OSU Mansfield : Social Work : Field Education

Field Education

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Field Practicum Manual Word Version PDF Version (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)
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Work Study Option

Field Education Overview

Field instruction is one of the most vital components of the social work education experience, providing students with an opportunity to integrate knowledge learned in the classroom with supervised practice in the field. As students engage in agency-based practice, they are challenged to learn by reflecting on interactions with clients, evaluating the effectiveness of interventions, advocating for the rights of clients, confronting ethical dilemmas, and improving cultural awareness. This experiential learning process allows students to develop and enhance the proficiency with which they practice as social workers, and better prepares them for the multidimensional nature of a social work career.

More than 500 Ohio agencies currently participate in the College of Social Work's field education program, providing students with learning opportunities in such settings as schools, child welfare agencies, hospitals, mental health centers, substance abuse agencies, domestic violence shelters, courts, prisons, and many others. Supervision is provided to all students in field placement by agency-based field instructors; experienced social work practitioners who are responsible for the education of the student while the student is at their agency. Complementary academic course work reinforces and enhances the field experience. In addition, students are closely monitored by a field liaison, who provides support and assistance to students and field instructors in order to maximize the quality of the field practicum learning experience.

The MSW manager at Mansfield arranges all placements and is committed to placing students in agencies that are compatible with their professional goals. 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 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.

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 Placement

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.

First Year Field Placement (SWK 789)

Quarters in Field Placement	Total Hours	Credits	Grading System
2 consecutive (Winter and Spring)	320	4 per quarter	Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory

Second Year Field Placement (SWK 889)

Quarters in Field Placement	Total Hours	Credits	Grading System
3 consecutive	720	6 per quarter	Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory

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 Summer quarter, students are asked to fill out 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.

The SW 889 Syllabus further defines the philosophical base and overall goals of the second year MSW placement. During Winter 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 regards to goals and expectations. Students must confirm placement with the MSW Program Office in Mansfield 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 Mansfield.

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

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Work-Study Option

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 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 Mansfield program students will be completed by the Mansfield MSW program office.

Click here for a sample work study request form. (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)

For more information or registration, please contact the MSW Office at:
Phone: (419) 755-4373
Email: mswmansfield@osu.edu