Students majoring in social work are able to fulfill their field experience requirements through Chicago Semester. Students are placed at agencies that meet the home college's accreditation requirements and provide the opportunity to engage with a variety of population groups, ages and ethnicities that can only be found in an urban setting.

Placement

Students spend four days a week working at a carefully selected agency under the supervision of a site supervisor. Internship settings are tailored to the student’s area of interest and include hospitals, schools, child welfare organizations, refugee centers, homeless shelters, neighborhood organizations, criminal justice settings, residential treatment centers, programs for the elderly, and much more. Students are trained in a variety of areas such as assessment, case management, interviewing, problem solving, advocacy and community organizing, all within the context of an urban environment.

Sample sites

• Cook County Juvenile Court
• Heartland Human Care Services
• New Moms, Inc.
• Stroger Hospital
• Erie Neighborhood House
• Mercy Family Health Center
• World Relief
• Evangelical Child and Family Agency
• Little Brothers - Friends of the Elderly
• Casa Central
• Lawndale Christian Health Center
• Breakthrough Urban Ministries

Professional Seminar

A weekly seminar challenges students to integrate content of social work courses with hands-on agency experience. Students discuss their experiences and complete several writing assignments. Students also enroll in one CS seminar if credit is required by their college.   

Additional Seminar Enrollment

BSWs must enroll in one CS seminar offered on Wednesdays in addition to the social work professional seminar.

Visit Day

In order to meet hour requirements for the Council on Social Work Education, students must interview for their internship prior to the start of the semester. Students make a one day visit to Chicago prior to the start of the semester to interview at two sites in their field. Students then select the agency they feel will best fit their interests and needs, and begin work during the first week of the semester.

Staff

Nancy Triezenberg Fox, M.S.W.
Social Work Coordinator
nancyf@chicagosemester.org

Carla Schemper, M.S.W.
Social Work Practicum Supervisor