Field placement is the required experiential learning component of Saint Leo University online MSW program. Whether you follow the traditional or advanced standing track, you will apply what you learn in the classroom to real-world situations to prepare you for your future in social work.

Your dedicated Saint Leo University field placement team supports you throughout the process of identifying and securing a quality experiential learning site that aligns with your educational goals and intended area of practice. You’ll take an active role in exploring opportunities that reflect your interests, while the field placement team provides guidance, resources, and ongoing support. Before you begin your fieldwork, the team ensures that all placement sites and field instructors meet CSWE accreditation standards and complete the required approval process.

Concurrent coursework and field experiences connect theory with practice. Field placement provides hundreds of hours of real-world, hands-on social work experience.

No. Support to find field placement sites in your community is integrated into the program cost.

Your Enrollment Advisor and faculty will guide you through the entire process. They will give you a realistic idea of the field experience to ensure you are ready to work independently in a fast-paced environment.

Students are strongly encouraged to conduct outreach to secure a placement site and are responsible for key parts of the placement process. However, the University is required to review and approve the agency before the start of any fieldwork.

You will be responsible for completing any program- and site-mandated clearance requirements, which may include (but not limited to) immunizations, drug screening, background check, interview or other paperwork. Please be sure to adhere to deadlines, and to check your email regularly for any site-specific requests so that you can respond promptly.

As active participants in the placement process, you are encouraged to conduct outreach in your local community to secure a field site that aligns with your goals and preferences. If you require the placement team’s support in your search, you may need to complete an Intake Form to provide our team with essential information that will be used to secure your placement.

Typically, students complete their field hours at:

• Community centers/organizations
• Human service agencies
• Counseling and therapy centers
• Addiction and mental health treatment facilities
• Adoption agencies
• Senior care facilities, such as nursing homes
• Correctional facilities
• Hospitals/clinics

You will receive a confirmed placement notification from your Enrollment Advisor prior to each field experience start date. This confirmation will indicate your placement has been approved, and all requirements from the site have been met so that you can get started onsite.

No. You are responsible for your transportation and travel expenses.

If you currently work in a social service setting and have a licensed social worker who supervises you, then yes. As of 2022, the Council on Social Work Accreditation now supports the use of employment hours as fieldwork hours, though there are field placement learning contracts and related follow-up required to make sure that CSWE education competencies are incorporated and part of the employment.