Field Learning

At NYU Silver, we think of Field learning as the open classroom.

Field Placement (also referred to as practicum, internship, and agency setting) is the vehicle through which a student engages in the Field learning curriculum area. Your Field experience will allow you to take what you have learned in your classes ‒ the theories; the knowledge from books, articles and professors; the information that you have assessed critically and that you are digesting and synthesizing ‒ and will enable you to apply it directly with clients in agencies, organizations, communities, and neighborhoods. For more information email us at silver.fieldlearning@nyu.edu!

Placement Process

Each year, students answer a questionnaire and submit their resumes to help the Field Learning Office match them with a placement agency that will fulfill their educational goals. The match is made based on a number of factors: student’s academic program, professional interest, past experience, requirements of the agency site, and location.

TERMS YOU NEED TO KNOW

Field Coordinator

An NYU Silver faculty member who matches the student with their Field placement setting. The field coordinator guides students through the matching process from interview to official confirmation.

Faculty Advisor

Faculty Advisor is the instructor of the Field learning courses and the liaison between the student, agency, and the Office of Field Learning and Community Partnerships. Your Faculty Advisor reviews evaluations and assigns the grade for each Field course.

In some MSW pathways the Faculty Advisor is also the instructor for Practice I–II as well as for Practice III – IV. In other MSW pathways Practice III-IV have a different individual as their Faculty Advisor.

Two-Year Students: The Faculty Advisor is also the instructor for Practice I-II. This is not the case for Practice III-IV.
Advanced Standing Students: The Faculty Advisor is also the instructor for Practice III-IV.
Extended Students: The Faculty Advisor is also the instructor for Practice I-II. This is not the case for Practice III-IV.
16 Month Students: The Faculty Advisor is also the instructor for Practice I-II. This is not the case for Practice III-IV.
OYR Students: The instructor assigned to your Field Instruction OYR-A&B 1 courses
32-Month Students: The instructor assigned to your Field Instruction 32MO I - VI courses.

Field Instructor

The Field Instructor is the licensed social worker (SIFI credentialed or eligible to enroll in the SIFI course) at the agency and who supervises your work.

Task Supervisor

An agency staff person who is available for consultation and provides daily tasks and assignments.

Generalist Practice

For MSW students in the Generalist Practice, or first year, the primary goal of Field learning is to provide a foundation of social work practice skills, guided by social work values and ethics, applicable across a wide range of systems and populations.In the Generalist Practice year, a member of the faculty in the Field learning office assigns the student to an agency, based on the student’s program, past experience, requirement of the Field learning site, and where they live.

Specialized Practice

For MSW students in the Specialized Practice, or second year, the focus of their Field learning is on specific aspects of social work within a particular practice area along with their professional development and growth. In the Specialized Practice year, it is possible for the student to concentrate his or her graduate education on specific aspects of social work within a particular practice area. The student’s Field learning Faculty Advisor, in the capacity of educational consultant, assists the student with the development of educational goals and objectives for the Specialized Practice year that will facilitate the individual student’s professional progress.

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