Social Work Field Education

These pages are designed to facilitate the field education experience for all those involved—students, field instructors, agency supervisors, agency representatives, and faculty liaisons. It also provides useful information for prospective students and agencies/organizations.

Update: Please view our COVID-19 Field Education Safety Policy.

What is field education?

Field education (also known as practicum) at the University of Alaska is organized and implemented as a partnership between the educational community and the practice community in training future social work practitioners. Within this partnership, there are three key people to the success of the field education experience: the student, field supervisor, and faculty liaison. First is the student, who possesses the willingness and desire to observe, learn, take action, and reflect. The student’s professional development is guided and nurtured by the field supervisor whose role as teacher is pivotal in the student’s evaluation of self as an emerging professional social worker. The faculty liaison’s role is to provide ongoing support and information to the student and the field supervisor.

Communication among all parties is critical in meeting the objectives of field education and maintaining a healthy partnership. Ongoing feedback is welcome from all parties.

How many field hours are required?

BSW required hours: Students in the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program are required to complete 448 hours over the Fall and Spring semesters of their senior year in the program.  (224 hours each semester; approximately 16 hours per week)

MSW required hours: Students in the  Master of Social Work (MSW) program are required to complete 960 hours of field work. Students in the first year (generalist) of the full time program and the second year of the part time program complete 480 hours of consecutive field instruction during the fall and spring semesters. Students complete 480 hours of field instruction during the second (advanced generalist) year or fourth year of the part time program. Students accepted into the program with Advanced Standing are required to complete the 480 hours of field work.