Welcome to Field Education at NCSSS!

Field Education is the heart of social work education at the National Catholic School of Social Service. It’s where classroom learning meets real-world experience—giving students the opportunity to engage directly in service, develop their skills, and deepen their understanding of what it means to be a social worker.  Through placements in a variety of community-based agencies and organizations, students will learn to provide services across different fields of practice, work with diverse populations, and shape their professional identity grounded in social work values. Our goal is to support our students developing into thoughtful, skilled, and ethical practitioners ready to make a meaningful impact in their communities.

Students, Field Instructors, Agency Partners, and Field Faculty can find all updated and relevant information pertaining to Field Education at NCSSS below.  Please reach out to the Director of Field Education, Frank Gaetani, MSW, LMSW, at 95gaetani@cua.edu or 202-319-5698 with any questions or for additional information.

Resources

Templates

Placements Overview

Referred to by the Council on Social Work Education as "the signature pedagogy of social work educations", Field Education is "where students integrate the theoretical and conceptual contribution of the classroom with the practical world of the practice setting." — CSWE, Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS), 2008.  Students in both the BSW Program and MSW Program will engage in Field work depending on their level of study.

Generalist Practice Placement

  • Completed by BSW students and first year MSW students.  This placement is designed to support students developing the knowledge and skills that comprise the professional base of social work practice.  Students will be exposed to the full range of social work practice at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels.
  • Students complete a minimum of 14 hours of field weekly from September - May, for an average of 210 hours per semester.  Students must have accrued 420 hours by the end of their placement in order to satisfy this requirement.

Specialized Practice Placement

  • Completed by second year MSW students and Advanced Standing MSW students.  This placement is designed to support students building upon generalist practice knowledge and skills acquired in student's first placement.  Students will complete a placement that aligns with their academic specialization (Clinical or CAPP).
  • Students complete a minimum of 16 hours of field weekly from September - May, for an average of 240 hours per semester.  Students must have accrued 480 hours by the end of their placement in order to satisfy this requirement.

Applying for Field Education

  • Students should discuss with their Faculty Academic Advisor when they plan on completing their Field Placements during the program.  Students that are planning to apply for Field Education should reach out to the Director of Field Education (95gaetani@cua.edu) for the Field Application.

Field Supports

  • Director of Field Education: Frank Gaetani, MSW, LMSW.  Contact information: 95gaetani@cua.edu, 202-319-5698
  • Field Liaisons: NCSSS Adjunct Faculty that serve as the bridge between the student, field agency, and school--- providing support, guidance, and evaluation throughout the placement.
  • Agency-Based Support: Field Instructor: Social Work Supervisor who provides supervision, instruction, and mentorship to the student during their time in their placement, guiding their professional development and evaluating their performance in the field;  Task Supervisor: Oversees the student’s day-to-day tasks and learning opportunities within the agency, in collaboration with the Field Instructor.
  • NCSSS Supports: Faculty Academic Advisors, BSW and MSW Program Chairs