Working While Earning an MSW: My Off-Campus Experience

Hi everyone, my name is Eva Patricia. I am a part-time student at BUSSW’s Fall River Campus majoring in Clinical Practice. My goal for my Master’s in Social Work (MSW) is to combine my knowledge of social work with my background in Criminal Justice to work in one of the state’s female prisons, hopefully in the capacity of Director of Treatment.

Part of what attracted me to Boston University School of Social Work’s Master’s program in Clinical Social Work was how the course schedule complements the lives of individuals who work full- or part-time. During my first year I was able to maintain my regular work schedule while attending classes.

Managing Field Placements While Working Full-Time

While the field education component does not begin until the second year, as someone who already works in the mental health field, I was still able to see real-world applications of the content discussed in classes. I also found that a majority of my classmates have also worked in the social work field, bringing diverse backgrounds and experiences that enrich our class content and discussions.

When my field placement began in my second year, I was relieved to find that I was still able to work full-time and attend my placement 16 hours a week. My professors are very understanding about the course workload in relation to our economic security and often help us work around assignment deadlines. I am also fortunate that my place of employment allows me to have a flexible work schedule to accommodate classes and field placements.

Benefits of the Employer Placement Option

Completing a field placement in your current place of employment is also an option for some students, depending on where you work. I am currently in an employer placement for the advanced placement program, which means that my field experience takes place at my workplace, but in a different department. This arrangement is beneficial because I am already orientated to the agency, allowing me more time to focus on my new role and responsibilities. Additionally, I already have a working relationship with colleagues here which takes away some of the anxiety of starting in a completely new agency.

While I have encountered challenges in my field placement – time management, for example – these challenges have provided the opportunity to build and improve my skills. Ultimately, working while in school has been a positive experience. I am happy to have found a program that allows me to earn my MSW without sacrificing my job or financial security.