About the Field Program
The UW-Madison School of Social Work is well-known for its model of field education. Its strength lies in the fact that it is an educationally directed, hands-on learning experience wherein students develop and hone their social work practice skills in an agency setting. Faculty, community social work practitioners, and students partner in ways that are designed to best prepare students with the skills and
expertise needed for a successful career in social work.
Students are placed in Field Units and then are placed in social work pratice settings tied to that field unit. Field units provide a
conceptual base for practice as well as a supportive environment to
learn, critique, and consult.
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Field units are organized around a social problem area or a
field of practice or a client population. Each unit has a range of field placement agencies
and settings appropriate to its theme.
- Two-year MSW students find that the first year of field education is designed to provide a generalist perspective and direct practice experience. The focus is on learning and applying analytic and interventive skills within an ethically based, problem-focused approach. Such an approach affords opportunities for a variety of system interventions within a particular practice situation.
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In the second, or concentration year for one-year advanced MSW students, field education shifts its focus to advanced practice skill development and provides an integrated way to link field experiences with course work in the context of a student's concentration.
- Field faculty have scholarly as well as professional
involvement in their particular areas of expertise; many have made influential
contributions to social work practice.
For more information about field units, the agencies they work with, and field course expectations see the Field Education Handbook. Field unit availability may vary from year to year because of personnel changes, funding, or curriculum needs.
Social work students should be advised that Wisconsin State
Statutes require the State Department of Justice to conduct background
checks on all potential field education students prior to the field
placement.
