are required for GASP students:
Out-of-Sequence 16-month AND MasterTrack Curriculum Schedule
Incoming Fall: 2 credits (2 days/week) of SW 515 Foundation Field Education in a local field placement.
Winter: 4 credits (2 days/week) of SW 691 Advanced Field Education in a local field placement.
Spring/Summer: 8 credits (4–5 days/week) of SW 691 Advanced Field Education in an international field placement.
Fall: No field enrollment. Classroom-based coursework only.
Advanced Standing Curriculum Schedule
Incoming Fall: 4 credits (2 days/week) of SW 691 Advanced Field Education in a local field placement.
Winter: 4 credits (2 days/week) of SW 691 Advanced Field Education in a local field placement.
Spring/Summer: 8 credits (4–5 days/week) of SW 691 Advanced Field Education in a global field placement. Advanced-Standing students must enroll in a minimum of eight (8) credits of SW 691 during the spring/summer term, which means dedicating 4 elective credits to field education.
20-Month Curriculum Schedule - N/A
Students must remain in good academic standing in the two (2) terms prior to the global placement AND must earn a grade of satisfactory (S) for both SW 515 and SW 691.
In some special circumstances, students may be approved to complete 6 credits of SW 691 for the global field placement. However, this is only with advanced approval by the OGA Director. Less than 6 credits is not allowed.
MSW students have the option of participating in a global experience through a Global Independent Study (GIS). However, they will not receive field education credit for a GIS and they must follow all independent studies requirements by working with their academic advisor and the Office of Global Activities.