Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.) Orientation to Field Practicum Syllabus - Mumbai University

About this course

Field Work Practicum is an essential component of the Social Work curriculum and pedagogy. The rationale of Fieldwork is to orient and expose students’ social problems that lead to marginalization and oppression and to critically analyze the interventions of various organizations in addressing these problems. Students learn to integrate their classroom learning with field experiences. Fieldwork placement aims at ongoing learning through the integration of theoretical constructs into practice which provides an opportunity to develop intervention skills in real-life situations. In structuring the fieldwork, the essence of learning has been of making it incremental over the six semesters.

Course objectives

• The learner will be able to understand the concept and place of fieldwork in Social Work Education
• The learner will be able to explore the role of Social Workers in different settings
• The learner will be able to develop basic skills and techniques in need assessment and documentation of Fieldwork experiences.

Learning outcomes

• CO 17 Define key concepts and principles of fieldwork in social work.
• CO 18 Describe the different responsibilities and functions of a social worker in diverse environments.
• CO 19 Demonstrate the ability to conduct non-participatory observations and fact-finding tools in a social work setting.
• CO 20 Develop basic skills and techniques in need assessment, community mapping and documentation of Fieldwork experiences.

Unit I: Fieldwork Practice and Ethics

• Fieldwork Learning Plan: Need and Importance;
• Planning for Programmes: Objectives and Process;
• Participative Techniques in Field Work: Social and Resource Mapping;
• Ethical Considerations: Sense of Responsibility, Commitment, and Conduct;
• Fieldwork and Record Writing-
• Record Writing: Purpose and Importance;
• Record Writing: Different Styles;
• Record Writing: Orientation and Concurrent Field Work Report Writing;
• Field Work Recording templates while working with Individuals, Group, and Community

Essential readings

• Subedar, I. S. (2001). Field Work Training In Social Work. Jaipur: Rawat Publications
• Verma, R.B.S. and Singh, A. P. (2010). Handbook of Field Work Practice Learning in Social Work. Lucknow: New Royal Book Company.
• Sudha Datar, et al. (2010). Skill Training for Social Workers: A Manual. New Delhi: Sage.

Unit II: Skills and Techniques in Fieldwork

• Rapport Building, Observation, and Analysis
• The survey, home visits, observation, listening, interview, Community Mapping, report writing, and recording skills
• Use of Programme Media and Mass Media
• Utilising all the basic skills in the field work situation and reflecting

Essential readings

• Jones, N., and Richard. (1994). Human Relations Skills. Mumbai: Better Yourself Books
• Sheldon, B., Macdonald, G. (2010). A Textbook of Social Work. London: Routledge.