M. S. S. A. Field Education and Curriculum
Field Education
The faculty at MSASS place a high priority on the integration of theory with practice. To
facilitate this integration, all field work is done concurrent with course work. Through field
education, students have the opportunity to acquire new skills and apply their classroom learning
in their practice setting. The School is affiliated with over 300 agencies in the Greater Cleveland
area, creating a vast network of field education as well as employment opportunities.
Description
Field Practicum
is one of five interrelated areas that comprise the curriculum. The other four
curricular areas
Methods, Socio-Behavioral Theory, Policy
and
Research
are classroom-based. The objective of the
Field Practicum
is the application of classroom knowledge to a practice setting.
As with the other four curricular areas, the field practicum is divided into foundation-level
content and advanced-level content. The foundation field placement provides students with
opportunities to engage in generalist social work practice that is applicable across settings,
population groups, problem areas, and systems of all sizes. In this initial field placement
students are exposed to vulnerable populations and inadequate societal infrastructures and are
challenged to begin to examine themselves in relation to the social work profession's historical
commitment to basic values of human freedom, dignity, and justice. The importance of a
knowledgeable and disciplined use of self is emphasized and students are expected to develop an
appreciation of the role of gender, age, ethnicity, culture, sexual orientation, and handicapping
condition as it relates to assessment and intervention. The foundation-level classroom
content and field placement is directed toward preparing the student for an advanced area of
practice.
Students spend a significant amount of time in their field practicum - 972 hours at one site
over three semesters if they have advanced standing, 1148 hours at two sites
over four semesters if they do not have advanced standing. Upon completion of the
first semester foundation classes, which include
Field Education 401A and its companion class, Field Education Seminar, students
declare their area of concentration. During the second semester students complete foundation
requirements including
Field Education 502A and begin taking advanced classes in one of five
micro-practice or one of two macro-practice areas. This second semester of Field Education
continues at the same agency site, increases from two to three days per week, and calls for
increased application and integration of classroom learning.
The advanced curriculum builds on the foundation courses and provides knowledge and practice
skills in the student's area of concentration.
Advanced fieldwork, 503A and 504A , is matched to area of concentration and is
completed at a second field site over two semesters during the second year of study.
Students are provided with opportunities to engage in progressively differentiated and
sophisticated social work practice that is applicable to specific settings, population groups,
problem areas, and systems. Advanced fieldwork allows the student to synthesize and apply a
broad range of knowledge and theory with respect to practice assessment and intervention and begin
to move toward more autonomous practice.
MSASS – Curriculum
The curriculum is divided into two levels: foundation and advanced. The foundation
curriculum, taken by all students in the first year except those with advanced standing, includes
the knowledge, values, and skills essential for, and common to, the general practice of social
work. It consists of general courses in social work practice, human behavior and social
environment, social welfare policy and services, social research and two semesters of field
education. Students do not specialize in an area of practice in the professional foundation
courses, but they do select their concentration at the end of the first semester.
Foundation-level content provides a common knowledge base along with the basic values and
skills that are generic to social work. Foundation-level content is transferable from one
setting, population and geographic area to another, and provides students with an understanding of
the historical context and the philosophical underpinnings of the profession. It is directed toward
preparing the student for an advanced area of practice.
Non BSW full-time students select their area of concentration upon completion of the first
semester foundation classes, which includes Field Education 401A. During their second semester,
they begin the advanced curriculum, which includes Field Education 502A and advanced classes in one
of 5 micro practice areas or one of 2 macro practice areas (see flow chart). BSW students
who are granted advanced standing begin the advanced curriculum during their first semester as
Foundation courses are waived for them.
Advanced content addresses the knowledge and skills that are appropriate to specialized
social work practice, professional roles, problem areas and population groups. The knowledge
and skills taught in the advanced curriculum require the student to apply greater differentiation,
elaboration, and integration with respect to application of theory to practice. We define
the advanced student as one who: has the ability to apply critical thinking which moves
beyond a descriptive view of practice to one requiring greater analytical skills; shows
increasingly sophisticated use of self as change agent across a variety of client systems; is able
to synthesize and apply a broad range of knowledge and theory with respect to practice
intervention; and demonstrates the ability to move toward more autonomous practice. Students
take 3 semesters of Field Education in the advanced curriculum.
Foundation Curriculum
Course Name
Hours Required
Social Policy
3
Introduction to Social
Research
3
Social Work Methods
3
Human Development Over the
Life Span
3
Theories of Groups,
Organizations, and
Communities 3
Diversity, Discrimination and
Oppression 3
Field Education Seminar
1
Field Education (401A)
1
ABLE Seminar 411
1
Total Foundation Credit Hours
21
Advanced Curriculum
Course Name
Hours Required
Sociobehavioral
2 courses
6
Advanced Research
1 course
3
Advanced Policy
1
course
3
Advanced Methods
2 courses
6
Free Electives
3
courses
9
Field Education (502A, 503A
& 504A)
3
courses
9
ABLE Seminar (512, 513 &
514)
3
courses
3
Total Advanced Credits
Hours
39
TOTAL HOURS FOR THE DEGREE
60
