SSW 763 Fall 2025

WEEK 1 & 2 (8/24/25 –  9/5/25): WELCOME TO SECOND YEAR FIELD ADVISEMENT

• Biweekly Seminar [8/26/2025]
• Hunter Closed Monday 9/1/2025 for Labor Day
• Field practicum begins on Monday 9/8/2025

Reading:

Faulk, J. (n.d.). 5 tips for success in your social work internship. The New Social Worker. (Link Here)

WEEK 2 & 3 (9/8/25 –  9/19/25): REVIEW OF ED PLAN AND PROCESS RECORDINGS

• Biweekly Seminar [9/9/25]

Seminar Learning Objectives & Outcomes:

• Students will be able to articulate the key components of the educational plan and its objectives.
• Students will be able to identify and analyze critical elements within process recordings to inform practice.

Reading:

Conroy, K. (2012). Student writing in field education. The Columbia guide to social work writing, 85-113. (Link Here)

WEEK 4 & 5 (9/22/25 – 10/3/25): THE ART & SCIENCE OF SOCIAL WORK

• Biweekly Seminar [9/30/25]
• Virtual site field visits begin
• Monday 9/22/25 – Wednesday 9/24/25 No classes
• Wednesday 10//25 – Thursday 10/2/25 No classes

Seminar Learning Objectives & Outcomes:

• Students will demonstrate a thorough understanding of key social work theories, including systems theory, strengths-based perspective, and person-in-environment.
• Students will articulate how these theories inform practice and guide intervention strategies in diverse contexts.

Reading:

Connolly, M., Harms, L., & Maidment, J. (Eds.). (2009). Social work: Contexts and practice. Oxford University Press Australia & New Zealand. Ch. 1 The art and science of Social Work. (Link Here)

WEEK 5 & 6: (10/6/25 – 10/17/25): SELF CARE & WELL BEING DURING FIELD

• Biweekly Seminar [10/7/25]
• Hunter Closed Monday 10/13/25 for Indigenous Peoples Day
• Tuesday 10/14/25 Conversion Day – Classes follow a Monday schedule
• Educational plans are due 10/17/25

Seminar Learning Objectives & Outcomes:

• Students will be able to identify signs of stress and burnout and learn strategies to effectively manage their mental and physical well-being while navigating the challenges of their field education.
• Students will understand key safety protocols and practices to ensure both personal safety and the safety of clients during field placements.
• Students will learn to establish and maintain professional boundaries during their school/placement time off and holidays to support personal well-being and work-life balance.

Reading:

Nicotera, N., Han, T. M., Sedivy, J., & Andelora, J. (2023). A qualitative study of MSW student self-care and wellness: Implications for social work education. Journal of Social Work Education, 59(4), 1108-1124. (Link Here)

WEEK 7 & 8 (10/20/25 – 10/31/25): ANTI-OPRESSIVE PRACTICE IN FIELD

• Biweekly Seminar [10/21/25]
• Mid-Semester Performance Checklist due 11/7/2024 (Submitted by field instructor to field advisor)

Seminar Learning Objectives & Outcomes:

• Student will develop self-awareness and critical thinking on issues of privilege, power, oppression, and diversity and students will apply skills for social work practice through the perspectives of cultural humility, cultural competence, decolonization, and intersectionality
• Students will be able to thoroughly review and understand the mid-year evaluation process and expectations, enabling them to effectively prepare for and engage in self-assessment and feedback sessions to enhance their learning and performance in their field placements.

Podcast:

BlackDeer, A. A. (n.d.). A social worker’s guide to decolonizing the field of social work [UB Podcast]. The inSocialWork Podcast. (Link Here)

WEEKS 9 & 10 (11/3/25 – 11/14/25): ETHICAL DECISION MAKING WITH COMPLEX CASES

• Biweekly Seminar [11/4/25]

Seminar Learning Objectives & Outcomes:

• Students will identify and define ethical dilemmas within social work practice.
• Students will understand the complexities involved in scenarios where social work values and ethics conflict.

Reading:

Reamer, F. G. (2002, October 14). Making difficult decisions. Social Work Today. (Link Here)

WEEKS 11 & 12 (11/17/25 – 11/28/25): USING EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES

• Biweekly Seminar [11/18/25]
• Virtual Field Site Visits completed by 11/27/25
• No classes Thurs-Fri 11/27/25-11/30/25 for Thanksgiving

Seminar Learning Objectives & Outcomes:

• Students will undertand the five-step Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) and how to apply to field practice.
• Students will learn to integrate evidence-based research with clinical expertise and client preferences to make informed clinical decisions.

Reading:                                                                                                                                                     

Jaynes, S. (2014). Using Principles of Practice-Based Research to Teach Evidence-Based Practice in Social Work. Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work, 11(1/2), 222–235. (Link Here)

WEEK 13 & 14 (12/1/25 – 12/12/25): REFLECTING ON THE SEMESTER

• Biweekly Seminar [12/2/25]
• Last day of field practicum for first semester 12/19/25

Seminar Learning Objectives & Outcomes:

• Students will be able to critically assess their own professional growth and development throughout the first semester of their field placement, identifying strengths and areas for improvement for their second semester.
• Students will evaluate how they have integrated classroom learning with practical application in the field, and identify key lessons learned that can be applied in future semesters.

Reading:

Archer-Kuhn, B., Samson, P., Damianakis, T., Barrett, B., Matin, S., & Ahern, C. (2021). Transformative learning in field education: Students bridging the theory/practice gap. The British Journal of Social Work, 51(7), 2419-2438. (Link Here)