As a BSW or MSW (Practice Option) student in the School of Social Work you will be required to take field courses where, under the guidance of a qualified field instructor, you will apply and hone theoretical concepts learned in the classroom.
Field Practice Education (also referred to as: field practicum, stage, internship, field education, or field course) is teaching and learning that takes place directly in a social service setting to give the student experience in social work practice. All field placement settings are selected on the basis of their ability to provide a quality learning experience for students. The range of field placement settings available to social work students is reflective of a diverse array of social work and related services.
This section covers field placement at the BSW and MSW (Practice Option) levels, safety issues, the agency selection process, and a guide for how to make the most of your field supervision. The section also explains the work of Indigenous Access McGill.
Objectives for Field Practice Education
BSW:
At the undergraduate BSW level, the program aims to provide field experiences to prepare students for the generalist practice of social work.
Qualifying Year (Q Yr)
At the Q Yr level, the aim is for students to learn generalist social work practice and to prepare students for advanced practice opportunities at the MSW level.
MSW:
At the graduate MSW level, the focus is on advanced practice. Students will build on their skill base and develop a stronger theoretical and critically reflective approach to practice and research.
Programs at all levels seek to:
- Develop practice competence.
- Prepare students to become self-evaluating, knowledgeable and developing social workers.
- Provide students with the experiential opportunity to integrate theory, values and skills.