The field practicum is the internship portion of the Bachelor and Masters social work programs. In social work, the field practicum is seen as an integral component of a professional education. Students work with experienced social work professionals in a variety of settings to complement classroom theory and research.

BSW Field Practice  (download BSW field manual)

The BSW practicum experience should provide students with the opportunity to develop or enhance skills related to social work intervention with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. The competencies that should be possessed by a graduating BSW include assessment, problem-solving, case management, resource development and an ability to engage in theory based practice in work with various client systems at various levels (individual, family, group, organization, and community).

BSW Field practicum consists of four courses which span two senior semesters: Field Seminar I and Social Work Internship I which are taken concurrently, and Field Seminar II and Social Work Internship II which are also taken concurrently. Together they constitute the field instruction sequence. The purpose of the field sequence is to provide students with the opportunity to integrate generalist social theory with an agency based learning experience. The application of social work knowledge to a practice setting is facilitated by agency-based field instruction and weekly in-class seminars. The field sequence enables student to demonstrate the social work knowledge, skills, and values they have acquired as they proceed thorough the academic curriculum.

Students will complete 220 hours in each semester at an agency under the supervision of a licensed social worker. Field Seminar will meet once a week for two hours. Assignments in the seminar are designed to integrate classroom and agency learning.

MSW Field Practice (download MSW field manual)

The MSW Field Practicum experience is divided into two parts. The first part, or foundation practicum is intended to provide MSW students with the opportunity to apply foundation knowledge values and skills to practice. The second part of the field practicum experience for MSW students is an advanced practice field seminar. The advanced concentration practicum gives the MSW student an opportunity to build additional practice skill in a chosen are of concentration such as children, youth and families; health; mental health; aging; and management, administration, and supervision. At the MSW level graduating social work students are expected to possess the same competencies mentioned above for BSW students. However, social work students at the MSW level will graduate with additional competency in the areas of individual and family intervention, group intervention, and so forth.

Students who are completing the two-year option (63 cr. hr) will complete a total of 990 hours of field practice under the supervision of a licensed certified social worker. Students that are completing the 12-month advanced standing option (42 cr. hrs) will complete a total of 900 field practice hours.

For more information regarding BSW and MSW Field Practice, contact the Field Coordinator.

Field Coordinator:
Bruce Allen, MSW, LCSW
Room: 106C
(479) 575-3200
brallen@uark.edu