Field Education
- Message from the Director
- About Field Education
- Students
- Requirements
- Field Agencies and Field Instructors
- Field Agency
- Forms
- Other Resources
- Frequently Asked Questions
Message from the Director
Welcome to field education at APU! Field education is challenging and exciting, and is often a student’s first glimpse of social work in action.
The field education curriculum will provide both Foundation and Concentration year social work experience at the graduate level. The goal of the curriculum is to teach students how to integrate social work theory and practice while in a supervised field setting. As such, students will have the opportunity to examine their learning needs and develop their social work skills accordingly while in their field internships.
To maximize their educational experiences, students are encouraged to be proactive and seek out learning opportunities at their assigned field agencies. The overall goal of field education is to provide a strong social work foundation which students shall build upon throughout their postgraduate careers.
This field education website is intended for use by all those interested in social work. Important information, forms, and resources are available for your use. Please feel free to visit this site often as it is periodically updated to provide the most current information.
Sincerely,
Kimberly Setterlund, MSW, LCSW
MSW Field Education Director
ksetterlund@apu.edu
(626) 857-2402
About Field Education
Field education, also known as field internship, field practicum, field placement, or fieldwork, is a vital component of the MSW Program at Azusa Pacific University, whereby students are taught how to integrate social work theory and the practice of social work in a supervised field setting. Field placements are offered in many types of settings to provide students diverse and interesting learning environments. Students are required to complete field education concurrent with social work practice coursework as part of the program requirements toward graduation.
The initial field experience includes a variety of challenges including, but not limited to, becoming familiar with a social service agency, assessing one’s strengths and weaknesses, and determining one’s professional learning needs. Students will be working with diverse client populations who are often underserved and have experienced multiple hardships. Successful completion of field education requires the openness to learning, to introspection, and to examining one’s own biases.
Students
The field education curriculum is completed over two academic years for full-time students. Part-time students are enrolled in field education in the second and fourth years of the program. During the students’ Foundation Year, the field education experience is designed to maximize generalist social work practice skill development. During the Advanced Concentration Year, students complete their field education in a concentration-specific setting. Students are required to complete a minimum of 480 hours during each field internship year for a combined total of 960 hours at graduation. Students must pass each field sequence to progress to the next sequence to remain in good standing in the MSW Program.
Field Application Packets
- Application for Foundation Year Field Internship (MS Word)
- Field Agency Application Packet (PDF)
- Field Agency Application Packet (MS Word)
- Application for Field Internship – Advanced Concentration Year (MS Word)
- Application for Field Internship – Advanced Concentration Year (PDF)
Requirements
Courses Required:
| Foundation Year | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SOCW 515 Field Seminar I | 1 | ||||||||||
SOCW 516 Field I | 3 | ||||||||||
SOCW 525 Field Seminar II | 1 | ||||||||||
SOCW 526 Field II | 3 | ||||||||||
| Concentration Year | |||||||||||
SOCW 534 Field Seminar III | 1 | ||||||||||
| |||||||||||
SOCW 544 Field Seminar IV | 1 | ||||||||||
| |||||||||||
| Total | 16 units | ||||||||||
Field Agencies and Field Instructors
The field agency and field instructor are instrumental participants in the field education program. They provide a supervised learning environment for the MSW student. Field agency selection is based on specific criteria including, but not limited to, appropriateness of setting for learning needs, expertise of field instructors, and the provision of sound field instruction consistent with the mission, objectives, and goals of the MSW program. To keep up with the latest field updates from the APU Master of Social Work program, follow the MSW Field Instructors’ blog.
Field Agency
Any agency interested in becoming an MSW field internship site is invited to complete a Field Agency Application Packet. Applications are reviewed by the MSW field education director on an ongoing basis.
General Requirements for Field Agencies:
- Statement of agency function as a provider of social services or related services
- Focus of agency services are on individuals, families, groups, and the community. A minimum of fifty percent of a student’s field assignment should be focused on direct practice in the Foundation Year field internships. The equivalent assignment is necessary for Concentration Year field internships.
- A structured and supportive learning environment with a variety of planned social work assignments
- A dedicated student work space, equipment, and supplies available on field internship days
- A qualified field instructor who possesses an MSW degree with a minimum of two years post-graduate experience and/or LCSW, is employed by the agency, and fulfills a supervisory role
- Availability of a comprehensive learning experience at the MSW student level, consistent with MSW practice curriculum, and includes opportunities to complete micro, mezzo, and macro level interventions
- Availability of a reasonable student caseload assignment for the duration of the student’s field placement assignment
- Availability of trainings specific to the population served in agency
- Macro level projects are highly desirable.
- A minimum of one hour of weekly individual supervision with field instructor. Student participation in group supervision and multidisciplinary meetings are highly recommended.
Field Instructor Requirements:
- Possesses a MSW degree with two years post-graduate experience and/or LCSW
- Possesses exemplary social work skills in the chosen field of practice
- Completion of a 16 hour mandatory Field Instructor Training or willingness to complete training prior to accepting APU MSW students
- Skilled application and modeling of professional social work practice
- Practice is consistent with Social Work Code of Ethics
- Knowledge, application, and reinforcement of MSW practice curricula content, including professional use of self, ethics, theoretical frameworks, and stages of treatment
- Supervisory experience is highly desired.
- A desire to teach and mentor social work students
Forms
Field Agencies
- Field Agency Application Packet (PDF)
- Field Agency Application Packet (MS Word)
- Field Affiliation Agreement (PDF)
- Student Mid-semester Progress Report (MS Word)
Students
- Learning Agreement & Comprehensive Skills Evaluation (First Year) (MS Word)
- Learning Agreement & Comprehensive Skills Evaluation (Second Year) (MS Word)
- Field Internship Time Log (PDF)
- Field Internship Time Log (Excel)
- Field Internship Proposal (MS Word)
- Process Recording MICRO Form (MS Word)
- Process Recording MACRO Form (MS Word)
- Process Recording Meeting Form (MS Word)
- Process Recording Group Form (MS Word)
- Audio and Video Recording Form (MS Word)
- Process Recording Log (Excel)
- Process Recording Log (PDF)
Foundation Year Students
- Application for Foundation Year Field Internship (MS Word)
- Student Résumé (MS Word)
Advanced Concentration Year Students
- Application for Field Internship – Advanced Concentration Year (MS Word)
- Application for Field Internship – Advanced Concentration Year (PDF)
- Student Résumé (MS Word)
General
Other Resources
To keep up with the latest student field updates from the APU Master of Social Work program, follow the MSW Field Education blog and the MSW Field Instructors’ blog.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Field Education?
Field education, also known as field internship, field practicum, or fieldwork, is a required component of the MSW Program, whereby students have the opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge from the classroom into a supervised social work setting in the community. In the Foundation Year, students complete an internship in a qualified community-based agency to integrate Generalist Social Work Practice skills in a supervised hands-on environment. In the Advanced Concentration Year, students have the opportunity to complete an internship in a setting that is consistent with their declared concentration. A total of 16 units of field coursework is required toward graduation.
Can I receive credit toward field education units from previous internships I have completed?
No. The field education curriculum is specifically designed to fulfill graduation requirements of the MSW Program. Transfer units are not accepted toward the field education requirements.
How many field education units do I have to complete during the MSW Program?
Students must complete a total of 16 field education units to graduate. Students receive three units per semester for field education courses and one unit per semester for field seminar courses. Students are required to complete a total of 960 field hours, or 480 field hours per academic year, during the MSW Program.
How many hours and days will I be in my field internship?
Students are required to complete a minimum of 16 field hours per week. Students are also required to track their hours on a Field Internship Time Log (Field Internship Time Log (Excel)), which will be submitted at the end of each semester as verification of their completion of field hours. Field days are usually scheduled on days when students do not attend classes on campus. Field days and hours are traditionally Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; however, days and hours are ultimately arranged between the field instructor and student. Students are required to complete at least one eight-hour field day per week.
Can I choose my own hours?
As previously mentioned, field days and hours are arranged between the field instructor and student. Of particular importance, days and hours are usually arranged to meet the needs of the clients served in the agency.
Can I do my field hours on the weekend?
Weekend field internships are not available. Students are required to set aside weekdays, during traditional work hours (generally 8 a.m.–5 p.m.), to complete field internships.
Can I apply for a paid field internship?
In rare instances, field agencies may offer a stipend to MSW students. The field education director will notify students going into their field year of these stipends. Students who meet minimum requirements for the stipend will be given instructions on the application process. It is important to note that the stipend awards are limited in number and are highly competitive.
Do I have to attend a field seminar?
Yes, field seminar is a required one-unit course. Students should be concurrently enrolled in field seminar while completing their field internships. Field seminar attendance is mandatory in order to receive a passing grade in field internship.
How will my field internship assignment be determined?
Students are assigned to their field internship in their Foundation Year through a field placement application and interview process. In the Concentration Year, students interview at several field agencies and are placed in the site that is a mutually good fit for student and agency.
Are there any special requirements to begin field internship?
Yes. All students starting field internships will need to attend a field orientation which is to be held on the APU campus prior to beginning the academic year. In addition, students are to complete all field agency requirements such as background checks, paperwork, and/or health screenings. It is the student's responsibility to ensure all the requirements are completed prior to beginning field internship. In addition, some agencies will require specific workshops or trainings to prepare work with a specific client population.
Can I use my current or previous employment as a field internship?
Students are discouraged from using their current or previous employment as a field internship because of the strict learning requirements of the field curriculum. For example, students are to learn about the setting in which they are completing their fieldwork, with the goal of eventual immersion into the agency culture as an MSW intern. As such, students benefit most from focusing on their role as “student” and “learner,” rather than having to juggle these roles with that of an “employee.”
In some instances, however, an agency offers comprehensive services in several locations and may be able to offer a student an entirely different internship experience that would be consistent with the student’s learning objectives. If interested in this option, a student may complete a Proposal to Use Employment Agency as Field Internship Site. All requirements outlined in the proposal must be met by the student and agency in order for the agency to be considered for use as a field internship.
Decisions are made on a case-by-case basis with the student’s educational needs in mind. Students are to complete the proposal and meet with the field education director as soon as possible to discuss the field internship options. Students should NOT assume that the place of employment will be used as a field internship site.
Can I switch my field internship if I do not like the one I am in?
Students may not switch internships if they merely do not like where they have been assigned. Field internships and students are matched through an intentional selection process. On rare occasions, field internships do not work out for various reasons. In this event, student and field instructor should first meet about the issue, with a follow-up meeting with the field education director. If the issue cannot be resolved, the field education director shall make the ultimate decision on the student’s field internship status.
Do I need a car?
Yes, you will need your own transportation to and from your field internship.
Will I be transporting clients?
No. Field agencies are informed that APU MSW students are not allowed to transport clients for liability reasons.
What is a field instructor?
A field instructor possesses an MSW degree and has at least two years post-graduate experience. He or she has expressed a desire to supervise, teach, and mentor students and possesses an expertise in a specified area of social work practice. A field instructor possesses strong social work skills and abides by the Social Work Code of Ethics.
How do I receive a grade for field internship?
Students must successfully complete a minimum of 240 field internship hours per semester during field years (second and fourth year for part-time students) to receive a minimum grade of B or better in order to progress to the next year of the MSW Program.
What is the key to a successful field internship?
There are numerous elements that promote a successful field internship. One element, in particular, is the willingness of the student and field instructor to develop an accurate, well thought out learning plan for the duration of the field internship, which provides a solid foundation to build upon. In the learning plan, both student and field instructor have communicated their expectations of the field experience. In addition, the successful student possesses a high level of professionalism; capacity for ethical decision-making; good judgment; the openness to receive feedback; and actively seeking new learning experiences. Student field evaluations are completed collaboratively by student, field instructor, and field education director.
