School of Social Work

September and October

To prepare students for the Field Practicum (SWP 36A//B and SWP 51A/B), the Field Education Office communicates information about field placements and the BSW placement process for the next academic year by means of workshops and class visits.  Students receive information about exact dates in the Fall.

Refer to the BSW Field Education Manual for information about workshops and class visits held in September and October.

November

This is the time of year when the Field Education Office begins to engage with students about their placement preferences for the next academic year.

Students must let the Field Education Office know that they are planning to do a placement next year via an online system called PlacePro.  This includes students who are planning to apply to do the challenge exam for SWP 36A/B Field Practicum, the portfolio option for SWP 51A/B Field Practicum, a work study placement, an international/out-of-province placement, or a Spring/Summer block placement.  Refer to the BSW Alternative Field Placement Options Handbookl for information about these options.

Students have access to PlacePro for a limited time and are expected to enter all the required information during the appropriate time period.  Failure to meet the deadline could jeopardize a student's eligibility to do a placement during the next academic year.  Students no longer have access to PlacePro after the deadline.  

Throughout the month of December, the Field Education Office contacts students who did not provide all of the required information in PlacePro and/or those who select one of the following categories in PlacePro: challenge exam for SWP 36, portfolio for SWP 51, work study placement, international/out-of-province placement, spring/summer block placement.

January to the end of summer

Field Education Coordinators match eligible students with placement settings from January until the end of summer (during the academic year prior to the one in which placements will occur).  Students who submitted all of the required information in PlacePro by the deadline can expect to be contacted about potential matches at any point during this time. 

It is critical that students check their Ryerson email daily and respond to emails from the Field Education Office by the timelines specified.  Failure to meet deadlines will jeopardize a student’s eligibility to proceed with a Field Practicum (SWP 36A/B or SWP 51A/B) and co-requisite Social Work Practice Seminar (SWP 31A/B or SWP 50A/B).  Refer to the BSW Field Education Manual for information about the BSW placement process and protocols.

What happens if I don't submit a request to do a placement via PlacePro by the deadline?

Refer to the BSW Field Education Manual for information about the placement process and protocols.

Back to list of frequently asked questions

Will I have access to PlacePro during the placement process?

No.  Students have access to PlacePro for a limited time.  If the deadline for submitting information in PlacePro has passed and a student wishes to change something in their placement request, they must contact the Field Education Coordinator.

Back to list of frequently asked questions

If the Field Education Office does not start matching BSW students until January, why is information due in PlacePro by early December of the academic year prior to the one in which my placement will occur?

There are two main reasons why the Field Education Office requires that students submit their request to do a placement in PlacePro well in advance of the time they will start placing students:

The Field Education Office needs time to review student records in PlacePro to ensure that all the information is there and ready for the matching process.

The Field Education Office solicits new placement opportunities before it begins to match students.  Student information is required in order to plan for outreach because the strategies to recruit placement opportunities will be, in part, based on the preferences specified by students in PlacePro.

Back to list of frequently asked questions

How will the information I enter in PlacePro be taken into consideration?

The Field Education Coordinators use the information students specify in PlacePro to try to determine which of the placement opportunities in the database will be most suited for each student.  Although the Field Education Coordinators work hard to ensure there is a good 'fit' in terms of a student's expressed preferences and a placement opportunity, there is no guarantee that each student will be matched with a placement that meets her/his stated preferences.  The Field Education Office places over 400 students each year and it is impossible to recruit 'the' perfect placement for every single student.  The Field Education Office will however offer each student the closest possible match, given the pool of placement opportunities it has recruited to date.

Back to list of frequently asked questions

Who is my Field Education Coordinator?

The Field Education Office has two Coordinators who are responsible for matching and placing BSW students.  The 3rd Year Field Education Coordinator is responsible for matching those students who are seeking a 3rd year placement.  The 4th Year Field Education Coordinator is responsible for matching those students who are seeking a 4th year placement.   Students are encouraged to contact the appropriate Field Education Coordinator at any point during the placement process to discuss their interests. 

Once a student has been placed and has begun her/his placement, matters relative to the placement should be directed to their assigned Faculty Consultant.

Back to list of frequently asked questions

How will the Field Education Coordinator contact me?

The Field Education Coordinators communicate with students primarily through their Ryerson email.  If a student enters a personal email address in PlacePro (e.g., hotmail, gmail, sympatico, etc), it will be replaced with her/his Ryerson email address.  Students are responsible for checking their Ryerson email daily during the placement process.  Students are also responsible for ensuring that the Field Education Coordinator knows their summer contact information if it is different than the contact information used during the school year.

Back to list of frequently asked questions

Can I do a spring/summer block placement?

Only students who meet the criteria can do a Spring/Summer block placement.  Refer to the BSW Alternative Field Placement Options Handbook for more information.

Back to list of frequently asked questions

Can I do my placement during evenings and weekends?

There are very few placement settings that offer hours during evenings and weekends, therefore, the Field Education Coordinators are only able to accommodate a very limited number of requests each year.  Understanding that some students have life circumstances that make it difficult for them to do a placement during weekdays, the Field Education Coordinators cannot guarantee that they will be able to accommodate requests for placements during evenings and weekends.

Back to list of frequently asked questions

Can I find my own placement?

The process of obtaining a placement is organized by the Field Education Coordinators.  Students are not permitted to recruit their own placement or contact organizations without receiving prior approval from their Field Education Coordinator.  Students can however do some preliminary research by referring to websites and speaking with their Field Education Coordinator about their interest in particular organizations. 

The Field Education Office currently has longstanding relationships with many organizations.  Most of these organizations are aware that students are not permitted to contact them until they have been given approval from the Field Education Coordinator.  Some organizations will refuse to interview students who have contacted them directly without first having gone through the Field Education Office. 

Students who contact an organization themselves without approval from the Field Education Office will jeopardize their eligibility for a placement with that setting.

Back to list of frequently asked questions

How does the Field Education Coordinator follow-up if I am interested in a particular organization?

When a Field Education Coordinator receives a request from a student for a placement with a particular organization, s/he will attempt to follow-up so as to find out if it is appropriate placement setting.  This will involve verifying the Field Education Office’s database to see if the organization is already listed and if not, attempting to contact the setting to find out if they would be interested in considering a student.  If the organization is interested, the Field Education Coordinator will assess the setting to determine if it is a suitable placement setting for a Social Work student.  The Field Education Coordinator will also check to see if any other students have expressed an interest in the organization and/or if any other students have already been matched with it.  This is an important step given that Field Education Coordinators only send one student at a time to interview at any one placement setting. 

If the placement setting is deemed suitable and there aren’t other students interested and/or already in process, the Field Education Coordinator will give the student the ‘go ahead’ to contact the organization to arrange an interview.  Students who attempt to arrange interviews before receiving the ‘go ahead’ from their Field Education Coordinator will jeopardize the possibility to be placed at the desired setting.

Students are asked to keep in mind that there may very well be a number of other students who have also requested to be matched with the same organization.  As such, there is no guarantee students will be matched with the placement setting that they have requested.

Back to list of frequently asked questions

What if I have a prior personal or professional relationship with someone who works at an organization where I want to do my placement?

Students will not be placed with organizations or Field Instructors where the School believes there could be a conflict of interest (e.g., if the student is related to, or has been a client of the Field Instructor or other placement setting staff).

Back to list of frequently asked questions

How far might I have to travel for my placement?

Students are likely to have to travel to get to their placement, depending on where they live, what their interests are, and where the placement setting is located.  Students should expect to travel one hour or more each way.

Back to list of frequently asked questions

I don't live in Toronto.  Do I have to do a placement in Toronto?

Students cannot turn down a placement opportunity simply because it is in Toronto.

Since Ryerson is a Toronto based University, most placement opportunities are in the Greater Toronto Area.  Understanding that some students may wish to be placed outside Toronto, the Field Education Office does recruit placement opportunities in other areas.  The Field Education Coordinators will take requests for placements outside of Toronto into consideration however they cannot guarantee that this will be possible. 

Back to list of frequently asked questions

Do I have to undergo any inoculations or medical tests?

Some placement settings do request that students undergo specific medical tests (e.g., TB skin test) and/or inoculations (e.g., flu shot).  Many hospitals require that students be fitted with a protective face mask.  When interviewing for a potential placement, students should ask if any specific inoculations or medical tests are required.  Refer to Inoculations and Medical Tests for more information.

Back to list of frequently asked questions

Do I have to obtain a police record check?

Many placement settings do require that students obtain a vulnerable sector police record check before starting placement, although there are some settings that do not require this.  Students pursuing a placement at a setting that involves direct contact with vulnerable persons (e.g., schools, hospitals, child welfare organizations, youth organizations, criminal justice organizations, seniors organizations, children’s mental health organizations, etc) will definitely need a vulnerable sector police record check.   Refer to Frequently Asked Questions about Police Record Checks for more information.

Back to list of frequently asked questions

Will I still be able to do a placement if I am on academic probation or have incomplete grades in any of my courses?

Students on probation or with incomplete grades are not eligible for placement.  Probationary status and incompletes must be cleared in order for students to be eligible for placement. 

May

Incoming MSW students are invited to attend an MSW Placement Information Session to learn more about the MSW placement process and have their questions answered.

The School of Social Work's Field Education Office continues its endeavours to recruit MSW placement opportunities for the upcoming academic year.

June

Incoming MSW students review and specify their interest in placement opportunities recruited by the Field Education Office via an online application called PlacePro. 

The Field Education Office emails students instructions for accessing PlacePro in early June.

Students have access to PlacePro for a limited time and are expected to enter all of the required information during the appropriate time period.   Students no longer have access to PlacePro after the deadline. 

July

The Field Education Manager provides each incoming MSW student a list of up to 3 placement settings to contact.

The Field Education Manager simultaneously provides placement settings the names of MSW students who will be contacting them for interviews.

July to November

MSW students forward their resume and cover letter to the specified placement settings and arrange interviews. 

Students are required to stay in contact with the Field Education Manager and provide updates on the outcome of interviews.

January to May

MSW students are in placement from early January to the end of May. 

As part of their placement, students are also expected to participate in seminars on Ryerson's campus. 

What happens if I don't enter all of the required information in PlacePro by the deadline?

If an MSW student does not enter all of the required information in PlacePro by the deadline, s/he will not be able to view the placement opportunities available and the Field Education Manager will not be able to facilitate the student's placement process.

Back to list of frequently asked questions

Will I have access to PlacePro during the placement process?

MSW students have access to PlacePro for a limited time.  If the deadline for submitting information in PlacePro has passed and a student wishes to change something, s/he must contact the Field Education Manager.

Back to list of frequently asked questions

How will the information I enter in PlacePro be taken into consideration?

After reviewing information submitted by all MSW students, the Field Education Manager selects 3 placement settings for each student to contact so as to arrange an interview. 

The Field Education Manager does her/his best to send each student to at least one of the placement settings selected in PlacePro.  Note however that there is no guarantee that each student will be sent to the placement setting that s/he ranked as their top preference.

Back to list of frequently asked questions

Who is the Field Education Manager?

Among other responsibilities, the Field Education Manager is responsible for all aspects of the placement process as it relatives to MSW students.  Students are encouraged to contact the Field Education Manager at any point during the placement process to discuss their interests.

Once a student has secured and begun her/his placement, matters relative to the placement experience must be directed to the assigned Faculty Consultant.

Back to list of frequently asked questions

Can I do a Spring/Summer block placement?

MSW placements occur in the second term of the program, from early January to the end of May.

Back to list of frequently asked questions

Can I do an international placement?

Given the structure of the MSW program, the School does not have the capacity to offer an international placement as an option for MSW students.

Back to list of frequently asked questions

Can I do my placement during evenings and weekends?

There are very few placement settings that offer hours during evenings and weekends, therefore the Field Education Manager is only able to accommodate a very limited number of requests each year.  Understanding that some students have life circumstances that make it difficult for them to do a placement during weekdays, the Field Education Manager cannot guarantee that they will be able to accommodate requests for placements during evenings and weekends.

Back to list of frequently asked questions

Can I find my own placement?

The process of securing a placement is organized by the Field Education Manager.  MSW students are not permitted to recruit their own placement or contact organizations without receiving prior approval from the Field Education Manager.  Students who have particular interests are encouraged to bring them forward to the Field Education Manager. 

The Field Education Office currently has longstanding relationships with many organizations.  Most of these organizations are aware that students are not permitted to contact them until they have been given approval from the Field Education Manager.  Some organizations will refuse to interview students who have contacted them directly without first having gone through the Field Education Office.

Where a student requests to be placed at a setting that the Field Education Office has not yet recruited a placement opportunity, the Field Education Manager will attempt to contact the organization. If the organization expresses an interest in considering an MSW student, the Field Education Manager will assess the placement opportunity. 

Overall, the Field Education Manager endeavours to recruit a placement that fits each MSW student's particular interests, although no guarantees can be made other than the placements already recruited.

Back to list of frequently asked questions

How does the Field Education Manager follow-up if I am interested in a particular organization?

When the Field Education Manager receives a request from a student for a placement with a particular organization, s/he will attempt to follow-up so as to find out if it is appropriate placement setting.  This will involve verifying the Field Education Office’s database to see if the organization is already listed and if not, attempting to contact the setting to find out if they would be interested in considering an MSW student.  If the organization is interested, the Field Education Manager will assess the setting to determine if it is a suitable placement setting for an MSW student.  

Students are asked to keep in mind that there may very well be others who have also requested to be matched with the same organization.  As such, there is no guarantee students will be matched with the placement setting that they request.

Back to list of frequently asked questions

What if I have a prior personal or professional relationship with someone who works at an organization where I want to do my placement?

MSW students will not be placed with organizations or Field Instructors where the School believes there could be a conflict of interest (e.g., if the student is related to, or has been a client of the Field Instructor or other placement setting staff).

Back to list of frequently asked questions

How far might I have to travel for my placement?

MSW students are likely to have to travel to get to their placement, depending on where they live, what their interests are, and where the placement setting is located.  Students can expect to travel one hour or more each way.

Back to list of frequently asked questions

I don't live in Toronto.  Do I have to do my placement in Toronto?

Since Ryerson is a Toronto based University, most placement opportunities are in the Greater Toronto Area.  Understanding that some students may wish to be placed outside Toronto, the Field Education Office does recruit placement opportunities in other areas.  The Field Education Manager will take requests for placements outside of Toronto into consideration however s/he cannot guarantee that this will be possible. 

Back to list of frequently asked questions

Do I have to undergo any inoculations or medical tests?

Some placement settings do request that students undergo specific medical tests (e.g., TB skin test) and/or inoculations (e.g., flu shot).  Many hospitals require that students be fitted with a protective face mask.  When interviewing for a placement, students should ask if any specific inoculations or medical tests are required.  Refer to Inoculations and Medical Tests for more information. 

Back to list of frequently asked questions

Do I have to obtain a police record check?

Many placement settings require that students obtain a vulnerable sector police record check before starting placement, although there are some settings that do not require this.  Students pursuing a placement at a setting that involves direct contact with vulnerable persons (e.g., schools, hospitals, child welfare organizations, youth organizations, criminal justice organizations, seniors organizations, children’s mental health organizations, etc) can expect to require a vulnerable sector police record check.   Refer to Frequently Asked Questions about Police Record Checks for more information.

Am I required to obtain a police record check?

Many placement settings require that students obtain a police record check before starting placement, although there are some settings that do not require this. Students pursuing a placement at a setting that involves direct contact with vulnerable persons (e.g., schools, hospitals, child welfare organizations, youth organizations, criminal justice organizations, seniors organizations, children’s mental health organizations, etc) will likely require a police record check.  When interviewing for a placement, each student is responsible for asking the organization if a police record check is a required. 

Students who have any concerns about police record checks should contact their Field Education Coordinator.

Back to list of frequently asked questions

Is there a cost for obtaining a police record check?

Yes.  Students are responsible for covering the cost for obtaining a police record check.  Some exceptions may apply, however it is each student’s responsibility to inquire about a placement setting’s protocols concerning police record checks.

Back to list of frequently asked questions

I will be doing my 4th year BSW placement.  Can I use the police record check I obtained for my 3rd year BSW placement?

Given that many placement settings require that students undertake a police record check at most within a few months prior to the placement start date, it has been the school’s experience that students must obtain another check for their 4th year BSW placement.  Some exceptions may apply, however it is each student's responsibility to inquire about a placement setting’s protocols concerning police record checks.  When interviewing for a placement, a student can ask if s/he may use the police record check obtained for 3rd year BSW placement.  

Back to list of frequently asked questions

I am currently employed/volunteer at a social service organization and have recently obtained a police record check.  Can I use this police record check for my placement?

Students are responsible for inquiring about a placement setting’s protocols concerning police record checks.  When interviewing for a placement, a student can ask if s/he may use the police record check recently obtained for employment/volunteer work.

Back to list of frequently asked questions

Where can I obtain a police record check?

Once matched with a placement setting, each student is required to ask about the organization's protocols concerning police record checks and, if applicable, how to obtain one.

Back to list of frequently asked questions

What do I do with the police record check?

Each student is responsible for inquiring about a placement setting's protocols concerning police record checks.  Students can expect to be asked to provide documentation or disclose the results of a police record check to their placement setting.