FAQ Topics:
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General Questions about Field Education
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Selecting an Internship
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Finding Student Forms and Resources
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Field Supervision
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Scheduling
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Transportation
General questions about field education
What is the difference between foundation and concentration year internships?
Foundation year internships are generalist in nature and focus on core social work competencies. Foundation year students work with a variety of client systems. Concentration year internships focus on competencies required for more advanced social work practice within the student's academic track and, if applicable, certificate program. Advanced standing students enter directly into a concentration year internship after one quarter of academic courses.
How many total hours are required for an internship?
Foundation year students spend a minimum of 480 hours in an internship over three academic quarters, or an average of 16 hours per week for 30 weeks. Concentration year students (including advanced standing students) spend a minimum of 600 hours in internship over three academic quarters, or an average of 20 hours per week for 30 weeks. Some concentration year internships require students to be in field 24 hours per week. Detailed information may be found in the "Field Dates, Hours and Credits" section of the Field Manual.
Do students change internship sites each quarter?
It is the expectation that students spend their entire academic year at one internship site. Students completing two years of internship must do so in two separate agencies. Students participating in the PROGRESS (Providing Real Opportunities for Gero-rich Experience in Social Work Services) gerontology program rotate through multiple sites serving older adults.
Can students receive field credit for past work experience?
No, students cannot receive field credit for past experience. The accreditation standards of the Council on Social Work Education state that "academic credit for life experience and previous work experience shall not be given, in whole or in part, in lieu of the field internship or courses in the professional foundation areas."
Selecting an internship
How do I obtain an internship?
Students attending GSSW are not assigned internships. They have a choice for both foundation year and concentration year internships. Foundation year students work closely with a Field Coordinator to determine agencies with whom to interview. Students and agencies interview each other.
The process is somewhat different for concentration year students. During the spring of their foundation year, these students attend and on-campus Field Fair, attended by over 100 agencies. Here, students meet with agency representatives to begin selecting their concentration year internships. These students also have access to the field agency database that lists all agencies offering internships.
Students with advanced standing work closely with a Field Coordinator to determine approved agencies with whom to interview. They may also access the field agency database to identify potential agencies of interest.
In all three cases, when a match is made, the agencies contact students to offer them an internship. Students either accept or decline the offer. If a match is not made, students continue to interview until they find a suitable placement.
Do I have to be living in, or visiting, Colorado to find an internship?
Since GSSW students choose their internships for both their foundation and concentration years, they need to interview with potential agencies. While students who are in Colorado conduct these interviews in person, telephone interviews can sometimes be arranged for students who are out of town. However, it is to the student's advantage to arrange a time to interview in person if at all possible.
Can I complete my internship in my place of employment?
Students interested in a work placement must submit a Request for Internship in Place of Employment form (PDF) to the Director of Field Education. Submitting the required form does not guarantee approval of the request.
Two-year MSW students must complete one of their two field internships in an agency other than their place of employment. Students must have been in their place of employment for a minimum of six months and must have an MSW internship supervisor other than their employment supervisor. The internship must provide the student with experiences that are distinctly different from the student's regular job responsibilities.
I have been offered an internship. Now what?
Within one week of securing a field internship, students should submit a Field Confirmation Form online. This form provides official documentation for student records and is required for field internship course registration. Students will not receive academic credit for an internship until this form is submitted. Once the form is submitted, students should verify that the field registration process is complete by checking their online registration form on myWeb.
Are students required to have background checks prior to beginning their internships?
Some agencies requires background checks before a student is accepted for, and/or allowed to begin, an internship. If an agency requires any type of background check and/or medical testing, the agency should notify the intern of these requirements during the interview process. Conducting background checks is the responsibility of the agency. If an agency is not able to pay for these additional requirements, payment is the responsibility of the student.
Finding student forms and resources
Where can I find student forms online?
Many field-related forms and resources are available for students online and can be accessed from WebCentral. For more information, see Field Information for Current Students.
If you need any help finding or completing forms, please contact the field office at 303-871-2844 or field@du.edu.
Field supervision
What are supervision requirements for an internship?
All students must be supervised by an MSW who has at least 2 years of postgraduate professional social work experience. Foundation year students receive the equivalent of at least 1.5 hours of supervision per week, and concentration year students receive the equivalent of at least 1 hour per week. A small number of concentration year students receive weekly supervision from an on-site task supervisor and bi-weekly supervision from an off-site MSW supervisor. It is recommended, but not required, that Field Instructors supervising concentration year clinical track students be Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW).
What is the difference between a Field Instructor, Field Liaison and Field Coordinator?
A Field Instructor is an agency staff member who provides weekly supervision to the student intern. The Field Instructor must typically have an MSW degree and a minimum of two years post-graduate professional social work experience.
A Field Liaison provides a link between GSSW, the student and the internship agency. Field Liaisons meet jointly with the student and Field Instructor at least once per quarter to discuss progress made toward completing internship assignments. Field Liaisons are also available to the student and the agency for problem resolution. Field Liaisons are experienced MSWs from the community and/or GSSW faculty members.
Field Coordinators are members of the GSSW faculty and the field education team. They work directly with students and agencies in the internship placement process.
How does an agency become an approved internship site?
Agencies become approved internship sites through a written agreement with GSSW's Field Education Program. This agreement can be initiated by an agency, a student or GSSW. Agencies complete the Agency Information Form (AIF) online. This generates a site visit from a Field Coordinator, during which learning opportunities, supervision requirements, non-discrimination policies and other matters are discussed.
What if an agency does not have an MSW on site?
Agencies without an on-site MSW can provide internships only for concentration year students, and only if the agency identifies an off-site individual with an MSW to provide the field instruction. It is optimal for the off-site MSW to be familiar with the agency's mission and work. Agencies without an on-site MSW supervisor cannot provide internships for foundation year students.
What determines a student's tasks and learning opportunities in an internship?
Each student, in conjunction with the Field Instructor, completes an Individualized Field Education Plan (IFEP) for each quarter of the internship. The IFEP addresses all of the tasks, learning objectives and competencies for each internship year. Download the IFEP for the foundation year and the IFEP for the concentration year.
When and why should students contact their assigned Field Liaison?
Field Liaisons contact students and Field Instructors during the first three weeks of the internship to set up a schedule for site visits. Throughout the year, students should contact their Field Liaison if they have questions or concerns about work load, field instruction/supervision, Individualized Field Education Plans (IFEPs), quarterly field evaluations or the integration of classroom assignments and the field internship.
When and why should Field Instructors contact their assigned Field Liaison?
Throughout the year, Field Instructors should contact their Field Liaison if they have questions or concerns about their students, Individualized Field Education Plans (IFEPs), quarterly field evaluations, or the integration of classroom assignments and the field internship.
What happens if problems arise during an internship?
Problems that arise during an internship are first addressed between the Field Instructor and the student. The Field Liaison is available for problem resolution as needed. If problems cannot be resolved among the student, the Field Liaison and the Field Instructor, a Formal Faculty Concern may be called. Detailed information can also be found in the "Field Problems and Resolution" section of the Field Manual (PDF).
Can students request to change internships during the year?
Any decisions about changing internships must be made by the Field Liaison, the Field Instructor, and the student. Students must follow the process outlined in the Proposal to Change Internship instructions, which can be found in the "Field Problems and Resolution" section of the Field Manual (PDF).
Scheduling
Can students begin internships prior to the official start date?
Agencies sometimes request that students begin their internships earlier than the official GSSW start date, due to specific program needs. An agency or student wishing to begin an internship prior to the official start date set by GSSW must email a request, stating the desired start date, to the Director of Field Education at apetrila@du.edu.
When are students in field?
Foundation year students are in field for 16 hours per week on Mondays and Tuesdays (sometimes Wednesdays, by special arrangement). Concentration year students (including advanced standing students) are at their internships 20-24 hours per week on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Students attend classes on the days they are not in field.
Can an internship take place during evening and weekend hours?
Students need to be at their internship during normal agency business hours and during times when their Field Instructor is available. These conditions do not usually allow students to do their entire internship during evening or weekend hours although it might be possible to complete some hours during these times. Students wishing to intern during evening and/or weekend hours must discuss their request with a Field Coordinator.
What are the policies regarding University holidays, sick days and vacation days during an internship?
GSSW does not require students to be at their internships during holidays officially observed by the University of Denver, except during Fall Quarter when students are expected to be at their internships into December (see the GSSW academic calendar [PDF] for official dates). Agencies, however, may require that students be at their internships during University holidays, and this requirement may supersede GSSW's holiday policy. This should be communicated to students during the internship interview process.
Students needing to take additional time off during their internships, or wishing to make up time missed for illness or vacation, must discuss their requests with their Field Instructors.
Transportation
Does a student need a car for an internship?
Many internships require that students have cars to carry out assignments such as home visits, outreach and community work. In addition, many internships are located in parts of the Denver metropolitan area that are underserved by public transportation. Therefore, students without cars may need to choose internships that are close to their homes, are available by public transportation or do not require the use of a car to carry out assigned tasks.
Can students drive clients?
Interns shall be responsible for transportation to and from the internship site. Interns should not drive clients unless the agency specifies to the intern such requirement as part of the essential duties of the internship. It is the responsibility of the agency to specify to interns whether or not interns shall drive as part of their essential duties within their internships and to manage any such driving requirements with the interns. Interns are advised that internships requiring driving as an essential duty may require submission to a Motor Vehicles Records check, notification of your insurance carrier of use of your vehicle within the internship, and compliance with driving policies of the agency. University of Denver shall not be responsible for managing any requirements for transportation or driving as part of internships and shall not maintain insurance for interns driving as part of the essential duties of the internship.
Any accidents involving GSSW students while participating in an internship should be reported to the GSSW Field Office and Campus Safety for appropriate reporting within the University of Denver.