MSW/MEd Dual Degree Field Experiences

3 credit hours each

This is the foundation year, two-semester field instruction placement. The field placement provides students with the opportunity to apply the basic knowledge and skills of agency-based social work practice from a generalist perspective. The field placement also provides students with the opportunity to apply knowledge gained in the foundation core curricula to social work practice with individuals, families, small groups, organizations, and communities within an agency setting. Students will work in the field 16 hours per week while enrolled in SW 552. The field seminar is completed concurrently with the field placement. The field seminar is designed to support students in the process of integrating knowledge attained in foundational coursework and applying skills to practice in the field. Much of the focus of the seminar will be on reflection of students’ learning and development as professional social workers.

Prequisites: SW 505 and SW 506.

For more detailed information about the MSW Field Experience.

Course outcomes:

• Critically evaluate the theoretical basis of direct social work practice with individuals, families, and groups and its associated concepts.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the theoretical context and repertoire of direct practice skills for working with a variety of client systems.
• Demonstrate the ability to develop a range of intervention strategies, match interventions with a diverse range of clients, and identify the appropriate techniques for implementing those strategies.
• Demonstrate the continued development of professional skills to identify and integrate the values and ethics of the professional social work community.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the influence of the organizational context, and the ability to analyze the effect of policies on the helping process and develop strategies for enhancing organizational responsiveness to human service needs.
• Demonstrate the ability to apply all phases of the helping process – including engagement, assessment, contracting, implementation, and ending – in working with individuals, families, and groups.
• Demonstrate the ability to perform a variety of helping functions, including those of advocate, mediator, enabler, teacher, social broker, and counselor.
• Integrate knowledge of the influence of the community context on social work interventions with a variety of client systems.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the strategies for empowering and supporting diverse client systems and populations as a locus of change.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the range of social work research methods for evaluation of direct social work clinical practice and human service programs.
• Demonstrate an appreciation for and willingness to engage in ongoing professional skill development and self-evaluation.
• Demonstrate increasing skill in working with diverse populations and appreciation of the influence of diversity on the helping process.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the development of social work practice theories and models.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the impact of oppression, discrimination, and injustice on delivery of services to client populations and practice areas.

3 credit hours each

These courses comprise the two-semester concentration-level field placement. Students work in a supervised social work setting for three days (24 hours) per week for a total of 680 hours for the year. Field Instruction III and Seminar and Field Instruction IV and Seminar provide students with the opportunity to further examine and integrate the theories and skills of agency-based clinical social work practice with individuals, families, and small groups; to develop and refine clinical assessment, intervention, and evaluation skills; and to consolidate their own identity as a professionally disciplined and self-aware professional social worker. Field Instruction III and Seminar and Field Instruction IV and Seminar build upon the generalist social work practice perspective introduced in the prerequisite courses.

Prerequisites: SW 630 and SW 639.

For more detailed information about the MSW Field Experience.

Course outcomes:

• Integrate classroom material in the field.
• Reflect on practice in the field.
• Engage in clinical supervision.
• Reflect on use of self in the therapeutic relationship.
• Critically analyze and apply evidence-based practice.
• Evaluate your own practice.
• Demonstrate knowledge of policy and contextual issues that impact practice.

This practicum is designed to provide students with the opportunity to develop the skills and resources necessary to provide ageappropriate, psychoeducational, individual or group intervention strategies, treatment goals, practice and evaluation for a variety of clinical cases in a variety of settings, and with diverse populations. Course requirements include supervised hours in the field, regular class meetings with faculty, and case presentations of work representing the practicum. This is the first of two required practica for the clinical track.

Prerequisite: HSED 562.

This practicum is a continuation of HSED 695. Course requirements include supervised hours in the field, regular class meetings with faculty and case presentations of work representing the practicum. This is the second of two required practica for the clinical track.

Prerequisite: HSED 695.