TCU Department of Social Work Department Handbook

Transcription

1 TCU Department of Social Work Department Handbook T C U B o x , F o r t W o r t h, T X

2 Department of Social Work Harris College of Nursing and Health Sciences Annie Richardson Bass Building 2800 West Bowie Street, 3 rd Floor Fort Worth, TX (F) Mailing Address: TCU Box Fort Worth, TX Website: TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY University Administration Victor J. Boschini, Jr., Chancellor R. Nowell Donovan, Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Brian G. Gutierrez, Vice Chancellor for Finance & Administration Larry D. Lauer, Vice Chancellor for Government Affairs Tracy Syler-Jones, Vice Chancellor for Marketing & Communication Kathy Cavins-Tull, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Donald J. Whelan, Jr., Vice Chancellor for University Advancement Paulette Burns, RN, PhD, Dean, Harris College of Nursing and Health Sciences TCU Mission To educate individuals to think and act as ethical leaders and responsible citizens in the global community. TCU Vision To create a world-class, values-centered university experience for our students. TCU Core Values TCU values academic achievement, personal freedom and integrity, the dignity and respect of the individual, and a heritage of inclusiveness, tolerance and service. Department of Social Work Mission To prepare ethical and competent generalist and advanced social work practitioners who promote human rights and economic and social justice with diverse clients in a variety of settings in the global community. 2

3 TCU DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WORK Name/Position Teaching Interests Research Interests David Jenkins, Ph.D., LCSW Profesor and Department Chair MSW Program Director Micro Practice Group Practice Family practice Human behavior Addictions Introduction to Social Work Professional Foundation Blended Families Gay and Lesbian Families Addiction Impact of marginalization Harriet Cohen, Ph.D., LCSW Associate Professor Hartford Social Work Faculty Tracy Dietz, Ph.D., LMSW Associate Professor Linda Moore, Ph.D., LMSW-AP Professor BSW Program Director James Petrovich, Ph.D., LMSW Assistant Professor Nada Elias-Lambert, Ph.D., LMSW Assistant Professor D. Lynn Jackson, Ph.D., LCSW Director of Field Education Deanna Casper Adminisrative Assistant Human Behavior Ethics Diversity Death & Dying Professional Foundation Older Adults Social Work Practice Research methods Human Behavior Micro Practice Macro Practice Professional Communication Social Work Study Abroad in Seville, Spain Diversity Policy Community practice Introduction to Social Work Research Human Behavior Introduction to Social Work Micro Practice Professional Foundation Introduction to Social Work Group Practice Policy Diversity Field Education Older Holocaust survivors Older lesbians and gay men Resiliency International social work Sustainable community development Needs of and services for older Mexican adults Social justice Emergence of the NAACP Use of the Myers Briggs Type Inventory Homelessness Domestic Violence Women s Issues Social Policy 3

4 Section I: BSW Program Handbook 4

5 I. BSW PROGRAM CURRICULUM General Statement The Department of Social Work has been committed to excellence in preparing generalist social work practitioners since its inception in As the University has grown and modified its mission, so has the Department. Both the University and the Department emphasize ethical behavior, life-long learning, service to the community, and the importance of a knowledge base. Social work has long been viewed as the conscience of the University and as specifically applying the university mission in its educational process. The university values dignity, respect, inclusiveness, tolerance, and ethical leadership qualities consistent with social work values. The BSW Program mission is consistent with the social work profession s purpose and values and the program s context. The mission of the BSW Program is to prepare ethical and competent generalist social workers with a common base of knowledge, values, and skills, who are able to practice across the life span with diverse clients within a variety of settings in the global community. In addition to preparation for practice, the Department of Social Work also prepares students for advanced graduate education. Goals of the BSW Program The BSW Program goals are derived from the mission of the department and supported throughout the efforts of the department. The goals are incorporated as objectives in the syllabi of the social work courses and in the expressed competencies and practice behaviors assessed in field education. The goals form the basis for the design of the curriculum and are discussed in both classroom and field experiences. The BSW Program goals relate to the competencies outlined by CSWE. The goals reflect the BSW Program s commitment to its mission and to the mission of the University. These goals are accomplished through a course of study consisting of a curriculum including content in social welfare policy and services, human behavior and the social environment, social work practice, research and field education, focusing on values and ethics, populations at risk and diversity. Concurrent with their academic work, students are provided service-learning opportunities in several classes. In their field placement, students are placed in social service agencies under the supervision of Bachelors-level social workers, where they learn generalist practice methods used with a variety of client systems. Students complete 480 hours in the field placement, with approximately two full days each week (16 hours) spent in the placement. The BSW program integrates liberal arts courses with preparation for professional generalist practice. The primary objective of the department is to prepare students as generalists for entry to beginning social work practice. An additional objective is to prepare students for admission to graduate schools of social work (eligible for advanced standing in most master s degree programs). The Department of Social Work and the social work major are fully accredited at the baccalaureate level by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE.). BSW Course Curriculum The BSW curriculum provides students with the knowledge and skills consistent with the values of a generalist social work perspective, and provides a foundation for advanced practice. In addition, the student's knowledge of and identification with the social work profession is developed: knowing about and appreciating social work's historical development and evolution, the range of modes of professional intervention characteristic of contemporary practice, ethical issues and concerns now confronting 5

6 practitioners, and the organizational contexts of practice. To graduate with a BS with a major in social work 124 total semester hours are required and must include: Three hours of human biology: BIOL Contemporary Issues in Human Biology (may be applied to the core curriculum) Three hours of statistics: MATH (may be applied to the core curriculum) Three hours of psychology: PSYC General Psychology The following 12 hours are considered foundation courses and should be taken according to course prerequisites and requirements: SOWO Introduction to Social Work SOWO Professional Communication for Social Work SOWO Social Welfare Policy SOCI Introduction to Sociology or SOCI Social Problems 27 semester hours of upper level social work courses are required following the foundation courses. Students will typically take courses based on the schedule below. Junior Year Fall SOWO Human Behavior and the Social Environment I Senior Year Fall SOWO Research Methods in Social Work SOWO Field Education I Spring SOWO Human Behavior and the Social Environment II SOWO Macro Social Work Practice SOWO Micro Social Work Practice Spring SOWO Field Education II In addition to foundation and upper level courses, social work majors must also take twelve hours of Social Work electives, with at least one being chosen from each of the following areas: Diversity & Cultural Awareness o SOWO Social Work and Civil Rights o SOWO International Study in Social Work o SOWO Social Work and Diversity o SOWO Rights and Responsibilities of Citizens of the Global Community o SOWO Social Work and the Media Methods of Practice o SOWO Social Work with Older Adults o SOWO Social Work with Diverse Populations o SOWO Social Work with Groups & Families o SOWO Ethics in Social Work Practice Fields of Practice o SOWO Addictions o SOWO Social Work in the Criminal Justice System o SOWO Family Health o SOWO Social Work with Adolescents o SOWO Child Welfare o SOWO Interdisciplinary Approaches to Healthy Aging 6

7 o SOWO Law and Social Work o SOWO Death and Dying The following course options may also fit any of the above area requirements depending on content. The BSW Program Director will determine under which topic area each course fits. SOWO Freshman Seminar in Social Work SOWO Honors Tutorial in Social Work SOWO Directed Study in Social Work SOWO Contemporary Topics in Social Work SOWO Senior Honors Research Project Course Descriptions SOWO Introduction to Social Work- Course introduces students to the social work profession including historical development and process of professionalization; also discusses the knowledge, value, and skill components of social work practice, the variety of practice settings, and the types of client populations served. SOWO Professional Communication for Social Work- Course helps students develop effective communication as a professional social worker. Emphasis is on written and oral communication necessary in professional practice. The course requires written exercises submitted for review and rewritten to reflect ongoing professional development. Students also practice oral communication skills in role plays. SOWO Issues in Social Welfare Policy- Looks at the historical development of social welfare policies in the U.S.; major legislative enactment's that established the existing welfare structure; social, economic, and political factors influencing the development of policy; analysis of current social welfare issues. SOCI Introduction to Sociology- Explores differing patterns of human relationships; application of sociological concepts to the understanding of human behavior. SOCI Social Problems- This course presents information about a range of social problems (poverty, racism, sexual discrimination, crime, etc.) with emphasis on the relationship between the individual and the larger context within which the problems exist. Additionally, fundamental societal institutions and theoretical issues will be explored. SOWO Macro Social Work Practice- That practice aspect of social work concerned with the organization, planning and administration of social work services (as distinguished from provision of services directly to clients), and with the analysis and evaluation of policy and practice within the profession. SOWO Human Behavior and the Social Environment I- Examines theories of human development and functioning within societal and family contexts; the life cycle of the individual from conception to adulthood; theories of diversity and problem behavior; effects of ethnicity, gender, ability, sexual orientation, lifestyle, socioeconomic status, age marginality and oppression on human development and social functioning. SOWO Human Behavior and the Social Environment II- Theories of human development and functioning within societal and family contexts. The life cycle of the individual from adulthood to old age. Theories of diversity and problem behavior. Effects of ethnicity, gender, ability, sexual orientation, lifestyle, socioeconomic status, age, marginality and oppression on human development and social functioning. 7

8 SOWO Micro Social Work Practice- Knowledge, skills and value base used in the generalist practice of social work. Ecological approach using concepts, principles, and system perspectives applicable to a range of problem-solving situations requiring social work intervention. Individual intervention methods are presented with case material and role-playing exercises. SOWO Research Methods in Social Work- Examines research methods to help students understand how social workers conduct research and how they use and evaluate research findings. Applications to practice are made and focus is on evaluating practice and assessing the effectiveness of programs. Students are taught to conduct research and to be consumers of research. SOWO Field Education I- Supervised field learning within a social work agency, providing the student an opportunity to learn the structure, function, and policies of social work agencies and apply his or her social work knowledge to the development of skills in human service delivery. The student will spend 16 hours per week for 15 weeks in an assigned agency (240 hours). Students also attend a weekly universitybased seminar that helps students integrate classroom and field learning. There are additional fees associated with this course. SOWO Field Education II- A continuation of SOWO 40886; Field Education I which helps to extend and deepen, under professional guidance, the development of practice skills with clients. The student will spend 16 hours per week for 15 weeks in an assigned agency for a total of 240 hours. Students also attend a weekly university-based seminar that helps students integrate classroom and field learning. There are additional fees associated with this course. SOWO Social Work and Civil Rights- Discusses the history of civil rights movements in the US and the role of social workers in those movements during the past 150 years. Students analyze the societal context in which social movements occur and how social movements are congruent with social work values. SOWO International Study in Social Work- This course represents credit earned through a semester study abroad experience with an institution or program with which Texas Christian University has an official agreement to accept credit. The site and specific content will be identified on the official transcript. Courses appearing on a student's official transcript have been included in the student's grade point average. SOWO Social Work and Diversity- This course helps students distinguish between myth and reality about cultural, ethnic, gender, sexual orientation, age and ability differences by thinking critically about diversity. Applications to American and global societies are made and experiential content is stressed. SOWO Rights and Responsibilities of Citizens of the Global Community- Students will study and compare complex issues that affect social and economic justice in Spain and the US, with a focus on civic responsibility for addressing global problems. Students will gain an understanding of global problems such as poverty, homelessness, hunger, and health care, and how each country responds to them through policy and service delivery. Students will participate in service learning activities to see firsthand how services are delivered to vulnerable populations in both countries. The course is open to all majors and is taken concurrently with NTDT Fluency in Spanish is NOT required. SOWO Social Work and the Media- Prerequisite: SOWO or permission of instructor. Introduces students to issues in American society, the social welfare system and the profession of social work as seen through film and other media forms. 8

9 SOWO Social Work with Older Adults- Provides an opportunity to explore practice with older adults and their families. Explores direct practice roles, selected practice settings, and social policy issues. SOWO Social Work with Diverse Populations- Study of social work practice theory, methods, and skills for working with diverse and oppressed populations. Concepts and principles related to culturally competent practice in a range of situations will be covered. Case materials and role playing exercises are included. SOWO Social Work with Groups & Families- Prerequisite: SOWO or permission of the instructor, and concurrent enrollment in SOWO 30813, A continuation of the study of the methods, skills, and value base used in the practice of social work. Concepts and principles applicable to a range of situations requiring social work intervention to deepen understanding of the interventive process with groups and families. Further study of case material and role playing exercises is included. SOWO Ethics in Social Work Practice- Course helps students become more aware of the ethical base of social work practice and strengthen their commitment to ethical behavior in impending practice and collegial relationships. SOWO Addictions- Explores definitions and various forms of addiction; biological, psychological, social and family changes resulting from addiction and intervention strategies. Emphasis is on how social workers use this information to address the problems of addiction through intervention with clients. SOWO Social Work in the Criminal Justice System- Examines theories and methods of professional intervention with emphasis on those professionals with clients in the criminal justice system; focus is on the development of skills that can be applied to individuals, families, and groups in both community-based and institutional settings. SOWO Family Health- Provides an introduction to family systems theory, family dynamics and their application to practice in nursing and allied health disciplines. Emphasis is on family assessment. Family diversity, families with a chronically ill or disabled member and informal caregiving are examined. Students will critically evaluate family health practices, including hospice, home-based care, and families in crisis. (Offered for NURS or SOWO credit.) SOWO Social Work with Adolescents- Course discusses the problems and stresses of biological, psychological and social changes affecting adolescents are discussed. Emphasis is on how social workers use this information to address the problems of adolescent clients through intervention. SOWO Child Welfare- Examines the social welfare system as it affects children in American society including the historical development of the system, the existing structure and the processes through which present policies have been established. Child welfare agencies and programs, principles and policies on which children's services are based, social and legislative issues relevant to children and children's programs, and specific techniques for working with children are included. SOWO Interdisciplinary Approaches to Healthy Aging Provides students the opportunity to explore interdisciplinary approaches to working with older adults, their families, and the larger community. Involves a 9

10 required service learning component in which students will develop skills, attitudes, and knowledge that will assist them in learning to value and promote healthy aging and quality of life with older adults. SOWO Law and Social Work- Interaction between the fields of law and social work is increasingly common. Social workers play an active role in many areas of the law, for example: evaluating custody disputes, providing adoption home studies, evaluating guardianship applications and investigating child abuse cases. Social workers have to be familiar with many aspects of the law in order to effectively manage their cases, both in private practice and in agency work. This course is an overview of the areas of law that social workers most commonly encounter. SOWO Death and Dying- This course will give students an opportunity to explore and understand their perceptions and beliefs of death and dying and how individual cultural differences influence that experience and will prepare them for working with clients on grief and loss. SOWO Freshman Seminar in Social Work- Topics may vary each time it is offered. SOWO Honors Tutorial in Social Work- Course offers an examination of an issue affecting the social work profession or a field or method of social work practice determined in consultation with an instructor. This course is offered on a directed study basis and this must be arranged prior to the semester enrolled. SOWO Directed Study in Social Work- Designed for students who undertake readings or projects in social work in consultation with an instructor. SOWO Contemporary Topics in Social Work- Topics may vary each time it is offered. SOWO Senior Honors Research Project- Offered fall semester only. A supervised research experience culminating in the writing of a research paper typically based on the subject matter studied in SOWO The course is offered on a directed study basis and this must be arranged prior to the semester enrolled. II. ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS Students may declare the social work major at any time. Admission to the Department of Social Work and field education requires that students: Have attained junior status Have a 2.25 or higher overall GPA Complete a minimum of 12 hours of social work courses, including 10833, 20813, 30843, 30863, and current enrollment in 30813, 30833, and Have a 2.5 GPA in social work and a C or better in all social work (SOWO) courses Make written application and receive faculty approval based on the application and a student faculty conference (Junior Evaluation) to evaluate readiness for field education. Field Education may be postponed or denied if the faculty determines the student is not 10

11 sufficiently prepared to handle the responsibilities and tasks of field education. See Section 4: Field Education for more information on the Junior Evaluation process. III. ACADEMIC POLICIES & PROCEDURES ACADEMIC ADVISING Academic advising is an intentional process that involves a collaborative partnership between the student and the academic advisor. Successful advising is a shared responsibility that will equip students with knowledge and tools to make responsible decisions and to enable them to identify and achieve their educational and career goals (TCU Student Handbook, p.19). Each student is assigned an academic advisor upon admission into the program. Advisors are Social Work faculty and are responsible for overseeing student degree plans and being accessible to students regarding job opportunities, doctoral education, and professionalism. The Department chair has primary responsibility for overall accountability of advising. Students are expected to meet with their academic advisor prior to the beginning of each semester. Advising will be more in-depth in the advanced year when determining which electives and field placements will best advance the student s career goals and aspirations upon graduation. Any student who is assigned a grade of I (incomplete), a grade of C or below, or who is placed on academic warning status must contact their assigned advisor before registering for the following semester. Registration bars are placed on all MSW student records prior to each registration period. Bars will be lifted only if students have satisfied all requirements to date. For students experiencing difficulties, faculty advisors refer them to appropriate resources inside or outside the university setting. University services most frequently used include the Counseling Center, the Writing Center, the Health Center, and the Center for Academic Services. Social Work faculty members limit their role of advising to those concerns relevant to the educational needs of students. When students require or request ongoing professional counseling, faculty refer them to appropriate resources, both on and off campus. The Director of Field Education may also serve in an advisory function to students as they work to determine which field placement locations best fit their educational and professional goals. The Director of Field Education will also work individually with each student entering their final field placement to ensure that the field placement process, including preparing a professional statement and resume, is successful. ACADEMIC WARNING STATUS AND TERMINATION BSW Students If a student s overall grade-point average falls below 2.25 overall or 2.5 in social work, the student is placed on academic warning status. While in warning status, the student may not drop any course or withdraw from the University without the approval of their academic advisor, BSW program director and Department Chair. In the next semester in which the student enrolls, the overall grade-point average must be raised to 2.25 overall and 2.5 in social work, respectively, or the student is dismissed from further study. 11

12 Additionally, faculty may identify, in writing, those students who demonstrate behaviors that raise serious questions about their continuing towards the professional degree in Social Work. Such students' names will be submitted to the program director who will coordinate a review, including appropriate faculty members in such a process. ADDING AND DROPPING COURSES Specific deadlines for adding and dropping courses each semester are given in the academic calendar, which can be found in the Academic Calendar on line through the Office of the Registrar. Adds and drops are handled via my.tcu.edu, the online registration system or through the Registrar s Office, depending on the time and nature of the transaction. COURSE LOAD REQUIREMENTS BSW Students Full time enrollment for undergraduate students is 12 hours. Nine hours is 75% Six hours is 50% Three hours is 25%. Round down to nearest cut-off. Exceptions for undergraduate students are made when: Their academic program restricts them from enrolling in 12 hours. Students enrolled in the last semester necessary for graduation may be considered full time if their enrollment is less than 12 hours. DIRECTED STUDY COURSES Directed study courses provide students with an opportunity to study special topics of interest to members of the social work profession. Directed study courses in the MSW program can only be taken in the advanced year, as an elective; directed study courses in the BSW program can be taken in the junior and senior years. Core courses cannot be taken as a directed study course. In all respects, directed study courses should meet the standards of other courses offered in the program. Supervised practicum experience as well as research experience may be used as a component of a directed study course, but all courses must contain substantial reading and writing components as well as regularly scheduled meetings with the instructor to assist in the integration of course material. Employment cannot be counted as directed study course credit. To Register for a Directed Study Course Each student must secure the cooperation of a faculty member of the Department of Social Work or other department who is willing to be the instructor for the course. The student, in collaboration with the faculty member, must submit an outline for the directed study course that contains specific information about course content and objectives. Students may not register for course without the completed course outline, including the faculty member's signature. The completed outline should be returned to the student s academic advisor, prior to the registration period. A copy of the outline will be placed in the student s file. 12

13 ELECTIVES To satisfy elective requirements, students may take elective course work within the Department or with approval, in other University departments. Taking Electives Outside of the Department of Social Work In order to take an elective course outside of the Department and receive proper credit toward the BSW degree, the student must submit a course description of the elective being considered along with the student's current career objectives to their academic advisor. Pre-approvals for registration may be required from other departments. A copy of the completed form along with a syllabus of the course taken outside of the Department of Social Work must be kept in the student's academic file for graduation certification. Because some University departments may place restrictions on enrollment, students should begin the approval process prior to the official University advising period each semester. Consult the Course Schedule and your academic advisor for listings of courses offered in other departments and any prerequisites they may carry. GRADING POLICY Grades in courses, both classroom and field, are intended to indicate the level of overall performance of the student in the course, both in terms of performance and responsibility in performance. Quality of performance is evaluated with respect to course objectives. While these objectives are collectively determined, it is the singular responsibility of the instructor to evaluate student performance in respect to these standards and thus to determine the grade. In the Department, credit is given for the grades A, B, and C. Credit will not be given of C or below. If a student earns below a C, the course will need to be retaken. For MSW students, within the overall grade point average, a GPA of at least 3.0 in all graduate courses in the major and supporting work must be earned. High grades in courses outside the major and the supporting work will not serve to bring up these averages. Grades from other institutions are not included in the grade point average. Only upper-division and graduate-level courses taken in graduate status for a letter grade are counted in the average. Students must satisfy all prerequisite incompletes before starting final year coursework and the final field placement. Conditionally admitted students may not take a grade of I, as part of the criteria for achieving good academic standing after admission. Candidates for graduation should not take a grade of I in their final semester, or graduation will be delayed and additional course work in a future semester of graduation will be required. GRADUATION BSW Students To graduate students must be enrolled in the University during the semester in which they will graduate and have successfully completed all required coursework toward the BSW or other degree. Additionally, students must have no incompletes (Is) and have a 2.25 cumulative graduate GPA or better in all courses. BSW students must also take the Texas Jurisprudence and Bachelor s Level Social Work Licensure Exams. 13

14 BSW students must follow these steps to register to graduate: 1. Register and complete courses for the final semester. Be sure that all I grades are completed and all official transcripts from other universities are in the Registrar s office. 2. File an Intent-to-Graduate in the academic dean's office early in the last semester or in the next-tolast semester of study. 3. Correct your Current Address and your Permanent Address online at my.tcu.edu. This address is important for receiving mailing from the Registrar's office concerning graduation. 4. Ensure all financial obligations, including graduation fees and thesis/dissertation fees have been satisfied in the Financial Services office. 5. Order your diploma and cap and gown online at my.tcu.edu. HONORS COLLEGE BSW students who plan to pursue Departmental Honors must be members of the Honors College and should enroll in SOWO during the spring semester of their junior year and SOWO during the fall semester of their senior year. LEAVE OF ABSENCE Students who anticipate being on leave in a long semester (fall or spring) must: 1. Complete the Program Confirmation of Leave of Absence form. 2. Obtain authorization from the Department Chair. 3. Failure to secure a leave of absence in advance of the semester of which a student will be on leave will result in a non-guarantee of readmission. LICENSURE EXAM All students must take the applicable licensure exam prior to graduation. Any student who does not take the licensure exam prior to graduation is no longer eligible to graduate during the current semester. MEDICAL WITHDRAWAL/COURSE REDUCTION/RETROACTIVE WITHDRAWAL Significant medical or mental health problems can affect a student s ability to attend classes or perform academically. In these cases, a student may apply for a course load reduction, a current semester withdrawal, or a retroactive withdrawal for the previous long semester. Students must meet with their academic advisor to discuss this course of action. Decisions will be made based on University and Department policies. Students must be continuously registered for all long semesters (Fall and Spring) until completion of the degree. Students are required to secure a leave of absence for semesters in which they will be on leave. If a student has not taken courses for one long semester or more, application for readmission must be completed and students must have departmental approval to return. TCU requires that students seeking readmission pay a $40 readmission fee to the Registrar s Office. 14

15 PASS/NO-CREDIT GRADING OPTION Undergraduate students may elect a Pass/No-Credit (P/NC) grading option. They may do so by indicating their choice in writing to the Office of the Registrar or online using the student records course edit in my.tcu.edu no later than the date listed in the academic calendar for electing the P/NC grading option. Courses taken on a P/NC basis are graded "P" (pass) and "NC" (no credit). These P/NC courses are not counted in computing the student's GPA. A "P" course, however, will carry credit hours and be used toward a student's total hours required for graduation. A "P" indicates achievement equivalent to a C- or better. Achievement equivalent to a "D+" or below results in the grade of "NC." Students earn no credit hours in courses in which the grade of "NC" is received. Undergraduate students may take up to two courses (eight hours maximum) on a P/NC basis. No course applied to the student s major, minor or associated requirements may be taken on the P/NC basis. Courses offered only with the P/NC grade will not be counted toward this limit on the number of P/NC hours. The P/NC option is not allowed in any English as a foreign language courses offered by the English Language Center. TIME LIMITS FOR COMPLETION BSW Students BSW students will have to follow the university guidelines for completion of their degree. TRANSFERRING COURSES BSW Students Most core curriculum and related coursework from accredited universities will transfer. However, all courses used to satisfy the cultural awareness, global awareness, or citizenship and social values components of the TCU Core Curriculum must be taken at TCU. As long as transfer credit fits within the guidelines of TCU s policies, similar social work courses from CSWE- accredited social work programs can be accepted toward the social work degree WITHDRAWAL FROM THE UNIVERSITY Dropping an entire course load constitutes withdrawal from the University and BSW or MSW program. To withdraw from the University, a student must fill out the appropriate forms in the Registrar s office. Students are required to inform the Department Chair in writing of their withdrawal from the University. Students are also strongly encouraged to notify their professors and academic advisor. IV. BSW FIELD POLICIES FIELD PROGRAM ORGANIZATION AND STRUCTURE 15

16 Purpose of Field Education Field education in social work education provides a practice setting in which students have opportunities to apply theory and synthesize themes covered in classroom material. This practice experience, under the direction of a qualified Field Instructor, allows students to explore and develop their professional identity, professional use of self, and professional ethics and values. CSWE (2008) defines field education as the signature pedagogy for the professional development of new social workers. Signature pedagogy represents the central form of instruction and learning in which a profession socializes its students to perform the role of practitioner... The intent of field education is to connect the theoretical and conceptual contribution of the classroom with the practical world of the practice setting. It is a basic precept of social work education that the two interrelated components of curriculum classroom and field are of equal importance within the curriculum, and each contributes to the development of the requisite competencies of professional practice. Field education is systematically designed, supervised, coordinated, and evaluated based on criteria by which students demonstrate the achievement of program competencies. Field learning differs from classroom learning in many ways. There is more emphasis on doing and less on recall and information gathering in a testing sense. The field focus is on application of knowledge in other words, providing service and provides greater immediacy and a personalized approach to learning. Student must address situations that arise on a day-by-day basis in their field placement. Field instruction emphasizes the use of skills and techniques within the context of the client's situation, and offers the opportunity for application and integration of method theory through supervised experiential learning in a social agency setting. FIELD STUDENT INFORMATION Orientation to Field BSW Field Students: Prior to requesting a field placement (Junior evaluation) all students are required to attend a schedule orientation meeting which is scheduled at the start of the Fall semester. This meeting addresses all the necessary information in the field planning process and serves as the student s orientation to field. In addition to providing important details on due dates and interviewing schedules, other significant information is covered as well: Field eligibility requirements Role of the Field Director Field instructor and task supervision Hours required; leave time; holidays Agency requirements Evaluations and grading in field Dealing with problems in field Corrective action plans and termination from field The integrative seminar Other field policies and procedures 16

17 Admission to Field Education Student admission to field education varies based on educational level and student need. BSW Field Students: BSW students entering field must meet the following requirements: Have a 2.25 or higher overall GPA Complete a minimum of 12 hours of Social Work (SOWO) courses in cluding 10833, 20813, 30843, 30863, and be currently enrolled in 30813, 30833, 30853, and Have a 2.5 GPA or higher in Social Work and a C or better in all SOWO courses Additionally, students must make written application to be admitted into field education. Students must receive faculty approval based on the written application as well as a student-faculty conference (Junior Evaluation) to evaluate readiness for field education. Field Education may be postponed or denied if the faculty finds the student insufficiently prepared or lacking required knowledge, skills or values. Hours Completed BSW Field Students Field placement is completed on a concurrent plan that provides field instruction activities 16 to 20 hours per week during the last two semesters in the social work program, for a total of 480 hours upon completion of the program. In addition to completing hours at the agency, all students are enrolled in a field seminar which is attended weekly on campus. LUNCH TIME: How lunch is handled within your internship will vary from agency to agency. For instance, in residential programs, it is not uncommon for staff to eat while on the job and to continue to work during their lunch period as they are required to supervise and conduct business with clients within the residential facility. In all likelihood, the agency will not require additional hours above the eight hours to account for the lunch period. However, in other agencies, students may be required to be at the agency for a nine hour period, taking a one hour lunch which is not counted in their hours. This is something that is unique to each agency and you should check with your supervisor to see how it will be handled at your placement. Generally, it is expected that lunch time for an intern will be handled in the same manner that it is for an employee. If taking a lunch is required, often it is because employers feel that having a break during the day and/or getting out of the building can be therapeutic and helpful for people. Grading Policy Field Education is letter-graded based on student performance. All grades for Field Education are assigned by the TCU Field Director. The grade assigned by the Field Director will be determined in part from the Field Instructor s oral and written evaluation of the student, as well as student demonstration of knowledge and skills. FIELD AGENCY INFORMATION Selection of Agencies 17

18 Agencies used as field placement sites are selected on the basis of their commitment to service delivery and to providing learning opportunities for field students. The agencies encompass a wide variety of populations and reflect the spectrum of human needs and services. Examples of field placement agencies include hospitals, policy and legislative agencies, child welfare agencies, agencies serving refugees, legal and court settings, mental health and counseling agencies, and schools. As a member of Harris College of Nursing and Health Sciences (the College), the Department of Social Work (the Department) uses the Educational Affiliation Agreement for Student Internships and Clinical Experiences, which encompasses all departments in the College. An agreement must be signed before students can be placed at an agency in the community. The agreement includes obligations of the facility, obligations of TCU, joint obligations, terms of the agreement and other information relevant to placement of students. Agreements must be renewed every three years; renewal is initiated by the College. Roles and Responsibilities All agencies must meet the following requirements: Availability of necessary learning experiences Willingness of the agency executive and staff to support the educational goals of the Department Availability of appropriate supervision Primary purpose of the agency, or specific department within the agency, must be to address human needs Does not engage in discriminitory practices in hiring personnel, accepting students or serving clientele Support the placement and allow sufficient release time for the field instructor to provide edcational supervision to the student Provide necessary administrative capacity to support student activities, including space, phones, privacy when needed, etc. Pay mileage reimbursement to students for any travel required during placement Take necessary measures to protect student safety; may minimally include training in policies and procedures, information on conducting home visits, interacting with difficult clients and handling emergencies Have a system of community accountability; this can be demonstrated in nonprofit agencies by a respresentative board of directors and fiscal accountability via the budget review process. Regarding for-profit direct service organizations, they may be subject to periodic review by an accrediting agency or other body of accountability Communicate changes in supervision to the field director as soon as possible and make other necessary arrangements for student supervision FIELD INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION Selection of Field Instructors As field education is the signature pedagogy of Social Work education, selection of quality field instructors is of utmost importance. Field instructors are selected based on their qualifications and desire to support social work students in their journey toward becoming professionals, must be employed at an approved field agency, must commit to the educational standards of the Department, and agree to the roles and responsibilites described below. New field instructors must submit field instructor application forms along with a current resume to the field director to be kept on file with the Department. Additionally, new field instructors must attend field instructor orientation and will be offered additional training by the field director, if requested. New field instructors are also expected to have at least three months experience in their current employment position before being assigned field students. 18

19 Field Instructor Qualifications Field instructor qualifications vary based on the education level of the student being supervised. Social work licensure is required for all field instructors. Field instructors for BSW students must have a Bachelor s or a Master s degree from an accredited School of Social Work and be licensed. Two years of post-graduate work experience is required for those with a Bachelor s degree and strongly preferred for those with a Master s degree. Field Instructor Duties Field instructors provide administrative and educational supervision for each student and are involved in the review of field assignments and coordination with faculty liasions. Faculty liasion visits will be coordinated by the liasion and scheduled in cooperation with both the student and instructor. Field instructors should contact the faculty liasion and/or field director immediately should any educational, performance, ethical, administrative, or supervisory issues arise with students. These issues should be identified as early as possible in the field experience. If the field instructor is unsure about concerns, discussion with the faculty liasion should occur as soon as possible. Specific duties of all field instructors include, but are not limited to: Orient the student to the field setting including: o Relevant personnel policies and procedures o Required meetings o Agency dress code o Record keeping and agency documentation o Confidentiality and HIPPA regulations o Intake, referral, transfer and termination processes Establish the learning contract with the student Provide necessary experiences to meet outlined educational goals Teach the appropriate use of supervision, including when and how to use supervision and for which purposes Serve as a professional role model Help the student understand and appropriately use the network of human services available to the community, agency and client Evaluate progress of the student, with the faculty liasion, throughout the semester Provide regularly scheduled, uninterrupted supervisory conferences for the purpose of enhancing the student s educational learning and practice skills Train on and monitor student compliance with safety policies and procedures, which may involve conducting home visits, interacting with potentially difficult clients and handling emergencies. Notify the faculty liasion as soon as possible should any problems regarding the student arise in the field setting Participate with the Department in a mutual effort to continue enhancing the field program Share expertise with the Department Communicate to the field director if any planned or unexpected changes that would impact supervision of students Agency Task Supervisor There may be times at agencies in which there is not a licensed social worker to provide required supervision. In this case, the Department does not eliminate those agency placements, but will work with 19

20 the agency to identify a task supervisor within the agency and will provide a licensed social worker to provide the required supervision. The task supervisor will provide the student with orientation to the agency, direction regarding daily assignments, required meetings, networking opportunities, and monitoring compliance with agency and legal requirements. The assigned field instructor will provide weekly supervison specifically addressing social work knowledge, values, ethics, and skills and will ensure that all agency tasks align with the student s educational goals. Task supervisors may include unlicensed social workers at an agency or other personnel with an educational background in another social science or related discipline. FACULTY INFORMATION Director of Field Education The Director of Field Education (Field Director) is a full-time faculty member of the Department and has responsibility for coordination of field placements in both the BSW and MSW programs. The Field Director oversees curriculum development and review; design and implementation of the placement process; development and evaluation of agency settings; organization of field instructor trainings; utilization of IPT database; representation of the field program on school committees, university functions and in the professional community; supervision of faculty liaisons; and evaluation of the field program for the Department. Field Liasions Field Liasions are faculty members of the Department, either full-time or adjunct, who may be assigned to specific field students during their semesters in field to provide supervision and assistance. The field liasion is responsible for visiting the agency twice per semester to evaluate the overall placement and participte in monitoring student progress. The field liaison serves as the link between the field placement and the Department and can be used to work through any difficulties that may arise from the student or field instructor. Students may or may not be assigned a field liasion as the Field Director may also serve in this role. Department Chair The Department Chair is responsible for oversight of the Department and is the link between the Department and the College. The Department Chair may become involved in field activities through interaction with the Field Advisory Committee and will be informed when any significant issues arise in field placements. BSW Program Director The BSW Program Director makes recommendations to the Department Chair regarding the undergraduate schedule of courses, curriculum changes, and faculty assignments to the program. Additionally, the Program Director ensures that preparation for field is interwoven into all program curriculum. The BSW Program Director is familiar with all BSW students enrolled in field education and will consult with the Field Director should any issues arise with BSW students in their field placement. Field Advisory Committee The Field Advisory Committee (the Committee) is not separate from the Advisory committee for the program which serves to advise the Department on matters related to the program and to field education. Faculty members serve on the committee based on their position within the Department; students serve a one-year term while in field education; and community social workers and field instructors serve either two or three year terms. The Program and Field Director serve as Co- Chairs of the Committee sharing all administrative responsibilities. In consideration of student confidentiality, concerns or situations regarding specific students will not be discussed by this Committee. 20