Information for Agencies and Field Instructors

The M.S.W. is a professional practice-oriented degree that assumes the school and community of social work agencies are engaged together in the education process. The UCLA Department of Social Welfare relies heavily on the practicum and community agencies to help produce good practitioners.

The Department of Social Welfare is an integral part of the University of California, adhering to its established policies. Affiliation with a wide spectrum of community agencies, which may provide suitable educational opportunities for our students is sought. The practicum or field work is a course which must meet University and Council of Social Work Education (CSWE) requirements. The Chair has final administrative responsibility in all matters pertaining to the Department.

Agencies interested in placements from the M.S.W. program should submit the following forms to the Department of Social Welfare:

1. The Agency Information Profile form; and
2. The UCLA Affiliation Agreement form.

Both are available as downloads on the bottom of this page. Information on the criteria for agency selection may be accessed on the page describing Responsibilities of the Agency.

Selection Process

In the course of the academic quarter the field faculty will conduct a needs assessment for the next academic year. This need attempts to:

• Review the placements currently in use;
• Assess the educational needs and areas of specific interests of our students, both new and those moving into second year;
• Review the geographic spread of agencies and students so that the placement be no more than 30 miles from the student's place of residence; and
• Determine what we shall need in the way of additional placements, new programs, and in which geographic areas.

Once the assessment is completed, and it is deemed probable that a placement can be mutually beneficial, and member of the field faculty will make an appointment with selected agencies to further discuss the specific arrangements. An orientation meeting is scheduled in the fall, and M.S.W. student placements are usually finalized in September or October.

For further information, please see:

• Field Instructor Criteria
• Responsibilities of the Department
• Responsibilities of the Student
• Responsibilities of the Field Agency
• Responsibilties of Field Instructors

Application forms (downloads)
*Please note BOTH are required

• Agency Information Profile
• Affiliation Agreement