Field Practicum: FAQ

1. How does a student find an agency to do their field placement in?
Each spring, the Field Practicum Fair is held, usually in March. This fair provides the opportunity for students to interview with three or more social service agencies who are approved by the Social Work Program as practicum sites. Prior to the fair, each student is given a packet which contains brochures and other information about the agencies that will be participating in the fair. This information helps students narrow down their choices of agencies to interview with during the Field Practicum Fair.

2. Do students have input in the selection of their field placement?
After the field fair, students are asked to indicate three agencies or areas of social work practice they wish to be considered for potential placement sites. Each agency who participated in the field fair is also asked by the Field Practicum Coordinator to identify the student(s) they would like to have placed in their agency. The Field Practicum Coordinator then meets with each student individually and matches the student with the agency that best fits the student's learning needs.

3. Do students do their practicum placement over the course of one or two semesters?
Most students begin their practicum hours in the fall semester and finish the hours before graduation in the spring. However, in circumstances where a student is transferring in and has many of the pre-requisite course requirements for field, the student may be eligible to do a block placement where all 400 hours are completed in one semester. Block placements are determined at the discretion of the Field Practicum Coordinator and the agency where the student is placed.