Field Education
Field Education is often identified by graduates of social work programs as the most important and memorable element of their educational experience. The Council on Social Work Education states that field education is the signature pedagogy in social work education. Because of the importance of field learning, field practice is required as a key component of the curriculum. Field and Task Supervisors are valued for their teaching, supervision, and modeling of professionalism in social work to field education students.
Steps to securing a field placement:
1. Submit the Field Application and your resume to the Field Education office.
2. The Field Education office will review your application and contact you one quarter before you begin your field placement.
- Schedule an informal interview with the Field Education Director or satellite office Field Coordinator to discuss your interests and the agencies available for possible field placement opportunities.
3. Have a formal interview with potential field placement agency.
- Prior to an interview, you will send a resume and cover letter to the placement contact provided to you by the Field Education Office.
- Once you are accepted to the position, inform the Field Education office in order to obtain final paperwork to finalize your field placement.
BSW Students
- Must complete 400 hours of field education.
- Field education may be completed over a full academic year, in two quarters, or in one quarter through a block placement.
- Complete one hour of supervision each week by a BSW or MSW post two years’ experience.
MSW Students
- Advanced Standing students must complete a minimum of 600 hours and begin their field placements during fall term.
- Regular Standing students must complete a minimum of 900 hours and begin their field placements during winter term of their first year.
- Complete one hour of supervision each week by an MSW post two years’ experience.
Field education placement locations
The Field Education Office works hard to find you a placement in your community. Listed below are some locations that students have been placed; however, placements fluctuate based on need. A placement in one of these agencies or organizations is not guaranteed. Always work with the Field Education Director to establish an approved field placement. Your current place of employment could be a field placement option.
International placements may also be available. Students have been placed in locations like Ghana and Estonia and we work with Student Missions to approve international field placements.
Analizeth Pesqueira, M.S.W
Field Education Director
Associate Professor of Social Work and Sociology
(509) 527-2273
Seattle*
- Various social service agencies
Spokane*
- Various social service agencies
Tri Cities*
- Catholic Family and Child Services
- Grace Clinic
- Kadlec Regional Medical Center
- Lourdes Health Network
- The Chaplaincy (Corks Place)
Walla Walla*
- Blue Mountain Health Cooperative
- Catholic Community Services
- Children's Administration (DCFS)
- Children's Home Society/Juvenile Justice Center
- Christian Aid Center
- College Place Public Schools
- Comprehensive Healthcare
- Fresenius Medical Care
- Helpline
- Lourdes Counseling Center
- Park Manor
- Serenity Point Counseling
- Service Alternatives
- The Health Center
- Walla Walla Community Hospice
- WWU Counseling and Testing Center
- YWCA
Yakima*
- Various social service agencies
*Other agencies based on availability in the area
Heppner*
Hermiston*
La Grande*
Mission*
- Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center
Pendleton*
Portland*
*Other agencies based on availability in the area
Garden Valley*
- Project Patch
*Other agencies based on availability in the area
Monica VonLangen
Billings Field Education Coordinator
Assistant Professor of Social Work and Sociology
Billings*
- Alternatives
- Aware
- Bighorn Mental Health
- Billings Clinic
- Billings Counseling Connection
- Catholic Social Services of MT
- Center for Children and Families
- Creative Counseling
- Consumer Direct Network aka Full Circle
- Family Support Network
- Healing Waters Counseling, LLC
- Mental Health Center
- Passages
- Pioneer Medical Center
- Rimrock Foundation
- Riverstone Health
- South Central Treatment Associates
- The Family Tree Center
- Safe Harbor Therapeutic Services
- Transformative Counseling, LLC
- Walla Walla University Billings Mental Health Clinic
- Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch
- Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch Community Service
- Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch - Laurel
Bozeman*
- Access Counseling
- Advanced Counseling of Bozeman
- Western Montana Mental Health
Casper, WY8*
- Central Wyoming Counseling Center
- Crossroads Counseling, LLC
- Mercer Family Resource Center
Cody, WY*
- Yellowstone Behavioral Health
Crow Agency*
- Indian Health Service
Livingston*
- Community Health Partners
- L'esprit
- Livingston Healthcare
- Youth Dynamics
Rapid City, SD8*
-
Behavior Management Systems
Red Lodge*
- Altacare
Sheridan, WY*
- Sheridan VA Medical Center
Wolf Point*
- Red Bird Woman Center
*Other agencies based on availability in the area