Request for Field Placement
Students submit a Student Agreement/Release of Information Form upon admission. To initiate the "Request for Field Placement," the student on the main campus submits the completed form (details below). Once the form is received, it is processed and the student is assigned to a Field Advisor who will then contact the student. An appointment will be set up with the student and their assigned Field Advisor to discuss and plan the field placement process.
Students at UPB and UPJ will submit their request to their respective MSW Regional Director.
Second Year and Advanced Standing Students
Advanced Standing students on main campus attend a required Field Orientation during the New Student Orientation of their first year.
Advanced Standing and Second Year students use the Request for Specialized Practice Field Placement Form. Students should read and understand the information on the forms and handouts. Incoming Advanced Standing Students should not submit any Field Placement Documents until they have become a matriculated student (paid the deposit and have been issued a University of Pittsburgh email address).
The Office of Field Education uses electronic submission of these forms to increase ease of use and submission.
* Advanced standing students and second year students are typically contacted in March after any Fellowships applications are reviewed and participation determined. Those who are not applying for Fellowships may be contacted sooner. *
Non-Advanced Standing (Generalist) Students
Non-Advanced Standing students (also called Generalist Students) will attend the field seminar during the semester in which they start their first Field Placement (Fall Term for Full-Time and Summer Term for Part-Time students). This 1 hour per week seminar serves as an overview of the Field Education process and goals.
To begin the process, non-advanced standing students complete the Request for Generalist Field Placement Form. Students should read and understand the information on the forms and handouts. Incoming Non-Advanced Standing Students should not submit any Field Placement Documents until they have become a matriculated student (paid the deposit and have been issued a University of Pittsburgh email address).
The Office of Field Education uses electronic submission of these forms to increase ease of use and submission.
* First year non-advanced standing students will be contacted in around mid-May. *
Employment-Based Field Placement
Students of either level requesting to use their place of employment as a field site should indicate this on their Field Request Form (one of the forms listed above). Employment-based field placements are not requests to secure field placement with a stipend. This form is for students already employed at a social services agency who might have the opportunity to gain additional social work related experiences at that same agency. Students should discuss the requirements of an employment based opportunity with their Field Advisor after they have submitted their request form and been assigned.
UPB and UPJ students
The actual timing of planning meetings at UPB and UPJ will vary according to the readiness of each new cohort to enter the field. Generally speaking, the planning meeting will occur in the term prior to the students entering the field.
UPB and UPJ Students will request and confirm placements through processes outlined by the directors of their respective programs.
Field Placement Confirmation
Students need to confirm their field placement schedule with their field instructor prior to the start of the field placement. No field placement is confirmed by the School of Social Work without MSW Field Placement Confirmation Form that has been signed by Student, Field Instructor, and Field Advisor. Unconfirmed placements are not valid and hours may not be counted towards the required total. Confirmation forms will be sent to the student and field instructor by the field advisor once a placement has been agreed upon by all parties.