Introduction The Auburn University Social Work Program provides a education program that meets professional and accreditation standards set forth by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Field Education is considered by CSWE to be the pedagogy” for social work education. The “signature purpose of field education is to provide the most focused and directed opportunities for students to integrate knowledge, values, and skills into a practice setting. Students are placed in agency settings, and under the supervision of field instructors engaged in generalist and advanced social work practice. Field education with MSW supervision is the aspect that differentiates social work education from that of other professions. education is considered to be a critical component of a student's preparatory work for becoming a professional social worker. Field placements are designed to be challenging, growth-producing, instructive and conducive to the application of theory to practice. In other words, both student and field instructor are expected to develop a "spirit of inquiry and curiosity, wherein each is challenged to critically reflect upon his/her actions and re-examine underlying beliefs, values, and theoretical constructs". (Brookfield 1986, p. 143). It is the purpose of the field education program to provide experiential educational opportunities directed toward student development of professional identity, self-understanding, and competent practice. Classroom learning and theoretical content are integrated through a focus on generalist practice in BSW Internship, the first year Traditional MSW program, and a clinical specialization in the second year of the Traditional MSW program and in the Advanced Standing Program. This field manual has been designed to assist students, field instructors, and faculty by providing information relevant to placing students in the field practicum, implementing the field education component of the social work degree, solving problems that might occur, and evaluating student outcomes. Purpose of the Experience Social Work Field Experiences are viewed as the culmination of professional education. Considerable effort has been made to integrate the field experiences with the total curriculum rather than perceiving the field experience as a component separate from the didactic courses. In the design of the BSW Internship and the MSW Generalist and Advanced Clinical Field Experience, major emphasis has been given to initiating the student into the role of social work practitioner while advancing his or her professional training. The purpose of Field Experience is: To provide the student with the opportunity to integrate classroom learning and field experiences through the use of applied practice skills to micro, mezzo, and macro levels of practice.
Introduction The Auburn University Social Work Program provides a education program that meets professional and accreditation standards set forth by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Field Education is considered by CSWE to be the “signature pedagogy” for social work education. The purpose of field education is to provide the most focused and directed opportunities for students to integrate knowledge, values, and skills into a practice setting. Students are placed in agency settings, and under the supervision of field instructors engaged in generalist and advanced social work practice. Field education with MSW supervision is the aspect that differentiates social work education from that of other professions. education is considered to be a critical component of a student's preparatory work for becoming a professional social worker. Field placements are designed to be challenging, growth-producing, instructive and conducive to the application of theory to practice. In other words, both student and field instructor are expected to develop a "spirit of inquiry and curiosity, wherein each is challenged to critically reflect upon his/her actions and re-examine underlying beliefs, values, and theoretical constructs". (Brookfield 1986, p. 143). It is the purpose of the field education program to provide experiential educational opportunities directed toward student development of professional identity, self-understanding, and competent practice. Classroom learning and theoretical content are integrated through a focus on generalist practice in BSW Internship, the first year Traditional MSW program, and a clinical specialization in the second year of the Traditional MSW program and in the Advanced Standing Program. This field manual has been designed to assist students, field instructors, and faculty by providing information relevant to placing students in the field practicum, implementing the field education component of the social work degree, solving problems that might occur, and evaluating student outcomes. Purpose of the Experience Social Work Field Experiences are viewed as the culmination of professional education. Considerable effort has been made to integrate the field experiences with the total curriculum rather than perceiving the field experience as a component separate from the didactic courses. In the design of the BSW Internship and the MSW Generalist and Advanced Clinical Field Experience, major emphasis has been given to initiating the student into the role of social work practitioner while advancing his or her professional training. The purpose of Field Experience is: To provide the student with the opportunity to integrate classroom learning and field experiences through the use of applied practice skills to micro, mezzo, and macro levels of practice.