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Field Education
Field Education Overview
Field education is a vital aspect of your Master of Social Work (MSW) program. Field education provides you with the opportunity to:
- Apply the values, knowledge and skills learned in the classroom in a practical setting.
- Practice and integrate social work theories and practice.
- Develop a professional "self" and professional identity as a social worker.
The objectives for the field education program are set to meet the standards set by the Canadian Association for Social Work Education (CASWE) as outlined in the CASWE-ACFTS Standards for Accreditation.
As part of your field education, you will complete courses with approved agencies that provide micro, macro, or integrated learning opportunities. A qualified agency-based field instructor will provide supervision to help you develop social work practice skills that reflect the learning required from your field education course.
Field Education Placements
Students will be exposed to a variety of integrated learning opportunities in the placement. Students will be required to employ a range of social work theories and interventions, practice methods, and models applicable to small and large systems. These placements may or may not include direct practice with individuals and groups.
Examples of placements include:
- counselling agencies
- hospitals
- mental health clinics
- nursing homes
- school boards
- government ministries and services
- social planning councils
- research groups
- grassroots community agencies
- child welfare
- women's organizations
- community mental health projects
Students may request a placement at their current place of employment if it meets the conditions of approval, which include:
- The agency has available either different divisions or learning assignments that are new to the student and the student can demonstrate that they will be engaging in activities not experienced before and distinct from tasks performed as part of the student’s employment.
- Learning opportunities are commensurate with the student’s level of study.
- The learning opportunity is under the supervision of a field instructor who has not been the student’s past or current workplace supervisor.
MSW field education placement agencies consist of social agencies/organizations that are approved by the Field Education Coordinator/Advisor with input from staff, faculty and students.
The role of the field instructor is crucial, as the instructor teaches complex skills within the respective concentrations, model professional behaviours, and facilitate the growth and development of values and ethics in the student.
Field instructors are employed by agencies and normally have a Bachelors of Social Work (BSW) for foundational placements and a Masters of Social Work (MSW) for advanced placements.
Student Support and Feedback
The MSW Field Education office is available to support students throughout their field education experience and is continuously evolving to respond to your needs.
Our office maintains an open-door policy, offering support, advice, and encouragement needed to meet your concerns and challenges.
We are also available via email and phone during regular office hours and by appointment through Navigator. To set up a meeting with anyone on our team:
Office hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.In-person drop-in hours:
- Fall term: Tuesday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Winter term: Wednesday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The placement information session is intended to prepare you for your upcoming placement, meet your field advisor and ask any questions you may have about field placement experience.
Each placement setting is assigned a field advisor to support the placement.
You can reach out to your field advisor or anyone from the MSW Field Office to seek support or provide feedback at any time via email at mswfield@wlu.ca, phone, in-person drop-in or by booking an appointment through Navigator.
Students are asked to provide feedback about their field placement experience via an online survey.
Have an idea or suggestion that you’d like to share? We've created this safe space to give students a voice to share their ideas and make suggestions on how we can improve your field education experience.
We look forward to hearing from you!