Field Education at Messiah Univeristy
Messiah received President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, the highest federal recognition a school can achieve for service-learning and civic engagement. There are currently 7 required service-learning courses (SOWK120, SOWK221, SOWK250, SOWK360, SOWK475, SOWK485, SOWK490) which provide over 600 hours of community engagement for each student over the course of the major. Each service-learning component is tied directly to curriculum:
-
First Year - Students volunteer in the community
-
Second Year - Students engage in preliminary practice through a field placement
-
Third Year - Students observe community groups, develop groups and programs on campus, and in the community
-
Fourth Year - Students complete a community project and engage in their senior placement
Check out what students are saying about field education
"During my sophomore year, I had the privilege of serving in two different field placements: Capital Area Pregnancy Center and New Hope Ministries in Dillsburg. While serving at the Pregnancy Center, I was given the opportunity to examine my own personal beliefs regarding the sanctity of life. Though I didn't know it at the time, this experience helped me to understand my own views and without it I probably would not know where I stand now. It was important for me to be able to examine my own beliefs to gain self awareness. When I began serving at New Hope Ministries, I was able to form and build relationships with several young teenagers who were experiencing difficult times in their lives. We formed deeper relationships by talking and playing 海角乱伦社区 together each time I visited them. A fellow student and I were then able to plan a lock-in sleepover with the girls in the program, and I will never forget the good times we shared when we were able to walk alongside them in their hard times. I have never since doubted that I want to spend the rest of my life doing just that." - Kelsie Boyd