Student-informed matching
Students share their interests, goals and placement preferences as part of the matching process.
Field Education
MSU School of Social Work
Field education turns learning into practice.
BASW and MSW students apply classroom knowledge, develop professional skills and contribute in real-world social work settings—with support from MSU throughout the experience.
850+ programs in MSU's field education network
BASW generalist field experience and integrative seminar
MSW generalist and advanced field learning pathways
Practice with purpose
Professional experience shaped around learning, fit and growth.
Field education gives students the opportunity to connect social work knowledge, skills and values with meaningful professional experience. MSU partners with more than 850 programs throughout Michigan and abroad, creating opportunities across a wide range of communities and practice settings.
Our Field Education team works closely with students, field instructors and agencies to create responsive, well-supported placements that contribute to student development and agency goals.
Why MSU field education
Students help shape the placement experience.
Students are active participants in the process—from sharing their interests and preferences to connecting with prospective agencies and receiving support throughout placement.
Dedicated coordination
Field coordinators help students navigate the placement process and remain a source of support.
Placement-fit conversations
Pre-placement conversations allow students and agencies to learn more about one another before moving forward.
A broad partner network
More than 850 programs provide opportunities across Michigan and abroad.
Program pathways
Field learning for every social work degree path.
Field education experiences are designed around each program while maintaining a shared focus on professional competence, reflection and the integration of classroom and field learning.
BASW
BASW students complete a generalist field experience during their senior year and participate in an integrative field seminar. Students are typically in the agency approximately 16 hours each week.
Explore BASW field resourcesRegular MSW
Regular MSW students complete generalist and advanced field learning experiences, connecting their developing practice with structured reflection in an integrative seminar.
Explore MSW field resourcesAdvanced Standing MSW
Advanced Standing students complete an advanced field experience designed to build on their prior social work education and support continued professional development.
View Advanced Standing resourcesConnected learning
Placement and seminar work together.
Every student participates in an integrative field seminar facilitated by an LMSW. The seminar creates space to examine field experiences with peers and connect classroom knowledge, professional skills and social work values—strengthening overall student competence.
Take the next step
Field education resources
Prepare for placement, explore agency partnership opportunities or connect with the Field Education Office.