The field placement process runs from your junior year through the
summer before your senior year. Below is a step-by-step overview of
what to expect and when.
Step-by-Step Placement Process
- October: The Field Education Faculty meets with
junior students planning to enter field the following year,
explains how the field placement works, and distributes
instructions on the field application process. - November: Students complete field
applications. - January 1: Field applications are due in the
program’s main office. - January: Applications are reviewed to determine
field eligibility. - January/February: Students meet individually
with the Assistant Dean and/or Field Coordinator to review their
applications, discuss interests and learning needs, and identify
possible placement sites. An attempt is made to recognize
individual student needs and interests and to match them with
educationally sound field education settings. - February–August: Students are referred to
potential field placement sites.
The Referral and Interview Process
Once referred to a potential site, the following steps take
place:
- Students receive a referral letter via email. The letter asks
students to arrange an interview with prospective field
instructors. - Prospective field instructors are simultaneously sent letters
via email informing them of the student(s) being referred. The
field instructor is also given a copy of the potential student’s
resume, field placement letter, and a Field Instruction
Agreement Form. - Interviews occur to provide students and field instructors the
opportunity to meet, discuss the kinds of assignments and learning
experiences offered by the agency, and to clarify
expectations. - After the interview, the prospective field instructor completes
the Field Instruction Agreement Form or calls the
Assistant Dean and/or Field Coordinator to indicate whether or not
they have accepted the student. Students are also encouraged to
contact the Assistant Dean for Field Education or Field
Coordinator after the interview if they have any problems or
reservations regarding their assigned placement.
Ready to Apply?
When you are ready to submit your field application, visit the
Placement Application page for instructions and access to the
IPT application system.