1.1 Chapter Overview
In this chapter, we give an overview of fieldwork in human services—the how and the why. Fieldwork is considered a key component of any human services program, whether it be at the associate, bachelor’s, or master’s level. Fieldwork gives you the opportunity to take your knowledge and apply it in real-life situations, where you can solidify your understanding of the curriculum. You may find this experience both anxiety-producing and exciting.
1.1.1 Learning Objectives
After reading this chapter, you will be able to do the following:
- articulate the importance of fieldwork in human services education
- identify the national standards related to fieldwork education
- examine one’s own challenges in beginning an internship experience
1.1.2 Preview of Key Terms
- Apprenticeship: a formal type of experiential learning usually ending in an examination and a specific credential or acknowledgement as a professional in the field.
- CSHSE Standards: The Council on Standards in Human Services Education is the accrediting body for post-secondary human services programs that provides guidelines for programs across the United States.
- Diversity: the practice or quality of including or involving people from a range of different social and ethnic backgrounds and of different genders, sexual orientations, etc. that may or may not intersect with each other.
- Equity: the quality of being fair and impartial and providing equitable access to different perspectives and resources to all students.
- Fieldwork (or internship/practicum): experiential learning contained within human services programs. For the purposes of this text, fieldwork, internship, and practicum will be used interchangeably.
- Inclusion: the practice or quality of providing equal access to opportunities and resources for people who might otherwise systemically be excluded or marginalized, such as those who have physical or mental disabilities and members of other minority groups.
- Social work: practice-based profession and an academic discipline that promotes social change and development, social cohesion, and the empowerment and liberation of people
- Sociology: the study of social life, social change, and the social causes and consequences of human behavior.
- Theory to practice: the opportunity to apply concepts learned through formal coursework to real-life practice settings.
1.1.3 Licenses and Attributions for Chapter Overview
“Chapter Overview” by Yvonne M. Smith LCSW is licensed under CC BY 4.0.