Placement process FAQs

When do I need to be available for placement?

Students are recommended to have at least two full days available during the M–F work-week to complete the 16–20 hours of internship. Students are required to have a minimum of one full weekday available to complete ten hours. If you are only able to complete ten hours per week, you must adjust your study plan to allow for an additional semester of placement and take an incomplete at the end of each semester you are enrolled in. You must notify your placement planner if you are only able to complete ten hours of internship per week.

Please see our field manual for our full policy regarding availability.

Can I do my internship on evenings or weekends?

The ability to utilize evening and weekends is dependent on availability of evening and weekend opportunities at the placement site, and the availability of appropriate supervision during these times. Most organizations expect students to work regular business hours. Even if the organization is open evenings or weekends, they may not be providing social work services during those times. We cannot guarantee a placement with evening or weekend hours.

Is my field placement paid?

Unfortunately most MSW field placements are not paid as they are a degree requirement by all accredited MSW programs. You should not expect your placement to be paid. If you have a referral for an internship that would be paid, you are welcome to submit it to your placement specialist.

I am planning to move. How far in advance must I tell the placement team?

If you are aware of a relocation, you must notify the placement team at least one semester ahead of time so we have enough time to seek another placement for you in your new area. If you know you plan to move during your first semester of placement, please speak with your placement specialist to determine if it makes sense to delay your placement until after your relocation.

Will I be asked to interview at more than one agency?

Searching for placements is highly individualized—we aren’t looking for any placement, we are looking for a placement for YOU based on your location, concentration, and interests (when possible). Placement opportunities are secured based on what your own community has available. In most cases, students are provided with one placement opportunity that they will interview for. If we have multiple opportunities available, we will present them to you. You should treat every interview as if it is an interview for a job interview.

I have specific career goals in mind and only want to be placed at an agency that is aligned with my interests. Is this possible?

Sometimes, but not always. While we do try to place students in settings or with populations that interest them, ultimately our goal is to place students in settings that will provide tangible and transferable social work skills to a number of different career paths. Additionally, we can only place students with agencies who are willing to work with our program.

Keep in mind that no matter the population or setting where you are placed, each agency or organization offers a valuable opportunity to develop and strengthen your social work skills in meaningful and impactful ways.

My friend already received their placement assignment, when will I receive mine?

We place students all throughout the semester, and everyone’s process is different. Your placement may take a few weeks to identify, or may take several months. This is based on a number of factors—mainly location, availability of agencies and social workers in your area, open internship slots available, and the number of other MSW programs in the area (who are also competing for placements!). Our team will provide you with periodic updates, but you are also welcome to reach out via e-mail for an update or schedule a phone or Zoom meeting with your placement specialist.

No. Per our accreditors you must be supervised by a master’s level social worker. You may also work with professionals or clinicians from other fields, but your weekly supervision must be conducted by an MSW (or LCSW, if you are in the Advanced Clinical Practice Concentration).

Can my placement be remote?

In-person field experience is a fundamental requirement of this program, therefore as of Fall of 2023, the School of Social Work will not allow internships that are designed to be 100% remote. In-person work is essential to building the foundational and concentration skills needed to engage, assess, intervene and evaluate with clients, organizations and community. It also allows students to transfer these skills to a remote or telehealth experience.

We do allow for some hours to be conducted off-site/unobserved. For full guidelines, please refer to our field manual.

Do I complete placement hours over holiday breaks?

Students must negotiate with their field instructor what is expected of the student during school breaks. Depending on the type of internship, you may or may not be able to be away for an extended period of time. Program and client needs must be a priority during your internship. Keep in mind you are responsible for completing a minimum number of field hours which may require you to complete placement during school breaks.

Can I frontload hours and end my internship early?

Students are required to be in their internship all semester. Students cannot complete their internship any earlier than semester finals week. If a student exceeds the minimum number of hours required per semester, the additional hours can be used toward the next semester’s total BUT students can not end the internship earlier than the last week in the semester. Internship sites want consistency over time and want predictable hours.