Syllabus

Master of Social Work

SSWO 004 Orientation to Field Education and Field Planning

Credits - Not applicable

Description

Orientation to Field Education and Field Planning is an exciting interactive course designed to familiarize you with field education. The School believes that field education is the capstone of your learning experience and is invested in the success of your field placement. Through much support and interaction, these modules will guide you step by step in the field planning process. Stimulating readings, up-to-date videos and experiential exercises will enhance your ability to identify, interview, and select the best agency fit for you. We are excited to welcome you to this course!

Each module walks you through an important step in that process – building off of the prior module’s information and activities. As a UNE MSW student, our goal is to give you the tools (introduced in this orientation) to help you find the best agency for your educational goals and preferences. With each item introduced in this orientation, think about how you will apply this to finding the agency for your field experience.

Although we hope you find this orientation exciting, we ask that you do not begin to contact agencies until after you have met with your field planner at the end of Module 3. This planning meeting will mark the beginning of your internship search and your introduction into Module 4.

One important element to highlight about this orientation is that while the course runs for four weeks, Module 4 is your field planning Module and will be your resource and repository for final forms until you begin placement. The forms you find in Module 4 will be the forms that you submit once you have found a placement. All the information in Orientation will serve as a resource, and this course itself will serve as a document repository for all of your paperwork required to complete in order to start field placement. It is highly recommended you save all of your work you submit for this course. You may need/want to refer back to something during the field planning process.

In the orientation, you are presented with several exercises designed to help you think about the field experience. You will also complete critical forms. All of your assignments from Modules 1 through 3 must be submitted via Blackboard and not via email. Any assignments submitted through mail, fax, or email will not be accepted. Your Field Proposal and Agreement Form, and Field Instructor Form in Module 4 will all be submitted via Blackboard.  The Clinical Affiliation Agreement (CAA) with the Cover Sheet will be the only item submitted via email.  Email instructions can be found in Module 4.

After completion of Module 3 you will enter the Field Planning portion of this course. Field Planning requires weekly communication with your instructor by completing the assignments in corresponding Modules 5-14. It will be during this phase of the course that you will be supported in contacting organization and finalizing your field practicum.

 

Materials

Learning Objectives and Outcomes

School of Social Work Program Outcomes:

Graduates of the UNE SSWO will demonstrate knowledge, skills, and leadership in the following:

1. Demonstrates ethical and professional behavior.
2. Advance human rights and social, racial, economic, and environmental justice.
3. Engage in anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion (ADEI) in practice.
4. Engage in practice-informed research and research-informed practice.
5. Engage in policy practice.
6. Engage with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
7. Assess individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
8. Intervene with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
9. Evaluate practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

Upon completion of this course (Modules 1 – 3) students will be able to:

1. Describe the role and importance of field education in the social work educational experience.
2. Utilize acquired skills and tools throughout the field planning process (Module 4).
3. Summarize the roles and responsibilities of all participants in field education.
4. Identify goals, expectations, preferences, and “the best fit” for the field placement experience.
5. Be prepared for the field placement interview process.

Upon completion of Field Planning (Module 4-14), students will have:

1. Successfully interviewed with at least two prospective field placement agencies.
2. Selected an appropriate field placement agency.
3. Submitted all required field planning documentation for your chosen placement.
4. Been approved for their field placement through a final virtual approval meeting.

Assignments

Module One: Roles, Responsibilities and the Importance of Field Education 

Type of assignment	Assignment	Due date
Module 1 Exercise	Complete and upload into Blackboard	By end of module one
Frequently asked questions exercise	Respond to questions for FAQ document	By end of module one
Managing the Anxiety of transitioning discussion board	Read, Post and Respond	By end of module one

Module Two: Finding the Best Fit with the Agency, Field Instructor, Setting, and Population

 

Parts A & B

Type of assignment	Assignment	Due date
2a: Learning styles discussion board	Complete assessments and post results with applicable thoughts	By end of module 2a
2a: Supervisory experiences discussion board	Respond to questions 1 and 2 in discussion board	By end of module 2a
2a: Field placement planning form Foundation Year	Complete and upload field placement planning form	By end of module 2a
2b: Agency preferences (written questioned assignment)	Complete and upload agency preferences assignment	By end of module 2b
2b: Resume	Write or revise resume and submit	By end of module 2b

Module Three: Interviewing and Preparing for field placement

Type of Assignment	Assignment	Due Date
Module 3 Exercise	Complete and upload into Blackboard	By end of module three
Research; phone, internet	Contact state licensing board	By end of module three
Web cam discussion board	Set up and test web cam	By end of module three
Video	Field placement expectation video	By end of module three
Preparing for the Interview discussion board	Post and respond in discussion board	By end of module three

Module 4: Field Planning: Submitting Final Forms and Final Tasks Following Successful Completion of this Orientation

Type of Assignment	Assignment	Due Date
Complete form	Field Placement proposal and agreement form	Prior to scheduled final approval meeting
Complete form	Field Instructor form with his/her resume	Prior to scheduled final approval meeting
Complete form	Clinical Affiliation Agreement with cover. Email this assignment to sswcontracts@une.edu	Prior to scheduled final approval meeting
Virtual Meeting	Schedule final virtual conference for final approval
HIPAA	Complete and Pass Required HIPAA training	will receive email from HIPPA compliance office indicating due date

Your final assignment for this course consists of 3 parts:

1. secure a practicum site,
2. complete necessary paperwork (see module 4) and
3. schedule and attend your final meeting.

Once you have completed all stages to your final project you have completed this course. You are no longer responsible for any work in any other module.

Modules 5-14

These modules are designed to help keep you on track for successful entry into field placement.  These modules require you complete weekly assignments to provide updates on your process for securing placement. 

Type of Assignment	Assignment	Due Date
Journal	Status Update	Completed Weekly

Grading Policy

The School of Social Work uses the following grading system for all courses with the exception of field education courses. Students are expected to maintain a “B” (3.0) average over the course of their study. Students with less than a GPA of 3.0 will be placed on academic probation. Students must have an overall GPA of 3.0 in order to receive their Master’s Degree.

Your grade in this course will be determined by the following criteria:

Grade Breakdown

Module 1 exercise	10 points
FAQ exercise	10 points
Anxiety Discussion Board	5 points
Learning Styles Discussion Board	5 points
Supervision Discussion Board	5 points
Planning Form	10 points
Agency Preferences	10 points
Resume	10 points
Exercise 3	10 points
State regulations	10 points
Virtual Meeting Discussion Board	5 points
Interview Discussion Board	5 points
Virtual final appointment	5 points
Field Placement Proposal and Agreement	100 points
Field Instructor Form	100 points
Clinical Affiliation Agreement	100 points
HIPPA Certificate	100 points
Status Update Module 5	50 points
Status Update Module 6	50 points
Status Update Module 7	50 points
Status Update Module 8	50 points
Status Update Module 9	50 points
Status Update Module 10	50 points
Status Update Module 11	50 points
Status Update Module 12	50 points

Grade Scale

Grade	Points Grade	Point Average (GPA)
A	94 – 100%	4.00
A-	90 – 93%	3.75
B+	87 – 89%	3.50
B	84 – 86%	3.00
B-	80 – 83%	2.75
C+	77 – 79%	2.50
C	74 – 76%	2.00
C-	70 – 73%	1.75
D	64 – 69%	1.00
F	00 – 63%	0.00

Attendance Expectations:

All posts to the discussion boards should be completed by 11:59 p.m. E. S.T. of the last day of the module as indicated in the Course Schedule.

Any discussions that extend beyond that date and time will not be considered a part of the grade and/or assignment. Posts that no longer relate to the identified topic should be moved to one of the ongoing discussion boards such as“Ask Your Instructor,” “Hallway Discussions” or “Resources.”

Grading and Late Policy:

In order to begin your field placement, you must complete all activities in this orientation, Modules 1-3, and score at least 80 out of 100 points. Points are earned for every assignment submitted and discussion forum in which you participate. Each assignment or discussion submitted late will earn up to half credit. No assignment or discussion will be accepted after the end of the course.

All assignments and discussions must be submitted in their respective modules (1-3). Points will be earned based upon timely submission of all assignments and postings.

Late discussions will receive half credit. No assignment or discussion forum will be accepted after the end of the course. In order to pass this orientation course (Modules 1-3) and proceed with field planning (Module 4), you must earn a minimum 80 points out of a possible 100 points.

In Modules 5-14 students will earn 50 points per week by completing required assignments. Non-participation in modules 5-14 will result in a discontinuation of the field planning process. Students will resume planning the following semester.