Field Placement FAQs

1. Do I take classes while doing my field placement?

Yes, field placements run concurrent with social work coursework during the second semester of the junior year and in the senior year. During the junior year you are in your field placement for eight hours per week. During the senior year you are in your field placement  for 16 hours per week. Required social work courses are scheduled so that you can be in your field placement setting for meaningful blocks of time.

2. What will I do in my field placement setting?

Your experience in your field placement setting will be guided by an educational contract developed by you and your field instructor, an agency-based social worker who has agreed to mentor and supervise your work.  You will work with clients, participate in staff meetings, interact with other service providers in the community, attend in-service trainings, maintain records, and work on special projects.

3.Do I have to find my own field placement?

No, in the Social Work Department we have existing relationships with agencies that collaborate with our program, and we will work together with you to connect with a field placement that fits your interests and professional development goals.

4. Can I get credit for summer field placements or work experiences?

The Program’s three-semester field placement is the only internship experience for which students enrolled in our program are granted academic credit. Although we support your participation in summer work, field placements experiences, and volunteer work that allow you to expand your understanding of social work and to gain experience in the field, the Department does not grant credit for such experiences.

5. Do I change/continue my junior-year field placement in my senior year?

Some students continue their junior-year field placement through their senior year; some students change settings. We make this decision with you toward the end of your junior year.

6. Am I paid for my field placement?

Students are not compensated for field placement. Field placements are educational experiences for which you earn academic credit.

7. How many credits do I earn for my field placement?

You will earn 4 credits for your junior field placement and 6 credits each for the fall and spring semester of your senior year.

8. How do I get back and forth to my field placement?

Students are responsible for coordinating their own transportation to and from their field placement setting. Commonly used options include public transportation (RIPTA is free for students), a personal vehicle, or a rideshare service (e.g., Uber). Transportation logistics are taken into account when deciding on a field placement setting.

9. Are students reimbursed for travel?

Students are not guaranteed reimbursement for travel to and from their field placement setting. A number of agencies reimburse for mileage required in the delivery of services to clients (e.g., driving from the office to a client’s home). The Department also has occasional funds to reimburse for travel, to which we alert students on a semester-by-semester basis, as available.

10. Do I get priority for on-campus parking because of my field placement?

If you live on campus and anticipate having a car for your field placement during the spring semester of your junior year, you need to request on-campus parking during the spring semester of your sophomore year. The College will not honor parking requests for the junior year after that time.

11. Will I need to get a criminal background check?

This varies by field site. Settings in which students work with children or with older adults often require background checks, which we can help coordinate.