What is Field Education?

Field Education is a core requirement of the BASW and MSW programs. It plays a pivotal role in the MSW and BASW curriculum.  It offers the opportunity to apply, refine, and integrate conceptually-based knowledge acquired in the classroom with real life experiences in social service agencies.

Field Education at the CSUSB School of Social Work consists of three components: 1) field practicum, 2) field seminar, and 3) field events. Through field practicum, field seminar, and field event, students will be able to demonstrate knowledge and level of competence necessary to enter professional practice.  The field experience and classroom should be mutually reinforcing in all curricular areas: research, human behavior, social policy, and practice with individuals, groups, organizations, and communities.

Field Practicum is a collaborative effort involving:

• The Agency: human service organizations
• The Field Instructor: professional Social Work practitioners who are 'teachers' in the field
• Faculty Field Liaison: professional Social Work practitioners, both full-time faculty and faculty adjuncts, who are the official university representatives and provide linkage, mediation, monitoring, consultation, and advocacy to students and field instructors.
• Field Education Program: provides the social work student with an opportunity to apply classroom learning in an agency-based supervised field experience.

How many hours will I be in placement?

BASW Program

• BASW Seniors: 16 hours per week =240 hours per semester and 480 hours per academic year

MSW 2-Year Program

• Foundation Year Field: 16 hours per week =240 hours per semester and 480 hours per academic year
• Advanced Year Field: 20 hours per week =300 hours per semester and 600 hours per academic year

MSW 3-Year campus-based and Pathway Distance Education Programs

• Year 1: No Internship
• Year 2 Foundation: 16 hours per week =240 hours per semester and 480 hours per academic year
• Year 3 Advanced: 20 hours per week =300 hours per semester and 600 hours per academic year