Scheduling of the Graduate Field Practicum

The graduate field practicum adheres to the goals of the university and to those of the program and represents an opportunity for integrated knowledge and skill building. In this professional program, it is an educational value that the field practicum be continuously linked with the other four curriculum areas: practice, human behavior in the social environment, research, and policy. Consequently, it is important that the student schedule the appropriate field courses concurrently with the other courses that are required for each quarter of the program. It is especially critical that the student's participation in the practice courses be concurrent with participation in field. Due to the very close link between the various courses and field, any decision to withdraw or to postpone one of them (in a quarter when they are scheduled to be taken together) will require a decision to withdraw from or postpone the other. The following schedule outlines the field practicum course sequence:

SW 591

The student must complete 160 hours in the field during winter quarter of the foundation year.

SW 592

The student must complete 200 hours in the field during spring quarter of the foundation year.

SW 691

The student must complete 200 hours in the field during fall quarter of the advanced year.

SW 692

The student must complete 200 hours in the field during winter quarter of the advanced year.

SW 693

The student must complete 200 hours in the field during spring quarter of the advanced year.

The program requires between 16 and 20 hours of fieldwork and between 14 and 16 hours of class work each quarter, exclusive of travel, study, etc. Therefore, the time required to complete the program is extensive, and students must consider how they will incorporate the program's requirements into their other life commitments. Prior to beginning the first quarter of fieldwork, the student is strongly encouraged to talk with his or her advisor or someone in the field office regarding how to best manage these issues.

The field practicum is typically scheduled in at least half-day blocks of time. The student may not, on a regular basis, schedule short visits to the agency between other commitments.

Due to commitments made to the agency by the program and because of the close link between the field practicum and other course work, field hours are to be divided equally between each week in the quarter and may not be completed early. Any deviation from this must be discussed with and approved by both the field instructor and the field liaison. Any problems that develop regarding scheduling or the completion of hours must be brought to the attention of the field instructor and the field liaison immediately. If necessary, the field director will also be notified.