Student FAQs

The Field Instructor is the student's supervisor at the placement site and assumes responsibility for the student’s learning and practice experience.  The field instructor provides ongoing feedback, supervises, teaches, and assesses student acquisition of knowledge, skills, and values.   In collaboration with the student, the instructor is responsible for developing a student Learning Plan Agreement based upon the criteria established by the Field Education Program.  The field instructors are selected for the quality of their field instruction and commitment to educational standards of the Field Education Program.

The Field Instructors must have an MSW. In addition, CSUSB requires they have at least two years post-MSW experience, six (6) months experience in the field placement setting and have completed (or plan to complete within one year of providing field instruction) the Field Instructor Certification training. 

To ensure that CSUSB School of Social Work adheres to the standards of CSWE by providing the highest quality field experience for our students, it is expected that the Field Instructors will:

• Complete the required certification training including an orientation to the School's curriculum;
• Develop a clear learning contract with the student concerning performance expectations. These expectations must be stated in terms of behavioral learning goals, methods of achievement, and standard of measurement through using the Learning Plan Agreement/Comprehensive Skills Evaluation;
• Provide at least one hour a week for individual supervision with the student or a combination of individual and group supervision that combined totals at least one hour per week. Group supervision cannot be a substitute for individual supervision;
• Provide feedback to the student concerning their performance in writing on an ongoing basis, including completing the end of semester student evaluation every semester. If the Field Instructor and/or Preceptor has any concern about any aspect of the student’s performance, professionalism, adherence to the NASW Code of Ethics, etc., the assigned Faculty Field Liaison should be notified immediately to discuss concerns and assist in the plan of correction;
• Make available or develop specific practice opportunities that will enable the student to fulfill the expectations of the Learning Plan Agreement (LPA);
• Inform both student and Faculty Field Liaison about any unusual opportunities, conditions, or problems at the earliest possible convenience; evaluate student progress on an ongoing basis; and involve the student in the preparation of these evaluations.
• CSUSB requirements can be waived in special circumstances.  In such situations, close supervision of the Field Instructor must be provided by the Faculty Field Liaison and the arrangement must have the advanced approval of the Director of Field Education and/or designated Field Coordinator.

In rare cases, a CSUSB faculty member is designated to provide Field Instruction for a student. This occurs when an agency does not have a field instructor who meets the university requirements or does not have an employee who meets the criteria available to provide the field instruction. In such a case the CSUSB Field Faculty or a staff hired through the Title IV-E grant funded program agrees to provide the social work perspective BUT the agency will RETAIN responsibility for supervision and oversight for all student activities and cases.

Your Faculty Field Liaison will facilitate the Integrative Seminar which is held monthly. They also schedule and visit the student and Field Instructor to review learning goals and objectives to ensure they meet CSWE accreditation standards.

The University does not conduct criminal background checks on students. However, almost every field agency requires a criminal background check. Federal and state laws mandate criminal background checks for persons placed in many settings. Any criminal record (infraction, charge, misdemeanor, or felony) may impact a student’s eligibility for placement in certain agencies. Students must disclose to the Director of Field Education or designated Field Coordinator any criminal background, including any and all expunged and/or dismissed charges, as they will still appear on background checks. Students may be ineligible for placement, or terminated from an agency, if criminal background information comes to light without prior disclosure. The Field Director and/or Field Coordinator can provide insight to students as to potential opportunities and barriers to securing a field practicum site but cannot guarantee placement or choice of placement. Information disclosed will be used only for the purpose of determining appropriate field options. Please note:  If a student cannot be placed, they will not be able to continue in the MSW program.

In the event a student is arrested or charged with a new offense, or is convicted during the program, the student is required to disclose this information to the Director of the School of Social Work, Director of Field Education, Field Coordinator, and Academic Advisor within 48 hours of arrest, charge, or conviction. Students may be terminated from the program if an arrest or charge comes to light without immediate disclosure.

Failure to provide the required disclosures or notices will be deemed as a deception and will be handled as a form of academic dishonesty in addition to any other violations. Arrests, violations, and/or convictions which violate University and/or department policies or standards could result in sanctions.

Students who are arrested, charged, or convicted during the program are not permitted to return to field placement until further notice. The student will be referred to the Student Review Committee for an initial review of the situation. The student assumes the risk involved with disclosing information and thus may choose not to disclose information. However, if the student chooses not to disclose information, the Student Review Committee will not be able to determine a course of action.

If a student is charged with a new offense, the student will most likely be required to take a leave of absence until the case has been resolved and a decision has been made by a court of law.  A student MAY be permitted to complete classroom coursework for the current semester. Once the outcome of the specific case or circumstance has been determined, it is the student’s responsibility to inform the Director of the School of Social Work, Director of Field Education, Field Coordinator, and Academic Advisor. At that time, the student will be referred to the Student Review Committee again for consideration of specific factors and implications related to the social work profession and their ability to return to the program and field work.

Most agencies require students to have a car to perform field assignments that involve outreach, home visits, community work, and attendance at agency meetings and functions. Not having a car may limit your placement options. Please indicate on your field application and/or notify the Director of Field Education if you do not have a car.

Using the student’s regular workplace for a field practicum is strictly prohibited in most schools of social work. The goal of work is performance, while the goal of the practicum is student learning. However, it is possible for a student to obtain a placement at the agency where they currently work providing that the educational experience includes substantial "new learning" in the areas of knowledge, values and skills. The student’s regular work may not be considered a field practicum unless the student submits the Job Conversion Application and all requirements for this rare exception are met.

Approval of the use of an employment setting as a field placement is dependent upon the ability of the agency to safeguard the student’s learning needs. This normally means that a different supervisor in a different unit would supervise field work with different clients than are part of the student’s regular work assignment.

Students requesting a field practicum at a current job site must complete the Job Conversation Application or Job-Related Placement Application. The application will describe the student's current work assignments and identify how fieldwork activities will be significantly different from employment responsibilities. The proposal will be reviewed by the Director of Field Education and/or designated Field Coordinator who will make the final decision on whether the proposal is approved or not. Criteria for consideration includes (but is not limited to):

1. There must be an MSW employed at the work site who is NOT the employment supervisor who is willing and able to be a field instructor.
2. The field education instructor must be an MSW and cannot have any authority over the student's employment status. The MSW Field Instructor must meet the qualifications required of all Field Instructors.
3. The field instruction tasks/assignments must be different from the employment tasks AND must be in accordance with both the general educational criteria of the School of Social Work and those appropriate to the student's chosen educational goals.
4. Job conversions and job-related placements must be approved in writing by the agency and the Director of Field Education.
5. The request for job conversion or job-related placement must be discussed prior to the Placement Interview with the Director of Field Education and/or designated Field Coordinator to allow for time to investigate it as a viable option. Documentation to support request must besubmitted at the Placement Interview.

PLEASE NOTE: If the student is a county employee participating in the 20/20 program or approved for the Title IV-E program, there are specific requirements that need to be met to be consider for an employment placement and 2-year placement at a county agency. This is approved ahead of time and prior to internship beginning through a formal interview and acceptance process.

Any deviations at all to the above must be reviewed and approved by the Director of Field Education and/or designated Field Coordinator.

Job Conversion Application Form

Students are responsible for observing regular agency working hours as arranged by the Field Instructor. Students are responsible for maintaining a record of field hours in IPT. At the end of each semester the student and field instructor sign the time log. Students might be required to complete an agency time sheet but this does not replace the time log completed in IPT.

Students are expected to arrive to field placement on time (i.e., before the start of their shift) and not leave until their entire shift is completed. Field is to be approached like a “real job” and you are accountable as such. Attendance and punctuality reflect well (or poorly) on a professional and remember that you may one day need a letter of recommendation from your field instructor and/or preceptor when you apply for an internship/job at another agency. Any time missed from field placement must be made up, as well as any supervision and assignments, within a reasonable time, which should be ASAP. Please refer to Student Handbook regarding our Policy on Course Absences.

The Fall Semester begins approximately the third week in August. There is a mandatory Field Orientation for new students, prior to student reporting to the agency, which is held during the first week in August. Once the orientation is complete, the student is allowed to attend field practicum orientation as required.

Field Education is a core requirement of the BASW and MSW programs. It plays a pivotal role in the MSW and BASW curriculum.  It offers the opportunity to apply, refine, and integrate conceptually-based knowledge acquired in the classroom with real life experiences in social service agencies.

Field Education at the CSUSB School of Social Work consists of three components: 1) field practicum, 2) field seminar, and 3) field events. Through field practicum, field seminar, and field event, students will be able to demonstrate knowledge and level of competence necessary to enter professional practice.  The field experience and classroom should be mutually reinforcing in all curricular areas: research, human behavior, social policy, and practice with individuals, groups, organizations, and communities.

Field Practicum is a collaborative effort involving:

• The Agency: human service organizations
• The Field Instructor: professional Social Work practitioners who are 'teachers' in the field
• Faculty Field Liaison: professional Social Work practitioners, both full-time faculty and faculty adjuncts, who are the official university representatives and provide linkage, mediation, monitoring, consultation, and advocacy to students and field instructors.
• Field Education Program: provides the social work student with an opportunity to apply classroom learning in an agency-based supervised field experience.

How many hours will I be in placement?

BASW Program

• BASW Seniors: 16 hours per week =240 hours per semester and 480 hours per academic year

MSW 2-Year Program

• Foundation Year Field: 16 hours per week =240 hours per semester and 480 hours per academic year
• Advanced Year Field: 20 hours per week =300 hours per semester and 600 hours per academic year

MSW 3-Year campus-based and Pathway Distance Education Programs

• Year 1: No Internship
• Year 2 Foundation: 16 hours per week =240 hours per semester and 480 hours per academic year
• Year 3 Advanced: 20 hours per week =300 hours per semester and 600 hours per academic year

The Director of Field Education, Field Coordinator or designee, in consultation with the Field Education Faculty, assign placements to students based on the pool of agencies that have requested an intern and take into account the student's specific learning needs, past experiences, and career plans. Students should not contact an agency directly without approval from the Field Education Faculty.

There are a few agencies that offer a stipend, but it varies year to year. However, because of the limited number of stipends available, students should plan to finance their education through other sources. The School of Social Work does offer a stipend through the Title IV-E Child Welfare Program. Please refer to the School of Social Work website for more information.

The days in field are based on the students' class schedules. Normally, 16 hours requires 2 eight-hour days. For 20 hours, students usually do 2 eight-hour days and 4 hours on another day. There may be certain days/times when the agency will require you to be there outside the usual days/times (e.g. meetings, trainings, special events). You will need to discuss any scheduling conflicts with your Field Instructor and/or your Faculty Field Liaison in advance.