Field Home NMSU School of Social Work

Mission of the Field Work Program

The Field Work Program supports the School of Social Work's Mission: to prepare students for practice with an emphasis on the cultural diversity of the Southwest.

The Field Office

Field Work courses are an integral part of the total social work education program at New Mexico State University. Historically the profession of social work has considered field work a primary means of providing students the opportunity to integrate knowledge, value and skills. In field work settings (practicums), students learn by doing. Students are placed in social and human service agencies to gain practice experience working with individuals, groups, families, and communities. They also gain and contribute knowledge related to organizational policy and administration, and to legislation related to populations and funding of social service organizations. Students are expected to apply research knowledge and skills such as reviewing literature related to the field of practice, data gathering regarding client progress, needs of a population, and program outcomes.

These field work opportunities enable students to apply and integrate previous and current learning. Opportunities are available for students to develop knowledge of professional practice at multiple system levels and with a variety of cultural, ethnic, racial, gender and age groups. In particular, our field agencies provide extensive opportunities for working with Hispanic families and learning about international border issues.

SUPERVISION: Students are assigned to a licensed BSW or MSW field instructor for supervision and instruction. Students are also assigned to a faculty field liaison who oversees the learning experience and assists the student and field instructor in designing appropriate learning activities and in integrating practice theory and practice skills.

FIELD LEARNING AGREEMENT: An individualized learning plan in the form of a Field Learning Agreement is developed in the beginning of the fall semester jointly between the student, the field instructor, and the field liaison. Its purpose is to identify the learning opportunities and practice experiences that will enable the student to address the goals of the course and to demonstrate the competencies upon which the student will be evaluated.

FIELD SEMINAR: Students participate in a field seminar led by the field liaison. The field seminar provides an opportunity for students to broaden their knowledge about community resources, about a variety of models for practicing social work, and to gain consultation on practice issues.

Links to field work policies, documents, and a listing of field work team members is available on the menu to the upper left.