Students enrolled in the BSW program are placed by the BSW Field Education Coordinator
with an agency for the fieldwork portion of their course work.
**Please note that neither students nor agencies solicit or arrange placements. Placements
will not be made outside the following process.
Step 1 Students submit a Field Education Application.
Step 2 Agencies interested in hosting a Social Work student submit to the School of Social
Work a brief description of the learning experience the agency can offer the practicum
student.
Step 3 Students become familiar with some of the potential placements by reviewing the agency
descriptions.
Step 4 The BSW Field Education Coordinator will meet with each student during the spring
semester to discuss the student’s interest and learning needs. The BSW Field Education
Coordinator will work with the student to identify potential placement options.
Step 5 The student prepares to interview at the agency or agencies mutually identified with
the BSW Field Education Coordinator as the preferred placement choice(s). The student
is given the name of the agency contact person and is instructed to arrange an interview.
The BSW Field Education Coordinator contacts the agency to provide names of the student(s)
referred to the agency for an interview.
Step 6 The student is interviewed by the agency. Students are encouraged to bring a resume
and to prepare for the interview as they would a job interview, although the focus
of this interview is clearly one of securing an appropriate social work learning experience
rather than employment. The goal is for both student and agency personnel to determine
if there is a fit between student expectations and agency expectations for the practicum
placement.
Step 7 The student and agency representative each contact the BSW Field Education Coordinator
to discuss his/her decision regarding the potential placement. The student and agency
representative submit their respective placement decision form. If the interview does
not result in a placement of the student in the agency, then the student will interview
at other agencies as referred by the BSW Field Education Coordinator. A confirmation
of the placement will be mailed to the student and agency staff. The School of Social
Work will contact the agency if additional information is needed (i.e. Field Instructor
Application or if UAA does not already have an Affiliation Agreement on file between
the agency and the university outlining practicum policies, one will be sent out for
signatures).
Step 8 A field orientation will be held in late August for students and agency staff. Program
materials will be provided to guide the practicum and the necessary forms for documentation
of practicum activities will be included.
Step 9 Students enter placements in late August following a review of practicum expectations
during the student-only portion of the field orientation.
