Field Education is a vital component of completing the MSW program with Indiana Wesleyan University. The Council on Social Work Education considers Field Education the signature pedagogy of social work education as it allows students to apply knowledge, values, and skills in practice to achieve competency as a Master’s level social worker.
Application Due Dates:
Applications for admission to field are due three (3) months in advance of the start of the practicum. Students in the 24-month track and hybrid cohort are required to submit their initial application within the first month after beginning the program and should be prepared to begin planning for their practicum experience upon starting the program. Students are notified and provided information regarding the field application process by the MSW Field department before the application due dates, which are as follows:
Identifying Practicum Sites:
Because the MSW program is an online program covering many geographic areas, please be aware that students are required to take the lead in identifying and securing their practicum sites. The MSW program uses a field platform called Experiential Learning Cloud (ELC) to provide a database of available sites previously used by students to assist them in locating site. Students may also identify sites independently. The Director of Field Experiences will work with students to ensure a plan is in place that will assist in successfully locating a site. Students should reach out early to the field department for guidance as needed.
Any Questions?
Dr. Toby Buchanan, Director for Field Experiences and Advanced Year Field Contact
Toby.Buchanan@indwes.edu
Dr. Lori Goss-Reaves, Professor and Generalist Year Field Contact
Lori.Reaves@indwes.edu
To learn more about the IWU MSW Field Education program, please see the MSW Field Practicum Manual below. This manual provides all the information students need regarding the program, including required hours, agency and supervisor requirements, responsibilities, and key assignments.
Also, to assist students in identifying and selecting appropriate sites, students can use the Guidelines for Identifying a Field Placement and Field Placement Student Initial Site Review Forms below to help them locate and evaluating a suitable placement site.
If you have specific questions regarding Field Experiences before or after acceptance to the program, please contact the Field Department at MSWFieldDepartment@indwes.edu
Dear Agency Field Instructor,
Welcome and thank you for your willingness to partner with IWU in educating the next generation of MSW’s. We are honored that you have chosen to work with an IWU student and are grateful for the expertise and field experiences you can offer our students.
Reviewing and Signing Field Documents
After completing the electronic Experiential Learning Cloud (ELC) field instructor application sent to you by the student during the field placement process you will be connected to the student in the ELC system. From that point onward you should receive an invitation to register for ELC and when a student needs you to review a time log or assignment, you will receive an email asking you to review and sign the document with a direct link to the document. It’s that simple.
Orientation to IWU MSW Field and Assignments
To help you prepare for your role and become familiar with the activities and assignments students will bring to you during the 32-week practicum. Please see the items below to help familiarize you.
If you have questions regarding field, please do not hesitate to contact the field faculty or your student’s faculty liaison at any time. You can reach the field department at MSWFieldDepartment@indwes.edu
Thanks again. We look forward to working with you!
The IWU MSW program uses an online electronic field software system called Experiential Learning Cloud (ELC .)
ELC will allow you to:
When it comes time for your field application process to begin, you will receive an email from ELC asking you to register as a user.
Please take these important steps:
Best Practices for Accessing ELC:
After you receive your invitation to register for ELC, you should begin the Field Education Application and site search, request, and approval process. To ensure your success in this process, please watch the following video tutorials and review the additional information provided to guide you through the application and site approval process.
Helpful Files:
Dr. Toby Buchanan, Director for Field Experiences and Advanced Year Field Contact
Toby.Buchanan@indwes.edu
Dr. Lori Goss-Reaves, Professor and Generalist Year Field Contact
Lori.Reaves@indwes.edu
