Skip to Main Content Skip to bottom Skip to Chat, Email, Text

BSHS/415

Field Experience I

Course level: Upper Division

3 credits

Total credits

15 weeks

Course length

Take this course on its own, or as part of a degree or certificate program.

Please Note: Attendance and participation are mandatory in all University courses, and specific requirements may differ by course. If attendance requirements are not met, a student may be removed from the course. Please review the Course Attendance Policy in the Catalog for more information.

University of Phoenix reserves the right to modify courses. While widely available, not all programs are available to residents of all states. Please check with a University Enrollment Representative.

This is a 15-week course requiring at least 175 hours of field experience, or an average of 12 hours per week committed to a field placement site. Students will work in a human services setting under the supervision of a qualified professional. In addition to providing direct service, students will attend a weekly 2-hour class for faculty supervision and evaluation of core competency development. Typical activities of a field placement involve employing skills acquired so far in the program progression: conducting interviews, working directly with clients and groups, developing action plans, and documenting.

Please Note: Attendance and participation are mandatory in all University courses, and specific requirements may differ by course. If attendance requirements are not met, a student may be removed from the course. Please review the Course Attendance Policy in the Catalog for more information.

University of Phoenix reserves the right to modify courses. While widely available, not all programs are available to residents of all states. Please check with a University Enrollment Representative.

Earn these career-relevant skills in weeks, not years.

  • Explain the student responsibilities and expectations of field experience.
  • Identify the National Organization for Human Services (NOHS) standards.
  • Explain the role of supervision.

  • Explain how your agency engages the clients and the community in the helping process.
  • Identify the mission statement, goals, organizational structure, funding sources, and community network of your agency.
  • Create student learning objectives.

Human and Social Systems

  • Explain the environmental factors influencing your agency’s clientele.

  • Describe the legal and ethical standards practiced at your agency.
  • Describe appropriate boundaries with your agency's clientele.

  • Explain the importance of cultural awareness at your agency.
  • Explain the importance of cultural competence for human service workers.

  • Describe the human service skills practiced by the professionals within your agency.
  • Describe your agency’s role within the community.

  • Describe basic interpersonal communication skills.
  • Differentiate among communication styles.

Interviewing Skills

  • Identify interviewing techniques to help clients identify their experiences, issues, and problems.

  • Describe the assessment process used to understand client problems.
  • Explain the importance of incorporating clients’ perspectives during the assessment phase.
  • Determine treatment plan goals.

  • Prepare a client case study.
  • Create clear, attainable, and measurable goals and objectives used to address the clients' problems.
  • Develop a comprehensive treatment plan using a case study.

  • Identify how your agency determines client services, resources, and support systems.
  • Explain the importance of responsibility and ownership for completion of client treatment goals and outcomes.

  • Explain the importance of maintaining accurate and comprehensive records at your agency.
  • Describe methods for ensuring that confidentiality and ethical standards are practiced at your agency.

  • Describe how technology is used at your agency.
  • Evaluate how your agency maintains and uses client data and statistical information.

  • Identify educational resources available through your agency.
  • Explain the importance of self-awareness, self-development, and staying current with educatinoal resources and advancements in the field.

  • Evaluate your learning experience and performance throughout the field experience.
  • Identify future careers goals that have resulted from the field experience.
  • Outline a strategy to implement feedback and skills gained during the field experience.
  • Discuss the importance of bringing closure to the relationship with your placement. 

Why take courses at University of Phoenix?

University of Phoenix serves busy adults

Accreditation that matters

We’ve been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org) for more than 40 years.

Real-world instructors

Learn from instructors who bring an average of 25 years of working experience to the classroom.

Affordable and potentially reimbursable

Our tuition and fees are competitive and fixed. Also, check to see if your employer will cover you for this course.

Transfer-friendly courses

Before you enroll in a course, check with your school of choice to make sure they will accept your transfer credits and to understand any requirements or limitations. Then you can request your transcripts.

Transferability of credit is at the discretion of the receiving institution. It is the student’s responsibility to confirm whether or not credits earned at University of Phoenix will be accepted by another institution of the student’s choice. If you have a question contact us at (866) 354-1800.

Enrollment representative Sarah P.

Enrollment Rep. Sarah P.

Start a conversation about your future today.

Speak with an enrollment representative.

Call 844-937-8679 or chat with us 7 days a week.

University of Phoenix reserves the right to modify courses. Although our continuing teacher education courses are accepted by some state agencies in the United States toward teacher certifications and endorsements, this may not be the case in all states or foreign jurisdictions. If you plan to use courses for certification or endorsement, please check with your own state agency and your school district for applicability. Continuing teacher education courses are not eligible to apply to degree programs at University of Phoenix. These courses are not eligible for federal financial aid. While widely available, not all programs are available to residents of all states. Please check with a University Enrollment Representative. If you have a question contact us at (866) 354-1800.