Studies

If you are the type of person who loves to be of service to other people, even if they are strangers, you may make an excellent social worker. Social workers are heroes in our society. Their work brings about social change as well as development, and it empowers those who need it the most. It helps so many dependent people find liberty in their lives.

If you are interested in entering the field of social work, you will need the right education. Although it is possible to go into some social work roles with proper training, it is always better to study how it all works. Getting a degree in social work requires regular studying just like any other program, but it also includes mandatory field work. It may sound a bit unconventional, but it actually makes perfect sense. Here is a look at why field work is such an important part of a social work degree.

The importance of field education in social work

Before looking at different important factors, it is useful to acknowledge that field work prepares students in a controlled environment and informs the expectations they should have of their future jobs. Their work will involve people from all different cycles and stages of life who are dealing with a myriad of issues.

Practical application

It is one thing to study social work and another to apply it. Field work is the perfect opportunity to actually apply what you learn in the books to see how it takes place in reality. This is the perfect time to experiment with the application of various theories and concepts you learn during the course to see how well it all is suited to particular situations. The learning attained this way comes full circle, giving you the confidence you need to go into a social work career.

Supervision

You won’t understand the comforting reality of not being held accountable for something while being a student until you step out into the real world after graduating. While you are a student, you have mentors and supervisors who are responsible for not only teaching you, but also for having your back in case you make a mistake. You do not want to make mistakes once the actual job starts, so use your field time to learn via trial and error.

Development of critical skills

Field work may be a great place to apply what you learn, but there will be many situations where what you have learned won’t be relevant. There will be times when you will have to rely on your own critical thinking, creativity, innovation and even adaptability to make sense of a situation. If it weren’t for field work, you would not get a chance to hone these very important skills.

Preparation

Field work is the part of the curriculum that prepares students for a career in social work. Think of it as a training period before the job begins. It is an excellent method to foster on-the-job learning because you essentially have to work in different settings to learn, even though it isn’t your official job at this point.

Self-Awareness

Field work exposes social work students to a number of different scenarios where they are required to contribute to solutions for the problems they face. While applying themselves in a practical manner in real time, students get to learn about their own limitations, strengths and even trigger points. There might be some aspects of social work that are not suited for everyone; it is important to know where you have the chance to shine, where you can improve and where you know you should stop.

The online social work Master’s program offered by Spalding University will provide you with access to an excellent curriculum with a theoretical portion and a well-rounded field work portion. The best part is that other than the field work itself, your studies take place online, giving you the chance to keep your current job and continue earning money while you learn.

Conclusion

Getting into social work can be challenging at times because you have to study while simultaneously applying your learning to practical scenarios. However, it is extremely rewarding, so don’t be discouraged; a very fulfilling career awaits you!