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Programs

Office of Field Education

What one hears, one forgets.
What one sees, one remembers.
What one does, one understands.
-Chinese proverb

Teacher and a classroomAt SSA, field education for social work practice has a time-honored history that continues into present day. Long known for its rich diversity and pioneering national movements in social work, Chicago and its surrounding communities continues to be a living laboratory. Field experiences in Chicago offers students an opportunity to examine contemporary social welfare and reform issues on multiple system levels.

The field component of the curriculum is designed to help students develop knowledge and skills to help those in need and to bring about effective social change.

Mother and childIn the first year, field work is combined with the foundation and elective courses to give students an opportunity to provide direct service to vulnerable populations and the institutions established to serve them. Students develop beginning competence in direct social work practice through experience in assessment, intervention, and evaluation. Although all students must complete a designated number of hours in the field, the frequency and duration of field hours vary depending on the program in which the student is enrolled. Full time day students spend 2 days per week over a 9 month period in the field and part time evening students spend a minimum of eight hours per week over a 12 month period.

In the Winter quarter of the first year, students make selections for field placements for their second year. Whether students choose to concentrate in the clinical or social administration component of the curriculum, every effort is made to accommodate their choice of setting and populations.

In the second year, students in the clinical concentration develop more advanced clinical knowledge and competence in psychosocial assessment and intervention with individuals, couples, families and groups. Under the guidance of an experienced supervisor, students are expected to understand and use more than one practice approach to prepare them for broad-based professional practice with a range of clients, problems, and environmental situations. Full time students are in the field three days per week over the course of the school year. Part-time evening students are in placement for a minimum of eight hours per week from Fall quarter of the second year through Spring quarter of the third year, including the summer.

Social administration students also undertake a year-long field placement in their major area of interest. These internships enable students to work with professionals who occupy major positions in government, community agencies, and related social welfare organizations. The combination of the placement and required courses allows students to combine theoretical with practical insights and to examine the tensions between theory and practice. Students have the option of spending three days per week in the field or devoting two days per week to the field and selecting an independent study or elective.

In the second year, students are able to select their internship from a field placement database which includes over 600 agencies in Chicago and surrounding areas. For a sample of some of our past and current field placements, please click clinical or social administration.