Field Education

Welcome to the University of Alabama School of Social Work Field Education office.

In order to achieve the mission of The University of Alabama School of Social Work, the student’s program of professional education (in the BSW and MSW programs) consists of both classroom and field instruction. The function of the classroom teaching and learning is to provide the student with the opportunity to acquire the knowledge, skills, and values necessary for the development of practice competence. The field practicum provides the student with the opportunity to apply content from the classroom and field instructor's teaching to the delivery of social services in a practice situation.

The School offers field placements throughout the state of Alabama and occasionally in neighboring states. Through a cooperative agreement with Hong Kong Shue Yan College since 1982, the School also offers the first year of the MSW degree (including field-education) in Hong Kong. The School additionally offers second year graduate students the opportunity to complete field education in Washington, D.C.

While the School of Social Work has responsibility for the overall operation of the program, field instruction is a collaborative educational venture involving those in the School, the social agencies, and the student body. Individualization, flexibility, and cooperation in developing relevant educational experiences are important conditions of this relationship.

The field placement agency provides the student with the learning experiences that enable development and integration of knowledge applied to practice. The field instructor, in conjunction with faculty affiliated with the appropriate program (BSW or MSW), selects assignments that are related to the student’s individual learning needs and consistent with the content of the field instruction course. The classroom faculty continues to offer the student learning experiences that support the field practicum. The student uses the educational resources in the classroom and the field to develop a responsible, analytical approach to his or her own practice as well as to the practice of others.

Each program committee has responsibility for the development and over site of field curriculum. The syllabus for a particular field experience is developed and approved by the program committee. MSW concentration committees specify field objectives that are appropriate to each concentration, and these are approved by the full MSW committee and faculty. The Field Coordinator coordinates field experiences that carry out the curriculum goals of each program. A faculty member, serving as field liaison, is responsible for monitoring a student’s educational progress, and for making assessments regarding the quality of the experience.

Barbara Chandler, Coordinator (205) 348-3934 bachandl@sw.ua.edu		Jerys Rucker, Office Associate II (205) 348-5544 jrucker@sw.ua.edu		Misty C. Creel, LGSW Field Education and Training Specialist (205) 348-4339 mcreel@sw.ua.edu

Please contact us for more information at:

Field Education Office
The University of Alabama
School of Social Work
Box 870314
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0314
117c & 113 Little Hall
(205) 348-5544
jrucker@sw.ua.edu