Academics
 

Overview of Field Education

Field Education at Molloy College is firmly grounded in the Department of Social Work mission and goals. The program objectives that are adopted from the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards, guide the field education curriculum and the professional development of our students.

Department of Social Work Mission Statement
"Molloy College, an independent, Catholic college, rooted in the Dominican tradition of study, spirituality, service, and community is committed to academic excellence with respect for each person. Through transformative education, Molloy promotes a lifelong search for truth and the development of ethical leadership." (Molloy College Mission Statement)

The Department of Social Work, building on the Mission of the College, and reflecting the essence of its Dominican tradition, develops ethical, competent and self-aware professionals for generalist practice and graduate study. It serves as a catalyst for value-centered professional social work education within an increasingly diverse, multicultural society. The faculty promotes the application of knowledge and skills through an interactive educational community experience, fostering critical thinking, practice evaluation and a commitment for life-long learning.

Program Goals
The Department of Social Work program goals are derived from the Molloy College Mission Statement. They specify the intentions of the program to prepare practitioners serving individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities to:

  1. Gain knowledge of theories and methods applicable to policy, research and generalist practice;
  2. Promote the development of human potential, particularly among diverse and vulnerable populations;
  3. Practice from a value base that acknowledges the professions' core values of service, social justice, dignity and worth of a person, importance of human relationships, integrity and competence;
  4. Work in BSW entry-level positions and prepare for graduate studies;
  5. Demonstrate commitment to life-long learning, leadership in service and professional development by involvement in professional organizations and continuing education.

Program Objectives
In order to enable students to develop a professional identity and competency, the Department of Social Work has adopted the following program objectives:

  • Apply critical thinking skills
  • Demonstrate value-based ethical principles
  • Diversity and difference in practice
  • Professional identity and use of self
  • Advance human rights and social and economic justice
  • Context for practice: External Environment
  • Context for practice: Internal Environment
  • Generalist social work practice: Engagement
  • Generalist social work practice: Assessment
  • Generalist social work practice: Intervention
  • Knowledge of human behavior and the social environment
  • Research skills to evaluate practice
  • Demonstrate clarity in verbal and written communication
  • Utilize supervision and consultation

Educational Perspective and Role of Field Education
Field education is an integral component of social work education anchored in the mission, goals and educational level of the program. It occurs in settings that reinforce students' identification with the purposes, values and ethics of the profession, fosters the integration of empirical and practice-based knowledge and promotes the development of professional competence (CSWE, 2008).

While the specific behavioral expectations of students in field placement depend in part upon the setting in which they are placed, in general, our field sites are selected to help students develop skills anchored in our program objectives. The dominant theoretical frameworks for generalist practice include the systems perspective, strengths perspective, problem-solving and task centered theories. Students are expected to develop competencies through the practice of skills in the areas of engagement, assessment, contracting and goal setting, intervention, group work, program development, community organizing and termination. Students are further expected to develop practice abilities in effective and efficient use of supervision and oral and written communication. Strategies for beginning skills in cultural competence and ethical practice will be promoted by all placement learning experiences. Competencies in these areas will prepare students for entry-level professional practice and continued studies on the graduate level.