FIELD EDUCATION OFFICE
Field Education provides students with the opportunity to apply and integrate classroom theoretical concepts into a practice setting. It is an integral component of the MSW program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The School of Social Work uses a modified block placement model which is a unique feature of our program. In a block placement, students become totally immersed in the field placement experience. With the exception of two field seminars, students complete all coursework prior to starting their internship. In addition students can select from field placement sites throughout Illinois and in some cases in other states.
Students are at the placement site, Monday through Thursday for 30-32 hours per week for at least 31 consecutive weeks for a minimum of 930 clock hours. For students to be eligible to enter field, they must complete all required coursework graded with a grade point average of at least a B (3.0). Students are matched with internship sites that provide learning experiences that are congruent with their specialization area.
Students in Advocacy, Leadership and Social Change (ALSC), Child Welfare, Health Care, and Community Mental Health specializations begin the practicum either during the spring semester or summer session. Their internships are at least 31 consecutive weeks long. School Social Work specialization students begin the field practicum in the fall semester. These internships are for a full academic year according to the school year calendar.
Detailed information about the field education program can be found in the Field Education Manual. You can access this document under student and field instructor information.