Chamberlain MSW students are required to demonstrate specific competencies prior to entering fieldwork courses. The immersion experience prepares students for field education while assessing their readiness for interactions with clients and organizations. As part of the MSW curriculum, students in the Traditional Option participate in two immersion experiences, and students in the Advanced Standing Option participate in one immersion experience.

The immersion experience provides students the opportunity to integrate theoretical concepts learned in the classroom into a practice setting. During the immersion experience, students develop essential social work skills designed to help them learn how to integrate and apply social work knowledge, values, and skills to practice situations in a purposeful, intentional, and professional manner. In addition to developing critical theoretical and practice skills, the immersion experience also provides students the opportunity to experience Chamberlain Care^®.

• Immersion 1 (generalist year) – students focus on skill-building and demonstrating concepts learned in the classroom, including ethical practice, listening skills, beginning interviewing skills, and socialization to the profession. Immersion 1 is embedded in MSW-512 Direct Practice II.
• Immersion 2 (specialization year) – students will apply advanced practice skills demonstrating an understanding of social work knowledge, values, and skills in diverse practice situations. Immersion 2 is embedded in MSW-517 Advanced Social Work Practice Across Systems.

Using the evidence-based resident teaching model “see one, do one and teach one” as its pedagogical foundation, students in the immersion are assessed on their ability to demonstrate social work competencies at multiple levels. In addition to learning basic and advanced social work skills, students also receive mentoring, professional advising, networking opportunities and direct access to school resources essential to program completion.

During immersion, students will actively observe and participate in practice exercises that will help prepare them for specialized fieldwork/practicum experiences. The immersion experience provides faculty and staff the opportunity to evaluate students and their ability to engage with potential clients prior to entering fieldwork. In addition, students will actively observe and participate in practice exercises that will prepare them for specialized fieldwork/practicum experiences. The immersion experience provides faculty and staff the opportunity to evaluate students and their ability to engage with peers and potential clients prior to entering fieldwork. Students are assessed throughout the immersion by faculty members as they demonstrate their competence in professional social work practice skills, critical thinking, and ethical conduct. Opportunities for continued professional development will be applied where necessary (e.g., for students who need additional support/remediation). Students are required to complete foundation and advanced-year immersions prior to entering the sequenced field placement (e.g., Direct Practice II prior to Foundation Field I and II and Advanced Practice Skills Across Systems prior to Advanced Practicum I and II).

Further details of the immersion experience will be provided within the individual courses.

Immersion Competencies

Chamberlain MSW students are required to demonstrate specific immersion competencies in order to enter fieldwork. Each competency describes the knowledge, values, skills, and cognitive and affective processes that comprise the competency at the generalist level of practice. Upon completion of the program, students are expected to integrate and apply in their practice nine core competencies as outlined by the Council on Social Work Education. Social work competence is the ability to integrate and apply social work knowledge, values, and skills to practice situations in a purposeful, intentional, and professional manner to promote human and community well-being.

Social Work Competencies Assessed in Immersions

• Competency 1 – Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior
• Competency 2 – Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice
• Competency 3 – Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice
• Competency 4 – Engage In Practice-informed Research and Research-informed Practice
• Competency 5 – Engage in Policy Practice
• Competency 6 – Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
• Competency 7 – Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
• Competency 8 – Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
• Competency 9 – Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities