Field education is an academic experience which encompasses all program objectives, preparing students as beginning generalist practitioners in professional social work. The specific educational objectives of the course are related to the development of ecological generalist practice skills and competencies for working with various client, action and target systems, and with others in the change agent system. Students are expected to assume responsibility for learning and professional development, and for conducting themselves in such a way as to demonstrate a commitment to the values and ethics of the profession.

Specific objectives: The student is expected to:

• Use of critical thinking skills and problem solving abilities, application of social work knowledge, values, and skills while carrying out service activities.
• Effective and productive use of the agency structure and to appropriately utilize the agency's policies and procedures in carrying out service delivery.
• Use of social work values and ethics in work with clients, organizations and others involved in the change effort, particularly in maintaining confidentiality and protecting rights to self-determination and, as well, in respecting the uniqueness, worth, and dignity of individuals.
• A beginning professional level of written and oral communication and interviewing, which includes ability to form productive and effective client relationships and is consistent with the language of the practicum setting and of the profession.
• Ability to assess his/her professional growth and practice abilities against professional standards and, in the process, to become aware of his/her own values and feelings about people - particularly minority groups, women, and other special populations - the problems they bring to social agencies, and the ways they have adapted to meet their needs.
• Effective use of differential assessment and intervention skills in serving diverse populations.
• Ability to promote social change that advances the achievement of individual and collective social and economic justice.
• Beginning use of social work research principles and techniques in collecting data, assessing problem situations, determining need, planning interventions, and evaluation practice effectiveness, as well as in evaluating programs.
• Ability to work professionally with a variety of other colleagues toward the achievement of the social work profession's purposes and to appropriately use supervision to enhance learning and development.
• Ability to engage in the wide range of helping roles characteristic of generalist practice in Northeastern Tennessee and the Southern Appalachian region including interventions at all levels (individuals, families, groups, communities, and organizations).
• Effective use of local and regional resources as part of the intervention plan.
• Appropriate professional decorum and ability to become self-directed in completing tasks and assignments in a timely manner.
• Ability to critically assess, implement and evaluate agency policy within ethical guidelines.
• Commitment to life long learning through participation in continued professional growth and development activities.