Social Work

Department Contact (For students):

Carol Dobos, Director of Field Instruction

Phone / Fax:

973-353-5867

Office Hours

Visit Hill Hall Room 416 for a schedule.

Career Development Center Contact:

Cheryl Egan , Internship Coordinator

Phone:

(973) 353-5311

Credit is obtained:

During their field placement experience, students must register for the Senior Seminar (910:413,414), Field Practice in Social Work (910:471,472), and Methods II and III (910:411,412).

Maximum internship credits allowed:

Credit is issued for the required field placement courses listed above. Any credit beyond what is required for these courses, must be discussed with the Social Work Department contact listed above.

Is credit awarded for prior internship activity?

No, However, students who have been employed in a social service setting may apply to the director of field instruction for approval to complete their practicum at their place of employment by completing a proposal. The proposal should be completed on the "Proposal for Practicum at Place of Employment" form, which is available through the director of field placement, and may be downloaded from the Department's website on the forms page.

How are internships approved by the department?

From the Department of Social Work Field Education Manual: "During the spring semester of their junior year, while enrolled in the Methods I course, students begin the placement process. At an in-class presentation, the director of field instruction provides an overview of field placement requirements and the practicum experience. At that time, students are advised to consider whether their personal and academic lives can be arranged to accommodate the requisite two days a week in the field agency, during the coming academic year. Students are asked to complete a pre-placement questionnaire, with information concerning their background, interests, and individual learning styles. As a part of the placement process, students are advised to prepare a resume to take with them to the interview. Upon completion of the questionnaire and resume, students sign up for a personal interview with the director of field instruction. During the process of identifying possible agencies for a particular student's field placement, the director of field placement considers the student's unique combination of learning needs, interests, and background."

The following characteristics must be present for credit to be issued:

The agency/employer should provide practice experiences which are appropriate for undergraduate social work students, as detailed in the Social Work Department Field Education Manual. The agency must enter an affiliation agreement with the Rutgers Newark Department of Social Work. The agreement will specify the responsibilities of the agency as well as the student's and the Department's responsibility to the agency. New descriptions of field/internship experiences, written by the agency/employer, must be approved on a case-by-case basis by the Social Work Department contact listed above.

(Please note: If experiences/internships do not meet the Social Work Department guidelines, they may be posted on the Career Development Center eRecruiting program as volunteer positions, internships, or paid jobs instead of credit-bearing field education placements.)