Department of Social Work Education
Field Internships
Internship experience is an essential component of the BA and MSW programs in the Department of Social Work Education at Fresno State. The national social work accrediting body, the Council on Social Work Education, has designated field as the “signature pedagogy” of the profession to highlight its importance in professional education and training. A wide variety of agency settings and a strong and diverse cadre of agency-based field supervisors and instructors make it possible for the department to individualize the practice interests of students. A satisfactory field experience depends on the joint efforts of the student, field supervisor or instructor, faculty liaison, faculty advisor, and the Field Coordinators.
The student actively participates in identifying their learning needs and shaping the educational process. Together, the Field Supervisor/Instructor, the Faculty Liaison, the Faculty Advisor, and the Field Coordinator, help the student make optimal use of the agency’s learning opportunities and integrate classroom knowledge with field practice.
There are a number of important resources located on this website to support a successful field learning experience. Field instructors can find the field calendar, field manuals, concurrent assignments and information under the Field Instructors and assignment tabs. Students can also find information in the BA. MSW 1, or MSW 2 tabs. This information is organized around field based on program level. Additional resources to support their learning while enrolled in field at the BA, MSW 1 and MSW 2 levels can be found on Canvas. The NASW provides an online version of NASW Code of Ethics for reference.
Assignments in field are guided by the program Learning Agreement which will be available the first day of instruction. Due to the wide variability of our community context, individual student needs, and agency capacity to provide varied learning options, students will need to work with their assigned agency and field faculty regarding the nature of field assignments and document plans in the learning agreement.
Updates on field requirements and policies will be provided via email as they become available through the semester. Be sure to monitor this website and your Fresno State email carefully for important updates.
