Field Education

Field education is the cornerstone of our MSW program, where you convert the knowledge learned in the classroom into skills applied in the real world:

• intensive "hands on" opportunities to develop a professional social work identity
• learning as part of a cohort that gives more than 200,000 hours annually in service to the community in Boston and around New England
• apprenticeship with an experienced supervisor, who provides mentoring and preparation for a career in social work

The goal of field education is to integrate classroom learning with the development of competency in practice. Clinical Practice students focus on direct practice with individuals, families and groups. Macro Practice students are placed in settings that provide them with experiences in advocacy, community development, social planning and policy analysis.

As an intern in a wide range of social service agencies, you will learn from advisors and field supervisors, as well as from the clients and communities you serve.

Each year you will be placed in a field agency chosen from a variety of settings, geographic locations, and populations. These include mental health centers, schools, family services, hospitals, prisons, substance abuse centers, nursing homes, and policy institutes and community development centers. Your final year field placement will be based on your chosen Field of Practice Concentration.

Your field schedule will vary depending on whether you choose a two, three or four-year program of study. Regardless of your course of study,  you will spend two days a week in the field during your first placement (16 hours) and three days a week (24 hours) in your final placement.

Field of Practice (Concentration)

As a second year student, you will choose a field of practice for your coursework. Your final year field placement will be related to your chosen field of practice (concentration):

• Child, Youth & Families
• Global Practice
• Health & Mental Health
• Older Adults & Families