Students participate in experiential and integrative learning opportunities in affiliated community organizations. The 600 hour field experience begins in the senior year of the BASW program. These hours are completed over two semesters. The students work collaboratively with their assigned Field Advisor to secure a generalist field placement that aligns with their goals and interests. This experience additionally prepares students for the professional positions they will assume in the marketplace after graduation. Students learn under the supervision of a qualified field instructor and with the support of a field advisor and liaison from the School of Social Work.
The importance of the role of the field instructor as teacher, guide, and role model to the student cannot be underestimated. Field instructors perform these responsibilities on a voluntary basis, often to give back what they were given and to continue to remain current and challenged in their thinking about the practice role they perform and the social issues they face in their work with individuals, families, small groups, neighborhoods, communities, and organizations. No two field instructor or student experiences are identical, but there are threads of commonality in all field placement experiences.
The field education experience is supported through the EXXAT online software. All field-related documents are both created and housed in this HIPAA-compliant software program. The system is managed by the students, assigned faculty, and the field education office. Requests for field placements, field learning plans, evaluations, and timesheets are a few examples of documents managed through EXXAT.
To learn more about EXXAT: EXXAT Web Resource Page
BASW Field Education Schedule, Information, and Handbook
- BASW Field Education Schedule (2022-2023) (PDF)
- BASW Handbook
Example Field Learning Plans and Evaluations
- COMING SOON.