Field education provides students with opportunities to work directly with professionals in the field that are committed to preparing future social workers and demonstrate their application of skills and the social work competencies. Students will gain practice experience as interns in a wide variety of social work and inter-professional settings and begin developing their professional networks. Social work provides broad career pathways and includes school and clinical social work, child welfare, gerontology, policy advocacy, community organizing and organizational administration, mental and behavioral health, international practice, and medical social work, among others.
Field Education connects students with placements that provide opportunities to learn and contribute as the demonstrate skills competency and lean into their professional interests.
At UK, Students drive their field process and can select from an expansive agency list of that provide a variety of learning environments or suggest an agency that reflects their professional interests, including their employers.
Students can explore organizational depth and breadth by opting to stay in one agency for both placements or intern in different agency settings, as well as consider employer-hosted placements when appropriate. Block placements and external field instructors are also strategies we use to ensure students have flexibility in their learning plan.
Strategic advising helps students navigate the field placement process and determine the best timing and approach for their career planning. Students also receive career counseling, mentoring, and post-graduation mentorship to ensure successful transition into social work practice. UK’s social work graduates have the highest clinical licensure pass rates in Kentucky.
MSW students have the option to earn specialized certificates in Clinical Social Work, Child Welfare, Military Behavioral Health, Rural Population Wellbeing, and Substance Use Disorder with unique coordinated practicum opportunities.
CoSW is home to several unique research centers and labs, including the Training Resource Center, Interdisciplinary Research Center on Children and Families, Kentucky Kinship Resource Center, Self-Care Lab, Suicide Prevention and Exposure Lab, and Military Behavior Health Lab. Practicum placements within these entities provide unique learning and research opportunities
field placement Opportunities
KY rank for licensing pass rates
Students who receive some type of financial aid
Compulsive Lying explores why a child may lie compulsively. It identifies strategies and offers resources designed to assist children and their families dealing with this issue. After completing this training,
Helping Foster & Adopted Children Transition to a New School will assist foster/adoptive parents in preparing to enroll a child in a new school. It will also provide practical tips
New Placements: Preparing & Adjusting Family Roles will help foster and adoptive parents introduce new placements into their existing family units. It gives ideas and strategies on how to prepare
Turn Your Goals into Reality Explore our Doctorate of Social Work (DSW) program during an online info session. Registration link is at the end of the event listing, under 'Website'.
This new KIN VIP Support Group will begin as a 12-week pilot Support Group and will provide a community of support for kinship caregivers who have been impacted by a
Citizen Review Panels (CRPs) are groups of caring volunteers that work to improve the well-being of children, families, and communities across Kentucky. To learn more about CRPs or join a
Strategies for Parenting Teens will provide an overview of adolescent development and common questions and challenges presented by youth who are in foster care or were adopted. This training will
Healthy Boundaries in Teenage Relationships explores healthy and unhealthy dating behaviors. It is designed to assist caregivers in identifying warning signs that a teen may be involved in an abusive
CORE TEEN (Critical On-going Resource Family Education) Session 4 Nurturing Youth’s Cultural / Racial / Ethnic Needs and Sexual Orientation / Gender Identity February 29, 2024 6:30 PM-9:00 PM EST
Did you know just about every state has a Social Work Lobby Day hosted by National Association of Social Workers? In Kentucky that day is March 5 and the College
Citizen Review Panels (CRPs) are groups of caring volunteers that work to improve the well-being of children, families, and communities across Kentucky. To learn more about CRPs or join a
This new KIN VIP Support Group will begin as a 12-week pilot Support Group and will provide a community of support for kinship caregivers who have been impacted by a
Citizen Review Panels (CRPs) are groups of caring volunteers that work to improve the well-being of children, families, and communities across Kentucky. To learn more about CRPs or join a
Celebrate with your fellow alumni! The SWAA is pleased to provide a limited number of complimentary tickets to the UK Men’s Basketball Game versus Vanderbilt at 9 PM on March
Citizen Review Panels (CRPs) are groups of caring volunteers that work to improve the well-being of children, families, and communities across Kentucky. To learn more about CRPs or join a
CORE TEEN (Critical On-going Resource Family Education) Session 5 Understanding and Managing Youth’s Challenging Behaviors – Part 1 March 7th, 2024 6:30 PM-8:30 PM EST Via Zoom Stephanie Spires 2
Citizen Review Panels (CRPs) are groups of caring volunteers that work to improve the well-being of children, families, and communities across Kentucky. To learn more about CRPs or join a
Citizen Review Panels (CRPs) are groups of caring volunteers that work to improve the well-being of children, families, and communities across Kentucky. To learn more about CRPs or join a
Children with Oppositional Defiant Disorder, or ODD, often struggle with defiant behaviors in which they challenge caregivers, break rules, lose their temper, even becoming frequently angry or annoyed. For these
This new KIN VIP Support Group will begin as a 12-week pilot Support Group and will provide a community of support for kinship caregivers who have been impacted by a
CORE TEEN (Critical On-going Resource Family Education) Session 6 Understanding and Managing Youth’s Challenging Behaviors – Part 2 March 14th, 2024 6:30 PM-9:00 PM EST Via Zoom Joy Harris Edwards
Citizen Review Panels (CRPs) are groups of caring volunteers that work to improve the well-being of children, families, and communities across Kentucky. To learn more about CRPs or join a
Embark on a journey of academic excellence with our PhD program in Social Work. Engage with our distinguished faculty and staff while delving into cutting-edge research across a myriad of
Citizen Review Panels (CRPs) are groups of caring volunteers that work to improve the well-being of children, families, and communities across Kentucky. To learn more about CRPs or join a
This new KIN VIP Support Group will begin as a 12-week pilot Support Group and will provide a community of support for kinship caregivers who have been impacted by a
Monthly Staff Meeting for Centers & Labs Training Resource Center Staff. The meeting is held the 3rd Wednesday of Each Month at the Training Resource Center. This is an in-person
Explore our Master of Social Work (MSW) program during an online info session. Registration link is below, under 'Website' The UK Difference Our MSW program is an Advanced Generalist program
Pursue your Passion for the Greater Good Explore College of Social Work’s newest Criminal Justice program during our online info session! REGISTER HERE The UK Difference Graduates from our
Please join us as we discuss the upcoming Master of Science in Criminal Justice program! This info session will be held virtually over Zoom. Please register by using the link
Are You Wildly Passionate About Social Work? Explore the Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW) program during an online info session. REGISTER HERE The UK Difference Graduates from our
CORE TEEN (Critical On-going Resource Family Education) Session 7 A New Suitcase of Parenting Knowledge and Skills March 21, 2024 6:30 PM-8:30 PM EST Via Zoom Stephanie Spires 2 credit
Citizen Review Panels (CRPs) are groups of caring volunteers that work to improve the well-being of children, families, and communities across Kentucky. To learn more about CRPs or join a
Kentucky's Children's Justice Act Task Force (CJA) is a group of professionals with knowledge and expertise related to the criminal justice system and child welfare. They work to enact meaningful
This new KIN VIP Support Group will begin as a 12-week pilot Support Group and will provide a community of support for kinship caregivers who have been impacted by a
Citizen Review Panels (CRPs) are groups of caring volunteers that work to improve the well-being of children, families, and communities across Kentucky. To learn more about CRPs or join a