Flowers are blooming, temperatures are rising, and allergy season is creeping right around the corner; this could only mean one thing — it is fieldwork season for Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) students at Seton Hall University!

Fieldwork is an essential part to every social work student's education, as it is an opportunity for the student to delve, headfirst, in an actual social work agency to earn boots-on-the-ground experience. As stated in the Seton Hall University Field Education Manual, Master of Social Work program 2020-2021:

"It is in the field experience that the student applies and tests the theory and information that constitute the knowledge for practice…the student acquires, refines, and evaluates skills and techniques needed for professional practice."

Fieldwork allows students within the M.S.W. program to take what they have learned in the classroom and apply it to the real world. Because most M.S.W. programs are two years in length, most students acquire a fieldwork internship for each year, totaling in two different internships within their time studying. The first year of fieldwork is usually more general, allowing the student to see where their interest lies and where it does not. The second year of fieldwork is more advanced, focusing on what avenue the student would like to take in their career upon graduation.

What are some of the agencies offering fieldwork to Seton Hall's M.S.W. students, you may be asking? Graciously, select students within the social work program have been kind enough to share some insight of where you can find them in the fall semester. Let's see!

Come this Fall 2022 semester, Catarina Pereira will be entering her second year within the Master of Social Work program at Seton Hall. Pereira will be completing her fieldwork at The Elizabeth Coalition to House the Homeless, located in Elizabeth, New Jersey. As stated in the name, this agency's goal is to house the homeless within the area; additionally, there is an intent to provide clients with enough aid and resources to allow them to one day obtain permanent housing on their own. Homelessness is a prevalent problem here in New Jersey, and one that social workers have a great role in offering support.

Pereira has hopes that this fieldwork placement will help her figure out if the homeless population is one she feels most equipped to work with. She also is looking forward to becoming more knowledgeable in social services by being a part of them.

Mahasin Wilson is another rising second year M.S.W. student at Seton Hall, who will be completing her fieldwork at the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), New Jersey Chapter, this Fall 2022 semester. The NASW is the largest membership organization of professional social workers in the world, with more than 120,000 members. The New Jersey Chapter is among the largest three chapters in the United States, with nearly 7,000 members.

Placed with such a well renowned social work agency, Wilson is excited to just "be a sponge" and hopefully absorb all the knowledge and network that comes with being part of such an organization. Wilson is aware that she will be running in the same circle as "some real move makers" and is excited to join the cause. Having this fieldwork opportunity with NASW-NJ not only exemplifies how hardworking Wilson is, but also shows what heights many Seton Hall students can achieve within the M.S.W. program.

Alongside Wilson and Pereira, Natalie Tague is entering her second year within the program. Tague completed her first year of fieldwork at a women's and children's emergency shelter, The Apostle's House, in Newark, New Jersey. While the experience she had there was rich, her time spent there also helped Tague to realize that her aspirations lie in taking her degree and using it within grief counseling upon graduation. Hence, for Tague's second year of fieldwork, she has been placed with a non-profit counseling center called The Bridge, located in West Caldwell, New Jersey, beginning the Fall 2022 semester.

The Bridge's mission has adapted to change with the times, and the agency:

"has grown and successfully expanded to provide multifaceted services designed to strengthen and support struggling young people and their families, while always maintaining at its core, the initial, underlying goal of providing alternative choices for young people struggling with the results of poor decisions and untoward circumstances in their lives."

Tague is eager to be a part of such a center and hopes to expand her knowledge with a population that differs from that of her first year fieldwork. Tague is also keen on being able to gain experience in a more clinical-based setting that can be applied to her intended career field after graduation.

The lessons learned from participating in fieldwork are something that each student takes with them long into their desired social work careers. Seton Hall University is proud to be able to assist students with such experiences that have ample opportunity to allow each one to thrive.

For questions and/or concerns about the Master of Social Work field placements, please contact Ilissa Nico, M.S.W. Program Faculty Associate and Field Director, at (973) 761-9448 or [email protected].

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