Service Learning Students
Special Notice for Certificate/Minor Students: SWK 3999 Social Work and Service Learning (SWK3990 Agency Experience II and SWK390Y are equivalent to SWK3999)
Course Description
This service learning course builds on previous social work knowledge, values and skills and related liberal arts courses. Students will complete 150 hours in a community based agency under the guidance and direct supervision of agency personnel. This course is required for The Family Support in Social Work Minor and Certificate of Completion students and it is available to Social Work majors.
Summary of Expectations
Each student will begin an agency field placement the first week of the spring semester and will continue through the last week of the spring semester. The student(s) will complete a total of 150 hours, at 10 hours a week for 15 weeks. A learning contract will need to be developed jointly by the field instructor and the student. This contract will serve as the basis for the evaluation at the end of the semester by the field instructor on the student’s performance throughout the semester. Each week the field instructor and student should meet a minimum of one hour for supervision. If there are ever any concerns on behalf of the student or field instructor, please contact the course instructor or Social Work Certificate/Minor Director (Kathy R. Clark, 303-556-4679). The faculty liaison/course instructor will do one site visit at mid-point of the semester.
The classroom portion is mostly online but will meet on-campus/video broadcast one time (first week of class). The time spent in the course is not part of the total of 150 agency hours. Students may be asked to use examples from their placement to illustrate class concepts, however they will be asked to change any identifying information and confidentiality will be maintained.
Initially the student should be dependent upon the agency field instructor to learn about the agency, the clients, and his or her own role expectations. The pace at which new experiences and independent assignments are introduced must be geared to the needs of the individual student. By the end of the semester, the student is expected to have fulfilled the learning contract. Please review the full outline of the Service learning basic structure (
43 KB) for the SWK3999 Service Learning in Social Work course.
Student Application for Service Learning Field Placement
Applications for Spring 2013 semester are due October 31, 2012.

