FACULTY OF SOCIAL WORK
FIELD INSTRUCTION SWRK 6050
PRE-MASTER COURSE OUTLINE
Field Instructor:
Telephone:
E-mail:
Field Liaison:
Telephone:
E-mail:
Field Coordinator (Campus): Kelly Scott
Telephone: 204-474-8300
Fax: 204-474-7594
E-mail: Kelly.Scott@umanitoba.ca
Office Hours: As posted on a weekly basis
Course Description
An educationally focused practice experience where the student carries a
sustained professional role as a beginning practitioner. Requires 450 hours of
time including an orientation program, engagement in practicum activities under
supervision, educational contact time with the field instructor and evaluation of
performance. Co-requisite: SWRK 4200.
The Faculty of Social Work places students in various settings to offer them
opportunities to learn how to practice social work, incorporating academic
knowledge and the values and ethics of the profession.
Field Sequence
The field experience consists of 450 hours of practice. Hours missed due to
statutory holidays, illness, or agency closure need to be made up by the student.
Field hours do not include Reading Week. The 450 hours are calculated at
approximately 28 weeks x 2 days x 8 hours per day. All students are required to
complete a time log which is signed off by their field instructor, verifying
completion of a minimum of 450 hours in practice.
Course Objectives
It is anticipated that the students:
 In the clinical stream (primarily, but may also apply to administrative
stream students) will have demonstrated the direct practice skills of
assessment, planning, contracting, implementation, evaluation and
termination with clients.
2

In the administration stream (primarily, but may also apply to clinical
stream students) will apply a range of organizational theories and
strategies in social service administration and a range of models of
planning and evaluating social policies and programs.
It is anticipated that all students:
 Will have demonstrated evidence-based practice through integration of
theory and research in practice activities;
 Will apply the eco-systemic perspective to social work practice;
 Will have been able to intervene in complex situations at the appropriate
system level (micro, meso, macro) based on assessment skills;
 Will have integrated and demonstrated anti-oppressive practice principles;
 Will have demonstrated an understanding of the conflicting expectations in
practice situations;
 Will have been able to establish and follow through on identified priorities
as well as deal with unanticipated workload demands and/or crises;
 Will have initiated and sustained supportive and responsive relationships
with clients and colleagues and facilitated effective communication over
the necessary period of contact;
 Will have developed effective working relationships with the agency and
University personnel;
 Will have been prepared for supervisory conferences, will remain open to
new ideas and will demonstrate an ability to handle differences of opinion.
Their written communication will contain essential information;
 Will have taken the initiative in developing and using relevant information
to take responsibility for their ongoing professional development;
 Will have been able to consistently demonstrate an awareness of their
own emotional responses and deal with these feelings in a professional
manner
 Will have demonstrated ethical professional behaviour towards clients and
colleagues in the practice setting;
 Will demonstrate an understanding of the implications of structural and
policy factors on individuals, families, neighbourhoods, and communities.
 Will have demonstrated skill in identifying necessary policy change to
improve intervention or the well-being of clients, and in organizing
necessary action; and
 Will have demonstrated skill in identifying neighbourhood and community
factors that affect the well-being of clients, and in identifying appropriate
community development or community organization activity.
Meetings and Workshops
All students are expected to participate in meetings and workshops that are
organized as part of the Field Program. Information and planning meetings held
prior to the actual placement date are not counted as part of the 450 hours of
placement. Workshops related to the Field Program that the student attends
3
during the academic year in which their placement occurs may be counted as
part of the required field placement hours.
Course Expectations
The schedule of time required for the field placement will be included in the
Learning Contract. Any variation to the time element must be negotiated and
approved by the field instructor.
Grading
All field instructors with students must complete the Field Evaluation Form. This
is the tool used to assign grades. The evaluation of a student is done on a
pass/fail basis. Grade appeals should be discussed with the field instructor, then
the Faculty Liaison, and finally the Field Coordinator. Outstanding issues may be
appealed to the Appeals Committee of the Faculty of Social Work.