There are two types of second year MSW interns, second year foundation students and advanced standing students. Second year MSW interns go into field in the first semester of their second year and are moving from a generalist perspective (either their BSW studies or first year MSW studies) to a clinical concentration. Though advanced standing students skip the first year of the MSW program, they enter the program in the summer before their second year and take “bridge” courses to get them ready for the advanced year. It should be noted that students who are accepted as advanced standing are those who demonstrate high academic and field achievement in their BSW work.

The second year MSW students are in field for two days per week (16 hours) in the fall and for three days per week (24 hours) in the spring semester. Since the students are in class on Mondays and Tuesdays (including field seminar) they will generally complete their field hours between Wednesday and Friday. In the spring they are usually in field Wednesday through Friday. Schedules should reflect times that are optimal for both the intern and your agency. There is a calendar provided for each semester which outlines the university holidays.

The field experience for first year MSW students should include (with an emphasis on advanced clinical social work practice):

• Advanced clinical social work practice
  • Ongoing contact
  • Specific use of intervention or psychotherapeutic models
• Psycho-social assessments, interviewing, problem solving, and supportive counseling with individuals, families and/or groups (including accompanying paperwork).
• Indirect client work
  • Professional or educational meetings/workshops
  • Evaluation (i.e., data collection, outcomes development)
• Case management (resource allocation and referral)
• Advocacy and planned social change work

Supervision at the internship must be provided by an MSW with at least two years post MSW experience. This person is the Field Instructor and is an extension of our social work faculty, responsible for instructing and role modeling. The Field Instructor must meet with the student for a minimum of one hour per week. We provide orientation for our Field Instructors prior to each semester which gives them information necessary to facilitate a successful internship

The student may be under the direct daily supervision of a person without a social work degree (Task Supervisor). We would expect that the Task Supervisor hold a degree and several years experience in a human service position. Although the Field Instructor will take the lead role in coordinating the instruction of the student, the task supervisor will work closely with the student to achieve learning objectives.

The internship process is detailed and requires an application, an interview with the field office and an interview with the proposed Field Instructor (and other agency personnel required by the agency). We understand that agencies may have extra requirements and that is perfectly appropriate. This is part of the “real world” experience we want our students to have.

Please feel free to contact me if you have questions about our field program. I look forward to working with you.

Jane T. Maas-Brady
Director of Field Instruction
Department of Social Work
East Tennessee State University
PO Box 70645
Johnson City, TN 37614
maasbrad@mail.etsu.edu
423-439-6017 office
423-439-6010 fax