fieldwork: the fieldwork process: bsw

So how do you get started with your practicum? Before doing any research or contacting an agency, please review these steps to understand the process.

brief overview

Field Practicum is a dynamic course that challenges students to apply social work practice knowledge, skills, and values within an organizational and community context. Field Practicum is a vital dimension of students’ undergraduate and graduate social work education. The hours of field practice prepare students to enter the work force as professional social work practitioners.

As a BSW student, you are required to complete 480 hours of supervised field work during your senior year. Each semester, you are required to complete 240 hours, which averages roughly 15 hours per week.

Process for Securing a Field Practicum Placement

1. Read the BSW Fieldwork Manual.
   
   
2. Complete the online IPT Student Tutorial. The school will provide you with a IPT account and default login information during your initial orientation.
   
   
3. Submit your Field Placement Application via IPT. This must be completed by March 1st if you are beginning your placement the following Fall semester.
   
   
4. Attend the Field Agency Fair held every February. The school will provide details.
   
   
5. Review the Field Agency list available via IPT and select up to three preferred agencies (you will learn more about this as part of the IPT Student Tutorial). You may wait to research agencies until after meeting with the Practicum Director.
   
   
6. Make an advising appointment with the Practicum Director by calling the school at 208-426-1568. You may make an advising appointment earlier if you wish but you must complete your Field Placement Application before your first meeting.
   
   
7. The Practicum Director will contact a number of agencies to inform them of your interests and learning needs.
   
   
8. The school will provide students with agency contact information. The student then arranges for an interview with an agency Field Instructor.
   
   
9. If no placement agreements are made after the initial interviews, the student contacts the School of Social Work for additional agency contacts.
   
   
10. Once the student and agency agree upon placement, the student informs the School of Social Work by filling out the Field Placement Confirmation form via IPT.
    
    
11. The practicum staff will confirm the placement and enter all information into IPT.
    
    
12. The school will be assigned to a Faculty Liaison and register for their practicum seminar class.
    
    
13. Placement begins in Fall semester. Students and their Field Instructor decide on internship schedule and begin drafting the student's Learning Agreement (available via IPT).
    
    
14. Learning Agreement due by the end of the third week of the semester.
    
    
15. Student arranges for Field Instructor, student, and Faculty Liaison to meet and discuss Learning Agreement and agency/school related issues.
    
    
16. Student and Field Instructor meet once a week for supervision during the semester.
    
    
17. At the end of each semester, the student and Field Instructor fill out separate practicum evaluations of the experience. These evaluations will filled out via IPT.

field practicum timeline

Sophomore Year

Fall/Spring

Discuss fieldwork with advisor

junior year

January	Plan for field practicum with academic advisor
February	Attend Agency Field Fair
March	Practicum Placement Applications due March 1 via IPT Set interview with Practicum Director Set initial interviews with agency Field Instructors
April	Finalize placement for Fall semester

Senior Year

August	Confirm first day of field work with Field Instructor by August 1 Begin Practicum the first week of the Fall semester
September	Learning contract due by end of third week of Fall Semester
October	Practicum Director or Faculty Liaison meets with student and Field Instructor to evaluate performance and progress
December	Evaluations due by the end of the semester via IPT Practicum Director or Faculty Liaison may contact or meet with student and Field Instructor Semester break - students not in field work for approximately three weeks
January	Begin field work II starting the first week of Spring semester Revised Learning Contracts due (via IPT) by the end of the first week of Spring semester
February	Practicum Director or Faculty Liaison meets with student and Field Instructor to evaluate performance and progress
March	Mid-term - Practicum Director or Faculty Liaison meets with student and Field Instructor to evaluate performance and progress
March/April	Spring break - students not in field work
May	End of semester Evaluations due by the end of the semester via IPT Practicum Director or Faculty Liaison meets with student and Field Instructor to evaluate performance and progress

 

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