MSW Advanced Standing Field Education Placement Application

Application for MSW Advanced Standing Field Education Placement

* denotes a required field

MSW Application for Field Education Advanced Standing Students

Please note that you will not be able to save this application and come back to it later.  Your work will not be saved.  

 

Your Audience

As you complete your application, keep in mind that you are writing for two audiences. The first audience is the field office who will review your work and help determine the field site that will be the best fit for your field education. The second audience is the person who will interview you for a field education placement at the field site. Your resume and essays will be shared with the field site.

Components of the Application for Field Education

The application for Field Education consists of two parts, each of which must be completed at the time of submission. The first part comprises the Application for Field Education. The Application for Field Education provides vital information that will be used to match you to a Field Site.

The second part requires that you upload one document that includes an up-to-date resume and essays. This document will be sent to prospective field placement sites.  The resume should reflect your academic achievements as well as paid and volunteer experiences. Immediately following the resume and part of the same document, involves writing three one-page essays.  You will include one essay for each of the three fields of practice where you have an interest in completing field education. The essays serve as a sample of your writing for the person who will interview you at the field site, therefore they should reflect your best written work. In each essay include a definition of your understanding of the field’s practice, including any previous work/volunteer experience in this area; any populations of interest within the field of practice; share your interest and suitability for the practice area. As you write the essays, you are strongly encouraged to refer to course texts and journal articles for an accurate understanding of each practice areas. Essays should be double-spaced and one page long. 

To enter and remain in field education you must meet the following academic criteria:

  1. you have no more than one incomplete grade and;
  2. you have a minimum GPA of 3.0. 

Finally, we ask for you include a photo of yourself. The photo will not be shared with your potential field site, but will be used by the Field Education Office for student identification purposes.

Identifying Information




What are your preferred geographic locations? (check all that apply) *





MSW Status Information



Provided below is a list of fields of practice. From the list, select 3 fields of practice where you would like to complete your Field Education.

Fields of Practice

  • Administration                                                             
  • Aging/Gerontology                                                     
  • Child Welfare                                                             
  • Community Planning                                                 
  • Criminal Justice                                                         
  • Developmental Disabilities                                         
  • Domestic Violence                                                     
  • Family Services                                                         
  • Group Services
  • Health
  • Housing
  • Mental Health
  • Program Evaluation
  • Public Assistance
  • Refugees
  • Rehabilitation
  • School Social Work
  • Social Policy
  • Substance Abuse
  • Veterans
Fields of Practice

Resume/Essay Upload

Please upload one document that includes an up-to-date resume and essays. This document will be sent to prospective field placement sites for the purpose of matching you to a site for an interview.  The resume should reflect your academic achievements as well as paid and volunteer experiences. Immediately following the resume and part of the same document, requires writing three one-page essays, one for each of the three fields of practice where you have an interest in completing field education. The essays will serve as a sample of your writing for the person who will interview you at the field site, therefore they should reflect your best written work. In each essay include a definition of your understanding of the field’s practice, including any previous work/volunteer experience in this area; populations of interest within the field of practice; share your interest and suitability for the practice area. As you write the essays, you are strongly encouraged to refer to course texts and journal articles for an accurate understanding of each practice areas. Essays should be typed, double-spaced and one page long. 

Some Factors for Consideration in Assigning Field Education Placement


Levels of proficiency *



Levels of proficiency *






Personal and Professional Information


Students in the Advanced Standing Master of Social Work program complete a total of 600 field education hours over two semesters.  Advanced Standing MSW students are expected to intern at the Field Site for approximately 20 hours per week during the fall and winter semesters.  The 600 hours of field education should be completed at the field agency during business hours, as defined by the placement site. Advanced standing students in the weekend/hybrid program complete 600 hours over three semesters, 200 hour a semester, approximately 13 hours per week.  



Criminal History Background Information

Most Human Service Agencies require student interns to submit to a criminal history background check. It is therefore critical that you are informed of how a criminal history background may impact your Field Education. Please carefully read the statements below.

  • I understand that any past, current or pending felonies, criminal charges, listing on the central registry, convictions, and/or penalties against me in any jurisdiction may make me ineligible for Field Education Placement.
  • I understand that I am required to disclose any past, current, or pending felonies, criminal charges, convictions, listing on the central registry, and/or penalties in this application.
  • I understand that failure to disclose any past, current, or pending felonies, criminal charges, convictions, listing on the central registry, and/ or penalties in this application may result in disciplinary action by Grand Valley State University School of Social Work.
  • I understand that along with the rest of my Field Education Application, the “Criminal History Background Information” portion of my Field Education Application, will be made available to Field Sites that I will interview with for Field Education Placement.
  • I understand that even though the “Criminal History Background Information” portion of my Field Education Application will be made available to Field Sites, I am required to disclose all past, current, or pending felonies, criminal charges, convictions, listing on the central registry, and/or penalties when I interview for Field Education Placement with a Field Site.
  • I understand that failure to disclose any past, current or pending felonies, criminal charges, convictions, listing on the central registry, and/or penalties when I interview for Field Education Placement with a Field Site will result in disciplinary action by Grand Valley State University School of Social Work.
  • I understand that it is my responsibility to inform the Field Site and the School of Social Work’s Field Education office at Grand Valley State University of any new felonies, criminal charges, listing on the central registry, convictions, and/or penalties that occur after I have begun Field Education Placement. Failure to disclose such new felonies, criminal charges, convictions, listing on the central registry, and/or penalties can result dismissal from the Field Site and disciplinary action by Grand Valley State University School of Social Work.
  • I am aware that it is my responsibility to educate myself on how past or pending felonies, criminal charges, convictions, listing on the central registry, and/or penalties may affect my ability to be licensed as a social worker.

Do you understand and agree to the previous statements? *


Informed Consent
Informed Consent Signature *

I have completed this form as accurately as possible and understand that this application will be used to determine the Field Placement Site to which I will be assigned, and one that best meets my educational needs. I understand that this information will be shared with potential Field Supervisors. I agree to the release of information from my academic file for the purpose of arranging Field Education placements and evaluating practicum progress.

 

Human Verification *



Page last modified May 23, 2022