| FAQ For Persons Interested in MSW Social
Work Internships |
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Q1.How many days do I have the
internship?
For the first
year, you will complete16 hours/week (2 days) for two
semesters. For the second year, you will complete 24
hours/week (3 days) for two semesters. |
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Q2.Can I pick my own agency?
You choose your internship placement from
among the approved agencies, after interviewing at least 3-5
possibilities, and with consultation and approval of the Field
Director. |
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Q3.Do I have
to pay insurance?
Yes.Malpractice
insurance is required by the School and many agencies before
doing internships. |
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Q4. Are
stipends available?
Yes, in certain agencies. You should
always ask. You will be given a list of questions to use in
the agency interviews. The questions include asking about
stipends. |
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Q5. Can I do
an internship in an agency not on the list?
Possibly. If there is an agency in which
you are interested, check with the Field Director to see if
the agency qualifies and what procedures to take. |
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Q6.Can I do
an internship where I work?
See the Field Manual on the Field
Education website. You are strongly discouraged from
repeating prior experiences. Exceptions to the policy of not
doing an internship where you work can be made only under
specific circumstances and only for one of the two years of
internships. |
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Q7. Can I get paid in my internship?
Yes. As long as you are treated as an
intern and not an employee. |
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Q8. I live
far away from San Francisco. Can I do an internship close to
my community?
Yes. We encourage
and support students to learn more about their own communities
and to complete their internships in their own areas when
possible and when the student wishes to. We will seek
internships in areas in which there are no current placements,
if the student lives there. |
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Q9. I have to
work and have a family and have a really difficult schedule.
Are there internships with flexible hours?
Yes. If you need internships with
flexible and complicated schedules, contact the Field Director
early to discuss possibilities. There are a limited number of
placements with very flexible hours. |
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Q10. Is there
a class I have to attend for the internship?
The internship seminar is every Wednesday
from 4-6 for the entire academic year and is required for
every student in an internship. You register for both the
internship (SW 740, 2 units) and the Field Seminar (SW 741, 2
units). |
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Q11. Is there
a class I have to attend for the internship?
The internship seminar is every Wednesday
from 4-6 for the entire academic year and is required for
every student in an internship. You register for both the
internship (SW 740, 2 units) and the Field Seminar (SW 741, 2
units). |
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Q12. Who
supervises my internship?
Each student has an agency based MSW
field instructor approved by the School to provide the
educational supervision at the agency site. The interviews you
complete with the agencies are with the Field Instructors.
Decisions about which internship to select should be based on
the relationship with the agency field instructor.
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Q13. Should I
go to an agency where I already have experience?
No. Try out new skills and experiences
for the internship. Don’t repeat what you already know. You’re
coming to school to learn new things, not repeat what you have
done before. |
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Q14. What happens if I have trouble
in the internship?
Every student is
assigned a faculty liaison to work with the student and the
agency field instructor to assure that the internship is
meeting the student’s educational goals and the School’s
requirements. The liaison is available to help you if any
problems arise in the internship. Also, you will be discussing
your internship every week in the internship seminar and can
use that group for on-going support and questions.
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For further information, see the Field Education Website.
Good Luck
Field
Education is the Heart of Social Work Education! |
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