Master of Social Work Internships

Field Placement for On-Campus Programs

From hospitals and hospices, to child welfare agencies, policy nonprofits and animal sanctuaries, Graduate School of Social Work (GSSW) field education internships will give you the chance to begin practicing your social work skills right away in a wide variety of settings and specialties. You’ll gain valuable experience working with clients, systems and communities in professional settings, under the supervision and mentorship of master’s-level social workers.

Although fieldwork is an accreditation requirement for social work education, not all field education experiences are the same. At the Graduate School of Social Work, we offer some extras.

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    You get to choose.

    You’ll take an active role in choosing your own internships. With 750 internship options available, you’re sure to find something that fits your interests. 

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    You have support.

    Your field supervisor and the members of our field team will actively support you as you choose and complete your internships. Before you start your internship search, you’ll meet individually and discuss your interests with a member of the field education team, who will guide you in the right direction.

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    You apply what you learn right away.

    Because you’ll be completing your internships and classes at the same time, you’ll be able to practice the concepts, theories and skills you’re learning in the classroom.

Learn more about MSW degree options.

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Internship Options

We offer more than 700 internship options in the Denver metro area, across Colorado and abroad. Students intern in traditional settings such as hospitals, government agencies and schools as well as non-traditional community practice settings like Café Cultura or Friends of Enca Farm. Explore some of our field internship options:

Veterans health

New Mexico VA Healthcare System

Provide integrated health care services to veterans.

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Art from Ashes

Art from Ashes

Provide creative empowerment workshops for struggling Denver youth.

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alternative high school

Options Alternative High School

Serve students who need educational, behavioral or medical accommodation.

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Administration on Aging

Administration on Aging

Provide critical services to adults over age 60.

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Wish of a Lifetime

Wish of a Lifetime

Use end-of-life wishes as a way to honor seniors.

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Friends of enca Farm

Friends of Enca Farm

Support food security in the Philippines.

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GSSW Field Spotlights

Denver Food Rescue, a GSSW field placement, saves produce from grocery stores, farmers markets and distributors that would otherwise be thrown away. The food is then redistributed to organizations that work with food-insecure communities. Watch how our MSW interns help sustain this work.

During her field internship, MSW student Kaylee Keuthan developed programming to teach children and families about the connection between animals and the environment at the Zoology Foundation. Learn more about this field placement through the Institute for Human-Animal Connection.

8 We offer 8 international internship options in countries including Bosnia, South Africa and Kenya.

MSW Field Education Curriculum

Denver Campus MSW Program Field Placements

You will complete two internships. In your foundation curriculum, your internship will build upon your generalist social work values, knowledge and skills as you discover which aspect of the profession interests you most. In your specialization curriculum, your internship will focus on competencies required for advanced social work practice within your academic specialization and certificate program (if applicable).

  • Foundation year total hours: 400
  • Foundation year hours per week: 13.5
  • Specialization year total hours: 500
  • Specialization year hours per week: 16.5

Denver Campus Advanced-Standing MSW Program Field Placements

You will complete one internship during your program, focused on competencies required for advanced social work practice within your MSW specialization and certificate program (if applicable).

  • Total hours: 500
  • Hours per week: 16.5

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Featured Faculty

 
Aneesha Bharwani

Aneesha Bharwani

Clinical Professor

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Jessica Zaslav

Jessica Zaslav

Assistant Professor of the Practice, Field Faculty; Associate Director of Field Ed

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Michele Sienkiewicz

Michele Sienkiewicz

Professor of the Practice of Social Work

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Emily Saltzman

Emily A. Saltzman

Assistant Professor, Practice of Social Work, Field Faculty

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Christie Moore

Christie Moore

Assistant Professor of the Practice of Social Work, Field Faculty

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Field Education FAQs

Campus

Interested in becoming a Graduate School of Social Work Field Agency and hosting a graduate student intern?

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