WHAT IS FIELD?

Field, or practicum, is a training program that students at Chadron State College, and other accredited colleges, participate in to complete a Bachelors of Social Work. It involves hands-on training in an agency setting.

According to the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE):

"The intent of field education is to connect the theoretical and conceptual contribution of the classroom with the practical world of the practice setting. It is a basic precept of social work education that the two interrelated components of curriculum - classroom and field - are of equal importance within the curriculum, and each contributes to the development of the requisite competencies of professional practice. Field education is systemically designed, supervised, coordinated, and evaluated based on criteria by which students demonstrate the achievement of program competencies."

PURPOSE OF STUDENT INTERNSHIPS

  • Allows students to gain experience in a professional social work setting.
  • Allows students to find their niche within social work.
  • Allows students to apply what they have learned in class to practice settings.
  • After completing field education, students should be ready to engage in social work practice in a agency setting (2.2.1).

PURPOSE OF FIELD AGENCY EDUCATION

  • Training provides knowledge to agency field instructors to provide the most educational and effective field experience for students.
  • The Chadron State College social work program wants agencies to be comfortable with having a student in their agency.
  • The Council on Social Work Education requires training to agencies for accreditation for each social work program.
Field Education Definitions

Field Agency: The site where the student will complete his/her practicum.

Field Instructor: The person who has been approved to instruct the student while in the placement. This person has to have a BSW or MSW. 

Field Director: The individual with approved credentials at the college who is tasked with overviewing and supervising all students in the social work field program.

Field Manual: A document given to instructors that includes all necessary information including policies and an application to the program for students, as well as information for instructors, the learning outcomes, and other information. 

Learning Contract: A working document within the field manual that outlines the goals of practicum. The goals for the student are based on the CSWE Core Competencies.

CSC'S MISSION STATEMENT

Chadron State College delivers experiences that foster knowledgeable and engaged leaders and citizens to enrich the High Plains region and beyond.

CSC'S VISION STATEMENT

Chadron State College aspires to continue as a learner-centered institution. We are committed to students through our focus on continuous improvement and excellence in teaching, applied scholarship, and service.

CSC SOCIAL WORK ACCREDITATION

The CSC Social Work program is accredited by CSWE. The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) is a nonprofit national association recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation as the sole accrediting agency for social work education in this country. CSWE accreditation is required for CSC graduates if they intend to be certified in the State of Nebraska and wish to practice as social workers.