Becoming a Social Worker... 

      

The field experience at The College of St. Scholastica consists of two parts. The first is Field Readiness which includes the following:

• Students participate in a "Preparation for Field" seminar. This course covers choosing a field placement site, preparation for placement readiness, assessment of personal strengths and weaknesses, resume writing, interviewing skills, the role of a professional social worker, MN Board of Social Work licensing requirements, contracting with an agency, writing goals and objectives, effectively utilizing supervision, and getting the most out of a field placement.

• Students enroll in "practice" focused course work during their agency placement, including a bi-weekly field seminar. Learning outcomes are focused on the 10 core competencies outlined by the Council on Social Work Education. These are: Professional Identity, Ethical Responsibility, Critical Thinking, Diversity, Social and Economic Justice, Research, Person In Environment, Policy Practice, Leadership, and Service.

• Students formalize a comprehensive performance plan including evaluation criteria within 2 weeks of placement.

• Student assignments include opportunities to develop skills in client system analysis, professional documentation and presentation, community resource development, and professional values and ethical considerations.

 

The second part is the Field placement . The College of St. Scholastica offers two placement opportunities:

Field I

Junior level students participate in a professionally supervised agency placement for a minimum of 120 hours in one primary agency setting. Students participate in direct client shadowing experiences which offer opportunities for moderate levels of independent decision making and client/community intervention.

Field II

Senior level students participate in a professionally supervised agency placement for a minimum of 450 hours in one primary agency setting. Students are expected to participate in client/community services which offer opportunities to demonstrate foundation competencies.

    

The Field Description documents outline the required hours, level of supervision and academic requirements needed at each respective level of field.

Field I (Junior Field) Description

Field II (Senior Field) Description