1.1 Chapter Overview
In this chapter, we give an overview of fieldwork in human services—the how and the why. Fieldwork is a key component of any human services program, whether at the associate, bachelor’s, or master’s level. Fieldwork allows you to apply your knowledge in real-life situations, where you can solidify your understanding of the coursework.
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 your challenges in beginning an internship experience.
Preview of Key Terms
- Apprenticeship: A formal type of experiential learning usually ending in an examination and a specific credential or acknowledgment 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 (standards) 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.
- Equity: The quality of being fair and impartial and providing equitable access to different perspectives and resources to all students.
- Equity lens: A way of looking at and acting on issues of justice to ensure that outcomes in the conditions of well-being are improved for marginalized groups, lifting outcomes for all.
- 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.
- Internship: A credit class in which students apply theory to practice by using what you have learned in coursework in a real-world setting with a supervisor/mentor who is invested in your growth and development (often also referred to as fieldwork or practicum).
- Social work: A 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.
Chapter Overview Licenses and Attributions
“Chapter Overview” by Yvonne M. Smith LCSW is licensed under CC BY 4.0.
(or internship/practicum) experiential learning contained within human services programs. For the purposes of this text, fieldwork, internship, and practicum will be used interchangeably.
A credit class in which students apply theory to practice by using what you have learned in coursework in a real-world setting with a supervisor/mentor who is invested in your growth and development (often also referred to as fieldwork or practicum).