Full Time Students

Visit Manage your Account for information on how to set up your Albany.edu email. It is the policy of the University at Albany that email is an official means of communication with you. This policy pertains to all students and stipulates that the University can convey relevant academic and administrative information to you using your UAlbany email address.  

You are responsible for checking their email account regularly so as not to miss important, time-sensitive communications.

You will need to set up your Albany.edu email in order to receive your Advisement Verification Number (AVN).

The first year of the MSW program is generalist and is designed to introduce you to the broad scope of social work practice.  

All students take the same courses; however, you may select the section you wish to take.  

The generalist courses for the fall semester are

• SSW 604 Social Justice and Social Work (3 credits)
• SSW 605 Integrated Theory and Practice (ITP) I: Foundations of Social Work (3 credits)
• SSW 606 Integrated Theory and Practice (ITP) II: Engagement and Assessment (3 credits)
• SSW 610 Human Behavior and Social Environment I (3 credits)
• SSW 650 Field Instruction I (2 credits)
• SSW 550 Learning Community I (1 credit)

Most generalist classes are offered on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday. Some course sections will be offered online. You may select sections that are convenient for you but have a backup plan for your courses in case your first choice is closes quickly and you are not able to register for it.
You can search for the class times and modalities via the University at Albany Registrar’s website.

Tips

• If it is important that you schedule classes at specific times, you should register as early as possible beginning at noon on Wednesday, April 2.
• Be sure to identify an alternative class in case your preferred class is closed.
• The generalist course year is very sequential, and courses must be taken in a specific order to meet the prerequisites and corequisites.  For example, you will need to register for SSW 606 Integrated Theory and Practice (ITP) II: Engagement and Assessment and SSW 550 Learning Community I in order to register for RSSW 650 Field Instruction I.  If you receive an error message stating that requisite not met when attempting to register, check to make sure that you are registering for the full set of courses listed above.

If you have taken one of the courses above as a graduate student or plan to take an exemption exam (see below), please contact the School of Social Welfare ([email protected])  for information regarding transferring credits, adjusting your schedule, or registering for exemption exams.

The School of Social Welfare will provide your AVN. The AVN will be emailed to students who have accepted admission into the Full Time MSW program on Wednesday, April 2 at noon. The AVN will be emailed directly to your Albany.edu email address ONLY! 

Please log on to MyUAlbany and familiarize yourself with the system before you register on April 2.  Review the steps for registration. If you have questions about MyUAlbany or your PIN, call the Information Technology Services Help Desk at 518-442-3700 for assistance.

You should register on April 2 for classroom courses and register for field once the permission number is obtained.    

Once you select your sections and receive your AVN you are ready to register. You will register via MyUAlbany, the University's registration system.

To register, you will need the catalog number (RSSW #),  the course number (four or five digit number) and the course title. If several sections of a course meet at the same time and the first one is closed, register for another section offered at the same time.

If you are only taking the generalist courses in the fall, you do not need to meet with an academic advisor. Your academic advisor will be assigned at Orientation in the fall.  

If you have questions about your AVN or social work courses or have trouble with registration, please contact the School of Social Welfare Help Desk at 518-442-5320 or  [email protected].

All new MSW students are required to attend the orientation on Thursday, August 21 at 9 a.m.

Newly admitted students are eligible to enroll in RSSW 600 Social Welfare Policy & Services, RSSW 660 ITP IV Research and Evaluation and/or an elective. To take a summer course, please search the summer schedule for RSSW and contact the Student Services and Student Retention Coordinator for more information ([email protected]).

Please note the number of credits you are eligible to take during the summer may be limited if you have previously taken courses as a non-degree student. Registration is subject to seat availability.

This course is an introduction to the analysis of social policies and programs, based upon frameworks of policy dimensions, values and knowledge.

Objectives include:  

• knowledge of selected social policies and programs in historical and contemporary context
• awareness of differential impact on at-risk oppressed populations
• understanding of political, economic, ideological context and role of social values in social policy formulation, modification, change, monitoring and evaluation
• ability to analyze critical policies and their implications for social work practice including issues of social and economic justice, discrimination and oppression

This is an introductory course that focuses on bio-psycho-social development and the nature and impact of oppression and discrimination as individuals and families transact with their environment through the life cycle.

Objectives include: 

• understanding and evaluating different theoretical perspectives and empirical knowledge about human development
• understanding interactions among human biological, social, psychological, economic, cultural and environmental systems
• understanding factors affecting development of women, people who belong to ethnic and racial minority groups, people who identify as non-heterosexual and non-cisgender, people with disabilities and other emerging and historically oppressed groups
• understanding age-related tasks associated with different life stages as affected by culture, economics, historical time and gender
• understanding the effect of oppression, discrimination, privilege and power

This is an introductory course that focuses on psychosocial dysfunction and multiple determinants of human behavior including biological, psychological, social and environmental factors.

Objectives include: 

• understanding and evaluating different theoretical perspectives and empirical knowledge about psychosocial dysfunction
• understanding interactions among human biological, social, psychological, economic, cultural and environmental systems regarding dysfunctional behavior
• understanding gender, cultural, and racial differences in expressing and ameliorating psychosocial dysfunction
• differentiate between functional and dysfunctional adaptive patterns and coping strategies
• using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
• awareness of levels of interventions appropriate for various psychosocial dysfunction
• identifying areas appropriate for interdisciplinary collaboration
• understanding role of discrimination and oppression in relation to human development

Introduction to research methods in social work is a generalist course that focuses on a variety of methodological techniques with an emphasis on social welfare practice.  

Objectives include:  

• defining social work research problems
• developing and testing hypothesis
• the logic of causal inference, sampling, measurement including reliability and validity
• basic skills in data analysis and research utilization
• ethical considerations
• evaluating quality and relevance of research studies for practice and policy
• understanding the complex relationship between human diversity and the research process
  In addition this course will cover the basic concepts and principles of qualitative methods.

The 1st field (Generalist) practicum is a two (2) semester sequence course conducted at one agency. This is part of the foundation sequence of courses in generalist social work practice. The 1st field practicum includes both clinical and macro practice in social work, and it is taken concurrently with Integrated Theory and Practice (ITP) II: Engagement and Assessment and Learning Community I (SSW 606 and SSW 550).  To receive credit for Field Instruction I and II, you must successfully complete both semesters of field without interruption.

Prior to beginning field, you are required to participate in a mandatory Field Orientation on Monday, August 25, 2025; the exact time and location will be sent via email in August. 

1st field students attend their field practicum for two full 8-hour days per week, typically Mondays and Tuesdays. This continuity in scheduling is important for your learning, agency operations and consistency of client care. The 1st (Generalist) Field Instruction Calendar provides specific dates for field, the number of days required and the start/end dates for field in the Fall and Spring. 

You will track your time spent in field via an Attendance Record that must be filled out and signed by both you and your field instructor at the end of each semester. Please note that any variation to the Monday/Tuesday schedule or to the two 8-hour day requirement MUST be reviewed and approved by the Field Office prior to the start of field. 

***If you are placed in a school setting may be required to remain in the practicum until the end of the district’s school year (May or June) but may only need to attend field 6-7 hours per field day.  

Lastly, please make note that you must return to your field practicum directly after the New Year’s Day holiday, which is before the spring academic semester begins. Please note these dates on your Field Instruction Calendar and make arrangements to be prepared to resume field on schedule!

Our primary educational objectives for you when you begin your 1st field practicums are:

• To expose you to a broad range of social work practice skills within a generalist framework.
• To help you integrate learning in practice settings different from their past work experiences.

To meet these objectives, your 1st field practicum is selected intentionally by the field office in order to offer you more diverse experiences beyond your previous work or volunteer experiences. Feedback from past graduates indicates that exposure to differential learning opportunities in field has been very applicable to their professional development. Please know that while you may not select your own 1st field practicum, you will be guided by the Field Office to select your own qualified 2nd field practicum!

Information provided in your 1st (Generalist) Field Practicum Application and your resume are used to determine an appropriate field practicum for you. It is very important to adhere to the due date of the Application for 1st Field Practicum. Missing the due date of your field application could result in your field assignment being delayed for up to a year, which may subsequently prolong your academic program. 

It is equally as important to submit a quality, professional resume with your field application, as it is the first document your potential field site sees from you; please seek support and consultation if needed so that you submit your best resume possible. Inadequate resumes will be returned for revisions and could delay your placement into a field practicum. 

You will complete 1st, or Generalist, field in one of two ways: 

First, you may be approved for ‘Employment Based Field’ (see below for description and application) and complete your field practicum at your qualified place of work. 

Second, you may be placed into a human services agency and complete your field practicum at one specific agency. The Field Office works steadily throughout the spring and summer to place students into 1st field; you will start receiving notification of field assignments via email in the late spring, and this notification process will continue throughout the spring and summer. 

As such, please do not be concerned or inquire with the field office about the status of your practicum prior to the end of August. Our goal is for all field assignments to be completed prior to Field Orientation. This is not always possible, but please be assured that the field office will be in communication with you about this and work with you to assure that you are able to meet all mandatory field requirements. Please check your UAlbany email Daily, including 'spam' or 'junk' folders! 

Within 48 hours of receiving your field assignment, you are responsible for contacting your field instructor to schedule a pre-practicum interview for your field practicum. Acceptance to an assigned field practicum is determined by the field site. It is important that you prepare for your pre-practicum interview in the same way that you would prepare for a professional employment interview. A useful guide to plan for this interview will be included with your field assignment mailing. Please note: lack of timely follow through on a field practicum assignment may cause you to lose that assignment, and thus begin field after the scheduled start date. 

Once you are offered the field practicum by your Field Instructor, you both must complete and sign the MSW Field Verification Form included with your field assignment materials. Your field practicum is not considered secure by the field office until we receive this completed, signed form. 

If you are not accepted to the assigned field practicum, the Field Office may assign you to another field practicum. This determination will be based on the circumstances related to the denial of the first field assignment. If you are denied two assigned field practicums, you will be required to meet with the Assistant Dean & Director of Field to determine your readiness for starting field.

Some human service organizations have strict security standards for staff and students working with certain populations. Background checks and fingerprinting may be required to qualify for an assigned field practicum. 

You are responsible for meeting onboarding requirements prior to starting field. The cost of such procedures is underwritten by the Field Fee, which is used to reimburse students who must pay for criminal background checks and/or fingerprinting. In order to be reimbursed, you must keep your ORIGINAL receipts for the cost of these processes. If background check results could be an obstacle for you to securing a field practicum, you should seek guidance from the Director of Field Education early in the process.

Some agencies may require you to provide medical information and obtain health-related clearance for work with their clients, including but not limited to a physical exam, TB test and proof of vaccination(s). It is your responsibility to complete medical clearance requirements in a timely manner. Failure to provide medical clearance information may delay the start of field and, consequently, extend the time for completing field at the end of the academic year. Please contact the field office if the cost of any medical requirement could be an obstacle to your field practicum process.

Course registration for Generalist field is as follows:

• Fall semester – Field Instruction I (RSSW 650)
• Spring semester – Field Instruction II (RSSW 651)

Registration for Field Instruction I (RSSW 650) requires the Field Office to provide permission via an internal process; this permission process is not needed to register for Field Instruction II (RSSW 651, for the Spring semester).  All incoming full-time students who have accepted their admission will be allowed to register for field but must complete the field practicum process in its entirety in order to remain registered for field practicum.

You will be assigned a Field Liaison each year. Field liaisons provide a variety of supportive services designed to create cohesive working relationships between you and your field instructors.

Liaisons will perform field site visits a minimum of once per semester, and you or your field instructors can contact them anytime regarding issues in field. More information will be provided at Field Orientation.

There are three field evaluation periods within an academic year. Scoring is based on demonstrated competence of core social work skills, including a Macro Project. It is your responsibility to ensure that completed, signed evaluations are submitted to the Field Office on the due dates indicated on the 1st (Generalist) Field Instruction Calendar. 

It is your responsibility to ensure that all field paperwork is submitted when due. Please do not rely on your Field Instructor to submit field documentation. You will submit all field paperwork electronically, to [email protected]. Please be aware that late field paperwork can impact your ability to both receive a passing grade for Field Instruction I and II and to qualify, search for, and begin your 2nd practicum in a timely fashion. You should keep a copy of all field paperwork, including evaluations and attendance records, for your records!

1st year field is a two-semester sequence. Upon successful completion of both semesters of field (RSSW 650 and 651), you will receive a final grade of “S” Satisfactory or “U” Unsatisfactory for both RSSW 650 and 651. You must perform satisfactorily in field in order to remain in the MSW program. The assignment of a satisfactory grade for Field Instruction I and II is contingent upon the following:

• Attendance to Field Orientation

• Completion of the required number of field hours for the Generalist field practicum

• Satisfactory achievement of competency of generalist social work practice skills  

You will receive periodic emails from the Field Office between now and the fall, with updates regarding the scheduled locations of field-related events. Please check your UAlbany email regularly to receive updates. If you have a pressing field-related question, you may contact the Field Office at [email protected]. Due to the volume of messages received, please allow at least five business days for a response. We look forward to meeting you at Orientation.

You are expected to meet and maintain the Standards for Social Work Education (“Standards”) established by the School. The Standards are comprised of expectations regarding both scholastic performance and professional behavior. You are expected to meet and maintain these standards in the classroom, in field, and in other contexts where the student is acting as a social worker or social work student. 

Adherence to these standards will be the basis upon which you will be evaluated by faculty (including field instructors) who are responsible for evaluating your performance in the classroom and field. Meeting the criteria for scholastic performance is necessary, but is not the sole measure, to ensure continued enrollment in a program. You must also demonstrate professional competency and an understanding of and a commitment to the values and ethics of the social work profession. Advancement through the program is a privilege, not a right. 

The academic performance standards established by the School that you are expected to meet and maintain are: Basic Skills Necessary to Acquire Professional Competence; Coping Skills; Professional Performance Skills; and Scholastic Performance.

Communication Skills 

You must demonstrate sufficient written and oral skills to: 

• Communicate ideas and feelings clearly, effectively and sensitively with other students, faculty, staff, clients and professionals
• Understand and articulate the content presented in the program and to adequately complete all written and oral assignments
• You must also demonstrate a willingness and ability to listen to others. 

Interpersonal Skills 

You must demonstrate interpersonal skills to relate effectively with other students, faculty, staff, clients and professionals. These skills include, but are not limited to, flexibility, empathy, nonjudgmental attitude, respect, and the ability to listen, communicate and negotiate. 

Cognitive Skills 

You must demonstrate sufficient knowledge of social work and clarity of thinking to process information and apply it to situations in the classroom, field, and other professional situations. You must demonstrate the ability to conceptualize and integrate knowledge and apply that knowledge to social work practice.

Appreciation of Diversity 

Social work practice requires understanding, affirmation and respect of another individual’s way of life and values. You must demonstrate respect and sensitivity toward other students, faculty, staff, clients and professionals and others who are different from yourself regardless of the person’s age, class, color, culture, disability, ethnicity, family structure, gender, gender identity, race, religion, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, or value system. 

You must demonstrate the capacity to interact positively and effectively with other students, faculty, staff, clients and professionals at all times and to execute sound judgment and performance in the program. You must demonstrate appropriate coping skills in the face of personal or other circumstances, including seeking counseling or other sources of support and assistance, to ensure that such circumstances do not: 

• compromise academic performance
• interfere with professional judgment and behavior 
• jeopardize the best interests of those to whom you have a professional responsibility.

Professional Commitment 

You must demonstrate a strong commitment to further social and economic justice and to serve persons who are vulnerable, marginalized or oppressed. 

Professional Conduct 

You must act professionally and responsibly in matters of punctuality, attendance, appearance and presentation of yourself. You must be able to advocate for yourself in an appropriate and responsible manner. 

You must be able to receive and accept feedback and supervision and apply such feedback to enhance professional development and self-awareness. You must demonstrate the capacity to recognize and maintain appropriate personal and professional boundaries and use self-disclosure appropriately. 

Self-awareness 

Self-awareness is a key component of social work practice. You must be aware of how your values, attitudes, beliefs, emotions and past experiences affect your thinking, behavior and relationships with other students, faculty, staff, clients and professionals, including those in authority. 

You must be able to accurately assess your own strengths, limitations, and suitability for professional practice. You must be able to examine and appropriately modify your behavior when it interferes with your professional work.

Ethical Obligations 

Your behavior must adhere to the ethical expectations and obligations of professional practice as delineated in the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics. 

Undergraduate Students 

Undergraduate social welfare majors must meet the academic standards defined in the Undergraduate Social Welfare Program Student Handbook and the Field Education Handbook, Undergraduate Program of the School of Social Welfare 

Graduate Students 

MSW students must meet the academic standards defined in the Graduate Faculty and Student Handbook and the MSW Field Education Handbook of the School of Social Welfare.

• Part-time or full-time employment within a human services agency, with job duties that expose student to micro, mezzo and macro foundational social work practice skills.
  • Job duties must be linked to CSWE’s 9 Social Work Competency Areas (see "Assess Your Eligibility and Apply" section below).
  • Per diem positions are not eligible for Employment Based Field.
• A qualified Field Instructor. This is defined as someone with a MSW degree, 2 or more years of post-MSW experience, and either completion of or willingness/ability to take our Seminar in Field Instruction (SIFI) course. It is preferred, though not required, that FI’s are licensed.
  • Your employment supervisor can serve as your Field Instructor if they meet requirements. In this scenario, you will be required to schedule weekly supervision separate from employment supervision.
  • If your employment supervisor does not qualify as a Field Instructor, you must contact any MSWs who either work at or are affiliated with the agency (i.e., board member, former employee, etc.) to inquire if they will serve as your Field Instructor.
  • If your agency does not employ someone with a MSW degree, please indicate this on your application and the Field Office will contact you to assist if possible.
• Approval of the Employment Based Field plan by your employment supervisor, potential Field Instructor, and appropriate agency leadership.
   

Assess your eligibility for Employment Based Field by reviewing the eligibility requirements above and the 9 CSWE Social Work Competency Areas listed below to determine if your job duties align with three or more of the required social work practice areas.

CSWE Social Work Competency Areas
 

• Demonstrate ethical and professional behavior.
• Engage diversity and difference in practice.
• Advance human rights and social, economic and environmental justice.
• Engage in practice-informed research and research-informed practice.
• Engage in policy practice.
• Engage with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities.
• Assess individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities.
• Intervene with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities.
• Evaluate practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities.

If you qualify and wish to apply for Employment Based Field, please email [email protected] to request an Employment Based Field Application. Do NOT complete the 1st (Generalist) Field Placement Application below.