Students |  Field Instructors and Task Supervisors

“Field placements help students to develop and practice the knowledge and skills they learn in the classroom in real world situations … and create a whole picture of the profession.” - Rebecca Brigham, director School of Social Work Field Education Program

Each semester, MSW students are placed in more than 250 government, nonprofit and other human services agencies throughout North Carolina. Students are exposed to numerous career possibilities and challenges and receive hands-on experience working directly or indirectly with older adults, children and families, or individuals served within the mental health system. Students generally contribute more than 130,000 hours – an estimated $1.2 million value - to these agencies.

Specific assignments are detailed in the Student Learning Agreement of the Field Education Manual and more can be found in the Field Education Database.

Because of limited public transportation in North Carolina, students are responsible for securing transportation to their field placements regardless of location.

Important resources for students and field instructors:

Field Education Faculty and Staff

Field FAQs

Field Education Calendar 2013-2014

Checklist for the Pre-Placement Interview

                                                           Hours in Field 2013-2014

"Outstanding in the Field" - A series of articles spotlighting the experiences of students and their field instructors.

Out in the Field brochure: Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students and social work field education. 

Field Educator: The Field Educator is an open access journal dedicated to the exchange of knowledge between field educators in academia and those in the practice community.

For more information, contact:
Rebecca Brigham
Director, Field Education Program
(919) 962-6532
brigham@email.unc.edu