MSW Student Guide
Section 3.08.06: Spring/Summer National Block Placement Guidelines
The Office of Field Education (OFE) has developed summer block national field placements that correspond to the MSW program pathways that are capable of providing advanced field practice experiences that reflect the richness and emerging trends of the social work profession.
These field placements are approved by the director of field education to ensure that the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accreditation and field curriculum standards are met and that students receive professional-level, credentialed supervision (minimum two years post-MSW, preferably licensed). Students seeking these experiences must be enrolled in the advanced standing, MasterTrack MSW or 16-month curriculum schedule and can expect to typically commit 4–5 days per week (8–10 advanced field education credits). Students must begin their local field placement in the fall and winter terms and complete the national placement during the spring/summer term.
Students need to be aware that there are limited field sites available for block placements in interpersonal practice (IP) due to the nature of IP learning, and the need to have breadth and depth in treatment-related experiences.
Participating students must meet the following requirements:
1. Engage in course planning with their academic advisor to ensure that course requirements can be met. Participating in a national field placement has implications for the student's financial aid and the student’s curriculum schedule. Students will need to decide to pursue a national field placement before they register for incoming fall term classes. Students must contact the Office of Student Services and Enrollment Management before submitting their national field application to ensure that their financial aid plan and curriculum/class obligations can be met.
2. Begin advanced field education (SW 691) on the out-of-sequence 16-month curriculum schedule and start a local field placement in the fall and winter terms. Spring/summer terms are designated for the national block field placement (SW 691).
3. Must be in good academic standing and earn passing grades for all previous terms, including a grade of satisfactory (S) for SW 515 and SW 691.
4. Submit the online field placement application by the field application deadline. Students should NOT contact agencies independently. All communication will be handled by the OFE placers.
5. After applications are reviewed, students may be offered an interview by the organization. Following the interview, a student may be offered a national field placement. Students not selected for national field placement will be required to remain at their fall/winter term assigned local field placement for the remainder of their field hours.
6. Accept that all arrangements for travel, lodging, food, and other living expenses related to the national field experience are the responsibility of the student. We recommend that students begin researching funding opportunities as soon as possible. Some of the approved field sites offer stipends, but the amount varies and will most likely not cover all expenses.
These field placements are approved by the director of field education to ensure that the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accreditation and field curriculum standards are met and that students receive professional-level, credentialed supervision (minimum two years post-MSW, preferably licensed). Students seeking these experiences must be enrolled in the advanced standing, MasterTrack MSW or 16-month curriculum schedule and can expect to typically commit 4–5 days per week (8–10 advanced field education credits). Students must begin their local field placement in the fall and winter terms and complete the national placement during the spring/summer term.
Students need to be aware that there are limited field sites available for block placements in interpersonal practice (IP) due to the nature of IP learning, and the need to have breadth and depth in treatment-related experiences.
Participating students must meet the following requirements:
1. Engage in course planning with their academic advisor to ensure that course requirements can be met. Participating in a national field placement has implications for the student's financial aid and the student’s curriculum schedule. Students will need to decide to pursue a national field placement before they register for incoming fall term classes. Students must contact the Office of Student Services and Enrollment Management before submitting their national field application to ensure that their financial aid plan and curriculum/class obligations can be met.
2. Begin advanced field education (SW 691) on the out-of-sequence 16-month curriculum schedule and start a local field placement in the fall and winter terms. Spring/summer terms are designated for the national block field placement (SW 691).
3. Must be in good academic standing and earn passing grades for all previous terms, including a grade of satisfactory (S) for SW 515 and SW 691.
4. Submit the online field placement application by the field application deadline. Students should NOT contact agencies independently. All communication will be handled by the OFE placers.
5. After applications are reviewed, students may be offered an interview by the organization. Following the interview, a student may be offered a national field placement. Students not selected for national field placement will be required to remain at their fall/winter term assigned local field placement for the remainder of their field hours.
6. Accept that all arrangements for travel, lodging, food, and other living expenses related to the national field experience are the responsibility of the student. We recommend that students begin researching funding opportunities as soon as possible. Some of the approved field sites offer stipends, but the amount varies and will most likely not cover all expenses.