Every day there are student teachers in classrooms, student counselors holding sessions, and social work students tending to families in need. The UND College of Education and Human Development educates more than 1,200 students every semester, and a large part of the student's experience and preparation is the field work they are required to complete before they receive a degree and become a licensed professional.
Field experience is a critical link between the theory students learn and the practice of the profession. In the Teacher Education program, placements in classrooms allow students the opportunity to apply and demonstrate skills gained from academic course work.
"Our students give 16 weeks to student teaching in classrooms throughout the country and around the world," said Dr. Linda Holdman, Director of Field Placement within the College. "They have the opportunity to work and learn alongside classroom teachers and receive real-world experience."
Students within the Department of Counseling Psychology and Community Services require fieldwork, including students in Rehabilitation and Human Services and Recreation and Leisure Services. Many of the students work in various agencies throughout the region including the Roseau Hospital, Northeast Human Service Center and the Village Family Center, and others.
"Our students are serving a really important function in the community," said Dr. Michael Lowey, Chair of the department. "These are our future professionals and will be caring for us and our families."
ADVERTISEMENT
Social work students are required to complete a full semester field placement experience in the community. They are placed in areas of mental health, child welfare, veteran's services, and more. Students are supervised by volunteers in the agencies and evaluated for their work.
"The agencies enjoy having students somewhere in their beginning career," said Thomasine Heitkamp, Professor and Chair of the Department of Social Work. "The students also help in agency settings. They can supervise agency visitation when there has been domestic violence. They can provide another set of eyes in a home visit with their supervisor. It is a beneficial partnership from all sides."
Every semester, students for the College spend thousands of hours serving the people of this region while gaining valuable experience as emerging professionals in education and human service fields. - Submitted by UND College of Education and Human Development.
