Field Education Overview
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for social workers is projected to grow 7 percent from 2023 to 2033, faster than the average for all occupations.
The College of Social Work takes pride in preparing our students for such opportunities through an extensive field education program, which provides on-the-job training and experience at locations across the globe and produces social workers uniquely qualified to make a difference.
The Office of Field Education works collaboratively with undergraduate and graduate students to place them in agencies and organizations best suited to their particular interests and career goals.
To learn more about field education, please contact the Office of Field Education directly or email field@csw.fsu.edu.
Course: SOW 4510
Course Descriptions
This course is required for undergraduate students and is taken concurrently with a field seminar. Students receive a supervised generalist social work practice experience in various settings. The purpose of field education is to provide students with opportunities for development and reinforcement of competence through performance in actual service situations. As students undertake learning tasks within the reality of agency life, they utilize theory acquired through coursework, attitudes, values, and skills developed and refined through practice.
Students enroll in this undergraduate field course in the final semester of the BSW program. The student spends approximately 32 hours per week in an agency placement for a minimum of 512 clock hours, earning ten (10) credit hours. The student directly services various client systems (individuals, families, groups, and communities). The generalist practice model, currently being taught in the classroom, is reinforced and supported in a wide range of agencies available for placement.
NOTE: This course has been approved to meet FSU’s Liberal Studies Formative Experience requirement and develops your ability to develop and use knowledge by engaging in a hands-on experience outside of the classroom.
- To fulfill this requirement, the student must earn a “C–” or higher or an “S” in the course if taken on an “S/U” basis.
Course Objectives
Undergraduate field education identifies the range of minimal competencies that students are expected to achieve within professional foundation areas, social work values, and ethics, as well as agency/client services. The learning experiences focus on knowledge and skills emphasized in the foundation curriculum, e.g., individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Field placements are selected based on their potential for providing the range and depth of learning experiences necessary to achieve the educational objectives. It is understood that the reality of agency purpose and structure may not permit a concentrated experience at all levels of intervention. However, it is expected that students will receive opportunities to be exposed to a range of social work roles and learning tasks.
Competencies
Council on Social Work Education (EPAS 2015) Social Work Competencies assessed in this course include the following competencies. Upon completing the course, the student will identify as a professional social worker and conduct oneself according
Competency 1: Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior
Competency 2: Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice
Competency 3: Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice
Competency 4: Engage in Practice-informed Research and Research-informed Practice
Competency 5: Engage in Policy Practice
Competency 6: Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
Competency 7: Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
Competency 8: Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
Competency 9: Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
SOW4510 Course Description and Objectives [PDF]
Course Number: SOW 5532
Course Description
Students receive a supervised generalist social work practice experience in various settings. The purpose of field education is to provide students with opportunities for development and reinforcement of competence through performance in actual service situations. As students undertake learning tasks within the reality of agency life, they utilize theory acquired through coursework, attitudes, values, and skills developed and refined through practice. Students enroll in this field course after completing the generalist curriculum for the Traditional MSW program. The student spends approximately 27 hours per week in an agency placement for a minimum of 432 clock hours, earning ten (10) credit hours. The student directly services various client systems (individuals, families, groups, and communities). The generalist practice model, currently being taught in the classroom, is reinforced and supported by a wide range of agencies available for placement.
Course Objectives
MSW Generalist Field Education identifies the range of minimal competencies that students are expected to achieve within professional foundation areas, social work values, and ethics, as well as agency/client services. The learning experiences focus on knowledge and skills emphasized in the foundation curriculum, e.g., individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Field placements are selected based on their potential for providing the range and depth of learning experiences necessary to achieve the educational objectives. It is understood that the reality of agency purpose and structure may not permit a concentrated experience at all levels of intervention. However, it is expected that students receive opportunities for exposure to a range of social work roles and learning tasks.
Course Competencies
Council on Social Work Education (EPAS 2015) Social Work Competencies assessed in this course include:
Competency 1: Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior
Competency 2: Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice
Competency 3: Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice
Competency 4: Engage in Practice-informed Research and Research-informed Practice
Competency 5: Engage in Policy Practice Competency 6: Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
Competency 7: Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
Competency 8: Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
Competency 9: Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
SOW 5532 Course Description and Objectives [PDF]
Course: SOW 5535 (12 Credit Hours)
Course Description
This course is taken in the final semester(s) of the student's program. Before enrolling in SOW 5535, the student must have satisfactorily completed all prerequisites for this concentration, which includes all of the academic requirements for the degree with the exception of SOW 5535 (Field Education II) and SOW 5369 (Integrative Seminar) that must be taken concurrently. The student generally spends approximately 32 hours per week in an agency placement for a total minimum requirement of 512 hours and earns 12 credit hours. The following objectives describe the expectations for advanced clinical knowledge, values, and skills that students are expected to demonstrate at the completion of their field education experience. These competencies are built upon academic preparation and field education during the foundation year for two-year students and during the bachelor's degree program for advanced-standing graduate students.
Course Competencies:
Council on Social Work Education (EPAS 2015) Social Work Competencies assessed in this course include:
Competency 1: Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior
Competency 2: Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice
Competency 3: Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice
Competency 4: Engage in Practice-informed Research and Research-informed Practice
Competency 5: Engage in Policy Practice
Competency 6: Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
Competency 7: Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
Competency 8: Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
Competency 9: Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
SOW 5535 (Clinical) Course Description and Objectives [PDF]
Course: SOW 5535
Course Descriptions
This course is taken in the final semester(s) of the student's program. Prior to enrolling in SOW 5535, the student must have satisfactorily completed all prerequisites for this concentration, which includes all of the academic requirements for the degree with the exception of SOW 5535 (Field Education II) and SOW 5369 (Integrative Seminar) that must be taken concurrently.
The following objectives describe the expectations for advanced social policy and administration knowledge, values, and skills that students are expected to demonstrate at the completion of their field education experience. These students will gain an understanding of the roles of these professional social workers, which include, but are not limited to, the following: policy analysis, policy advocacy, social planning, agency administrator, and supervisor. Student competencies are built upon academic preparation and field education during the foundation year for two-year students and during the bachelor's degree program for advanced-standing graduate students. Council on Social Work Education (EPAS 2015) Social Work Competencies assessed in this course include:
Competency 1: Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior
Competency 2: Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice
Competency 3: Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice
Competency 4: Engage in Practice-informed Research and Research-informed Practice
Competency 5: Engage in Policy Practice
Competency 6: Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
Competency 7: Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
Competency 8: Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
Competency 9: Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
SOW 5535 (Social Leadership) Course Description and Objectives [PDF]
Director of Field Education:
Katrina Boone, MSW
University Center C2516
Tallahassee, FL 32306-2570
(850) 644-9743
kboone@fsu.edu
Director of Online Field Education:
Rosalyn B. Deckerhoff, LSCW
University Center C2508
Tallahassee, FL 32306-2570
(850) 644-9585
rdeckerhoff@fsu.edu