Field education teaches students to apply theory and knowledge learned in the classroom to social work practice in agency settings. Students develop professional skills and competence in practice during the course of their internships. Field education offers opportunities to work directly with people and communities in human service agencies. Various modalities of practice include working with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. All internships are assigned by the Field Education Department and students are expected to comply with the policies and procedures of the department. These are detailed in the Social Work Field Education Manual (PDF 1.9MB).

Students who are completing internships must also comply with agency hours as well as policies and practices. Field instruction begins in September and continues through the January intersession even though most students are not attending classes. The internship is concluded upon completion of 600 hours for the academic year for the Foundation and Advanced graduate students. Undergraduate juniors complete 200 hours and seniors complete 400 hours for the academic year. During the January intersession, students are advised to consider housing availability and any related financial obligations for this time period. It is the student’s responsibility to arrange transportation to and from their field placement. The Field Education Department always takes into consideration a student’s means of transportation when locating an internship. Although the School does offer internships with evening hour assignments, all students are required to be available for a minimum of one full day or two half days during weekday daytime hours (Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.).

Students are not free to secure their own placements. If a student has an agency that they would like to recommend for placement, they may provide the field department with the name of the agency and the Field Education Department will contact the agency directly to discuss the possibility of an internship for the student. There is a formal process to secure placements including completion of a Field Education Application. Students are required to meet with their adviser or liaison before meeting with the Field Education Department. Placement planning meetings are also made available for students to attend. This will give them an opportunity to learn more about placement and what is available and required. Once an agency has been identified, the student will be notified by the department to set up a confirmation interview at the agency. Once confirmed, the student, agency, field instructor, and liaison will receive an assignment letter via email. This letter provides all contact information for the above-mentioned parties as well as the start and end date for field placement.

The School of Social Work is affiliated with over 1,000 human service agencies throughout the New York metropolitan region including but not limited to:

• Child welfare agencies
• Community centers
• Detention centers and correctional facilities
• Domestic violence agencies
• Mental health clinics
• Medical and psychiatric hospitals
• Nursing homes and extended care facilities
• Residential treatment facilities
• Schools
• Substance abuse treatment programs
• Veterans programs
• Youth service agencies

Undergraduate Field Instruction
Undergraduate social work students are assigned to field placements in both their junior and senior years. The junior year requires a minimum of 200 hours for the year and the senior year requires a minimum of 400 hours. The student is placed at separate agencies for each year. The junior year focuses on varied social work methods, client populations, and service delivery systems. Assignments support learning beginning practice skills and the introduction to the social work profession. Students in their senior year emphasize developing foundation practice skills for work with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

Graduate Field Instruction
In the Foundation year field placements, students complete a minimum of 600 hours of field instruction with an emphasis on developing foundation practice skills for work with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. In the Advanced year field placements, students also complete a minimum of 600 hours of field instruction in advanced, direct social work practice. Advanced Standing students come in to the program with a B.S.W. degree and are required to complete the Advanced year internship. In some instances, Advanced Standing students may be required to compete additional hours of field instruction or other foundation courses if the candidate's program is determined to vary significantly from Adelphi’s Foundation curriculum. One Year Residency (OYR) students are required to take a four-credit professional seminar, SWK 601, concurrent with the Foundation practice courses and complete 900 hours of field instruction in the Advanced year concurrent with advanced social work practice methods course work. OYR students already have significant work experience in the field under the supervision of an LMSW or LCSW.

Anne Marie Montijo Director of Field Education School of Social Work p - 516.877.4374 f - 516.877.4376 e - amontijo@adelphi.edu	Llonia Gordon Assistant Director for Field Education and Student Services Hudson Valley Center p - 845.471.3348 f - 845.452.0967 e - llgordon@adelphi.edu
Anjali Parekh-Singh Assistant Director of Field Education Garden City Campus p - 516.877.4351 f - 516.877.4376 e - parekhsingh@adelphi.edu	Phyllis Campagna Administrative Assistant Field Education Office Garden City Campus p - 516.877.4375 f - 516.877.4376 e - campagna@adelphi.edu
James-Paul Amato Assistant Director of Field Education Manhattan Center p - 212.965.8340 x 117 f - 212.965.8362 e - amato@adelphi.edu	Jamie Gergen Assistant Director for Field Education and Student Services Hauppauge Center p - 516.237.8609 f - 516.237.8612 e - gergen@adelphi.edu