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Field Experience: School of Social Work: Your Field Experience Process

The Field Process

Welcome to Field!
  

What is Field Experience? - Simply, social work educational programs refer to your internship/practicum as your Field Experience.

How do I get started?

1. Contact Student Success Advising (or 1-800-925-3368) to determine when Field will begin according to your course track.

2. Attend Skills Lab or Residency (prior to beginning Field).

  • The due date for your application is determined by your attendance at:
    • Skills Lab (required for all students enrolled after March 2017)
      • -- Your application will be submitted during Week 2 of your course.

3. Submit your Field application for review. 

4. For questions about your MSW Field Process contact us at MSWfield@mail.waldenu.edu.

5. For questions about your BSW Field Process contact us at BSWfield@mail.waldenu.edu

Do I have to find my own agency? - To enrich your experience, the Field Office offers you the opportunity to actively participate in the selection of your field placement. This is a time for you to explore your community, familiarize yourself with local social service agencies, and locate agencies of interest for possible field placements. See the Locating an Agency tab for further information.

All policies and procedures are documented in the Field Manuals. Please request a copy of the MSW Field Manual or BSW Field Manual from our Field Office.

All MSW and BSW students who enroll in a Skills Lab course prior to their field placement, will apply for their field placement during the second week of the Skills Lab Course.

Submitting an Application

Your application will be submitted through the Meditrek system. It is a product of HSoft Corporation, a user-friendly online tool that will help you apply for, track, and manage your Field Experience.

Meditrek:

  • Provides an easy storage system to submit your Field Experience application packet materials.
  • Allows 24-hour access from anywhere with an Internet connection, including your computer, tablet, and smartphone, even after you graduate. 
Quarter Application Deadline Lead Agency Form Deadline Start Date End Date
Summer 2020 March 9, 2020 March 30, 2020 June 1, 2020 August 16, 2020
Fall 2020 June 15, 2020 July 6, 2020 August 31, 2020 November 15, 2020
Winter 2020 September 14, 2020 October 5, 2020 November 30, 2020 February 14, 2021

Spring 2021

December 14, 2020

 January 4, 2021 March 1, 2021 May 16, 2021
Summer 2021 March 15, 2021 April 5, 2021 May 31, 2021 August 15, 2021
Fall 2021 June 14, 2021 July 5, 2021 August 30, 2021 November 14, 2021

Refer to Applying to Field - Meditrek to begin the application process.

The Field Office will work in partnership with you to secure your internship site during the search process:

  1. Submit an application packet in Meditrek by the date listed in your Skills Lab timeline.
  2. Our office will review your application packet and approve it if all required items are complete. You will receive an email indicating your approval or a request to complete additional information for your application.
  3. Once your application is approved, you should log into Meditrek and provide us the name of the agency that you would like us to contact.  To provide agency information you will complete the Lead Agency Form in Meditrek. Keep in mind that you only need to provide an agency that is willing to consider you for a placement, you do not have to have been formally approved by the agency.
    1. If you have a special circumstance where you would want your Lead Agency Form processed earlier than normal, please contact the  appropriate Field Office (MSW or BSW). Please Note: This is only for cases requiring a longer than anticipated negotiation time and each case will be handled as needed. 
  4. After we receive and review your Lead Agency Form, you will be assigned a Field Education Coordinator who will be your main point of contact and partner during the placement process. Your assigned coordinator will reach out to you and let you know the placement steps and your role in the process.
  5. If your agency of choice meets the requirements and has an opportunity for you, your coordinator will confirm the placement opportunity with you.  If  the agency does not meet the educational requirements and/or does not have an opportunity for you, your field coordinator will as for back-up agency options.  It is a good idea to have a few agencies in mind, just in case your first choice doesn't work out. 

Once your Field Experience has been secured and all necessary paperwork has been completed, you will be enrolled in your field course (Field Education) within two weeks of your start date. You may not start your hours until the course start date.

IMPORTANT: Keep in mind that you will be required to participate in a weekly synchronous call (meaning that you will meet with your classmates and professor in real time, face-to-face) with your Field Liaison and peers in your field course. Your Field Liaison will provide you the schedule for that video conference.

Remember that you will need to keep track of your hours, as well as complete a Learning Agreement with your Field Instructor (agency supervisor).

Refer to the Course Information tab for more about your field courses.