Social Work Education

We are in the process of developing a BSW program and are currently evaluating the advantages and disadvantages of requiring either 400 or 450 hours of field placement.

Does anyone recommend setting the requirement at 450 hours? If so, what are the benefits you've seen with this model?

Alternatively, does anyone prefer sticking with the minimum of 400 hours, and why?

We would appreciate any insights or experiences you can share as we make this important decision.

#FieldEducation

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Jill Young-McMurchie
+1 (509) 231-1116
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For the first 8 years of our BSW program we required 450 hours. This year we switched to 400. Theoretically, having the extra 50 hours would give the student more experiences in their practicum. What we were seeing, however, was those extra hours really just being more of what they had already experienced. Reducing the hours was also a move towards equity. Students who were single parents, caring for parents, or needed to maintain a full time job had significantly more obstacles managing a 450-hour placement than a 400-hour placement. We also have heard from placement sites that they prefer the 400 hour model as well. It requires less work on their parts to ensure the students have enough work to fulfill those hours.

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Myke Selha
BSW Program Director
Grand View University
Des Moines IA
515-263-2966
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Thanks! This is helpful info, and we are leaning toward 400 for equity reasons. A few more responses with pros and cons would be helpful as we make our decision how to structure field placement hours. What is lost by reducing the hours from 450 or 400? 

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Jill Young-McMurchie
+1 (509) 231-1116
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Original Message:
Sent: May 20, 2025 10:33
From: Myke Selha
Subject: 400 hours of field education or 450? What are the pros and cons?

For the first 8 years of our BSW program we required 450 hours. This year we switched to 400. Theoretically, having the extra 50 hours would give the student more experiences in their practicum. What we were seeing, however, was those extra hours really just being more of what they had already experienced. Reducing the hours was also a move towards equity. Students who were single parents, caring for parents, or needed to maintain a full time job had significantly more obstacles managing a 450-hour placement than a 400-hour placement. We also have heard from placement sites that they prefer the 400 hour model as well. It requires less work on their parts to ensure the students have enough work to fulfill those hours.

------------------------------
Myke Selha
BSW Program Director
Grand View University
Des Moines IA
515-263-2966
------------------------------

Thanks for this! That was my thought too. Less hours the better for equity when students are juggling multiple responsibilities. 

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Jill Young-McMurchie
+1 (509) 231-1116
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: May 20, 2025 10:33
From: Myke Selha
Subject: 400 hours of field education or 450? What are the pros and cons?

For the first 8 years of our BSW program we required 450 hours. This year we switched to 400. Theoretically, having the extra 50 hours would give the student more experiences in their practicum. What we were seeing, however, was those extra hours really just being more of what they had already experienced. Reducing the hours was also a move towards equity. Students who were single parents, caring for parents, or needed to maintain a full time job had significantly more obstacles managing a 450-hour placement than a 400-hour placement. We also have heard from placement sites that they prefer the 400 hour model as well. It requires less work on their parts to ensure the students have enough work to fulfill those hours.

------------------------------
Myke Selha
BSW Program Director
Grand View University
Des Moines IA
515-263-2966
------------------------------