The OFE tries to place students in their preferred agencies, but cannot make guarantees, because of the rapidly changing human service environment. 

3. What if I don't have a car?

Not having a car may severely limit field placement options because many agencies are community based and may require students to perform field assignments that involve outreach, home visits, and community work. Students without cars may have to compromise their interests to be accommodated where public transportation is available. All students should allow extra time for travel to and from field agencies during inclement weather.

4. Can I have a placement in the town where I live?

Depending upon the availability of appropriate placement opportunities, the OFE tries to place students near their homes; students will always attend classes on Wayne State University campuses. The School requires that all students have at least one field placement in the City of Detroit, or the Detroit metropolitan area, or in another urban setting that provides an opportunity for field placement which serves people of color and/or those who are vulnerable, oppressed, and/or disenfranchised.

5. Can I do fieldwork at my current place of employment?

Students interested in doing their field work with their current employer must submit an application to the Director of Field Education describing the agency, its programs, the position held and duties, the work schedule, and the name and title of the appropriate supervisor(s).

6. Can I arrange my own field placement?

No. While the OFE is always interested in new field placement sites and encourages suggestions for field placements from students, all field placements must be arranged by the OFE. Students are asked NOT to contact agencies to arrange field placements. Agencies must have a new agency field placement application on file and have a licensed, MSW-level social work practitioner available to provide supervision, among other requirements. All application material for field placement sites is available from the OFE.

7. Can I be placed in an agency that is not currently approved by the School of Social Work?

Yes. If the agency meets the School's criteria for an approved field placement site, as determined by the OFE, then the site can be used for field work.

8. How much time should I reserve for field work each term?

Students must be in field for a minimum of two days, 16 clock hours per week during times when their field instructor/task supervisor is also on duty and available to the students. The minimum number of required clock hours are listed as follows for BSW and MSW students:

BSW Student- Credit Hours to Clock Hours Ratio/ 1 Credit Hour = 46 Clock Hours:

 
 
 


 
MSW Student- Credit Hours to Clock Hours Ratio/ 1 Credit Hour = 56.25 Clock Hours:

 


 
MSW Student- Advanced Year Electing 4 Additional Credit Hours/ 1 Credit Hour = 56.25 Clock Hours:

 

Because it is difficult for students to work full-time, take classes, and do field work, students are encouraged to reduce their employment to no more than 20 hours per week. If they are not able to do this they should consider the School's part-time program. Students should discuss all scheduling arrangements at the field placement interview prior to beginning field work.

Please note, part-time students have the same field work requirements as full-time students, the course work is simply extended over a longer period of time.

9. Can my placement be arranged for evening and/or weekend hours?

Most likely not, as students need to be in field during normal agency business hours for a minimum of 2 days, 16 clock hours, per week at times when their field instructor/task supervisor is also on duty and available for supervision.

Students in both the full-time and part-time BSW and MSW programs are expected to meet the same field work requirements within the specified time allotted.

10. What are the main differences between the Core MSW program and the MSW program with Advanced Standing status?

Students in the Core MSW program are able to complete the MSW degree in 2 years for full-time students or 4 years for part-time students.
These students do not hold a Bachelor of Social Work degree from a CSWE accredited school and must complete two field placements.

Students in the MSW program with Advanced Standing hold a Bachelor of Social Work degree from a CSWE accredited school and are able to complete the MSW degree in 10 months for full- time students or 2 years for part-time students. These students complete one field placement as part of their advanced curriculum

11. Can I enroll in more credits of fieldwork than the number required?

No. Students must register for only the identified number of credit hours for the program in which they are enrolled. All students must have a plan of work which identifies the number of credit hours for all courses, including field work. Students in the advanced year of the MSW program have the option of either a two-day (4 credits per semester) or three-day (6 credits per semester) field placement. Once this choice is made, it CANNOT be changed.

12. What is the difference between an academic advisor, a faculty advisor, and a field instructor?

An academic advisor is a member of the School’s academic staff who advises students on academic matters, typically including course planning and registration.

A faculty advisor is assigned by the OFE to the agency where a student is placed. The faculty advisor is either a full-time or a part-time faculty member who monitors and grades the student’s field work performance. The faculty advisor also provides assistance and feedback to the student at the agency and mediates placement related issues, including any that might occur between the student and the field instructor.

A field instructor is a Licensed Masters Social Worker (LMSW) with 2 years post-MSW experience and agency staff member who supervises students at the field placement agency. The field instructor also evaluates students and provides feedback to the faculty advisor for grading.


13. How do I find out who my faculty advisor is and how do I contact him/her? 

Faculty advisors are usually assigned at the start of the term to work with agencies based on their scholarly interests and other preferences. Although we try to maintain continuity as much as possible, faculty advisor assignments may change because of sabbaticals, other leaves or other academic commitments. At the start of the semester, an alphabetical list of students, assigned faculty advisors, and contact information is posted near student mailboxes. If you have any questions about your faculty advisor assignment, check with the OFE.

14. What if my agency is not what I expected or is not meeting my learning goals?

You should discuss any placement-related issues with your faculty advisor, once you have started field work. Any decisions about whether a student should be re-assigned to another agency must be made by the faculty advisor, the field instructor, and the student, in consultation with the Director of Field Education. Students sometimes request a change of placement for one term only. Generally, agencies cannot accommodate students for only one term (this does not include the one semester junior placement), nor are one term placements educationally beneficial. Agencies cannot provide substantial assignments nor invest in training a student who will leave the agency after one term.

Also, brief field placements for MSW advance year interpersonal practice students make it difficult to establish client rapport and develop working relationships. BSW seniors and MSW students in field placement must be at the same agency for a minimum of two consecutive terms.

15. Can students interview at multiple sites before deciding on a field placement?

While the OFE works hard to offer students choices in agency selection, allowing multiple interviews for over 400 students enrolled in the BSW and MSW degree programs would make it less likely for students to be placed at their preferred sites. Competition for sites among School students and those of other neighboring schools is high, and agencies tend to select students with the most work experience. Our policy protects students with less work experience, and allows the OFE to offer more individual attention to students. It also ensures that all students are placed as quickly as possible. If the student or field instructor believes that the match is not suitable, the student will have the opportunity to interview at another agency, a process that continues until the student is successfully placed.

16. Do agencies offer stipends to students?

We strongly encourage agencies to provide stipends; however, policies vary and the decision is entirely up to the agency. Stipends are usually quite small. Sometimes agencies offer stipends to encourage a larger time commitment or to make the placement more attractive. Sometimes agencies fund modest stipends through grants.

17.  Do agencies hire students when they graduate? If so, which agencies?

Yes. Students are occasionally hired by their field placement sites following graduation, but there is no dependable pattern of which agencies do this. However, the Office of Admissions and Student Services is happy to offer employment assistance

18. What are the procedures for making up missed field work days? 

All absences from field work MUST be made up. Students who miss field placement days, or who start field work late, should have a plan to make up the hours missed in their field work educational agreement, which must be developed with the field instructor and approved by the faculty advisor. The educational agreement may also include strategies for fulfilling field work clock hours such as working evenings, weekends, or during School breaks.  

19. Should I disclose my intern status at my field placement agency?

Yes. Unless the agency has a policy dictating otherwise, students should disclose intern status in an appropriate manner at their field placements.

20. Why do I have to apply for NASW membership and obtain liability insurance?

Students are able to obtain the low cost student rate for liability insurance as members of the NASW through the American Professional Agency. The University and the School require insurance coverage before beginning any field placement.