
Field Placement

The Greater Miami Valley Joint MASW Program at Miami University has developed diverse and exciting field partnerships across Butler County, Cincinnati and the Dayton areas. Considered a “signature pedagogy” through CSWE, we recognize the importance of matching students with an agency and supervisor that can guide their development, build skills, and provide learning tasks aligned with the student’s personal future goals.
Students work directly with the Field Education Director to secure their placement. With close to 100 field sites available to support our program, students can specify the population and type of roles they wish to pursue as part of the field practicum courses. Miami’s Field Education program engages in a guided matching process for practicum decisions. Students identify populations or specific agencies with whom they would like to intern. The Director of Social Work Field Education directs and links the student to agencies for
Placements for both the foundational and advanced courses vary but could include working with hospitals, schools, Veterans Affairs departments, advocacy programs, substance abuse, the court and legal system, homeless supports, mental health agencies, child and older adult welfare agencies, and many more!
As a student in the MASW
Lori Shaffer
-MASW Graduate 2018
Operating on the values of Relationship-Based Care, the Dayton VA employs over 90 social workers to provide comprehensive services to veterans. There
Jason Bailey
-MASW Graduate 2018
Student Highlight
Marche' Gendrew, a graduate student in the traditional social work program, is completing her advanced field placement with the Cincinnati Educational Justice Coalition. Her macro-level work supports local teachers and families by advocating for fair funding in public education as well as increased anti-racist education and a safe return to schools for all Cincinnati public students. See details of Ms. Gendrew's advocacy work in Local 12 News and CityBeat.
Student Highlight
Field Placement Requirements
Students in the Advanced Standing program complete a single field placement that lasts two semesters (Fall and Spring), ultimately completing 500 total hours. This placement is intensive where students often work directly with clients or independently work on projects.
Students in the Traditional program complete 2 field placements for a total of 900 hours. The first is in the first spring semester for 300 hours. This placement typically focuses on administrative, organizational and policy social work practice while providing a student a foundational understanding of a client population and impacting systems. The 2nd placement lasts two semesters (Fall and Spring of the 2nd year), ultimately completing 600 total hours. This placement is more intensive where students often work directly with clients or independently work on projects.