Directed Fieldwork Policies

The following outlines the Directed Fieldwork requirements and policies:

Prerequisites

  • A minimum of 30 credits in the MLIS program must be completed to be eligible for DFW.

    • Generally, students pursue Directed Fieldwork after they have completed the first MLIS year because completion of first-year coursework enhances the benefits of fieldwork to the student and to the host site. Most host sites prefer or require their fieldwork students to have completed advanced coursework relevant to the fieldwork. For example, a student interested in doing a cataloging fieldwork should, at minimum, have completed LIS 531 (Catalogs, Cataloging and Classification); someone interested in doing fieldwork related to database design should have completed LIS 542 (Conceptual Database Design) and possibly LIS543 (Design of Information Systems).

  • Students must attend a DFW Information Session prior to setting up a DFW.

    • Since the process of setting up fieldwork requires significant time, students interested in fieldwork are encouraged to notify the MLIS Academic Advisor at least ten weeks before the quarter in which they want to begin the fieldwork and must attend the DFW Information Session.  The DFW Initial Application Form and a copy of your resume must be submitted to the MLIS Academic Advisor BEFORE you begin talking to a host site, and no later than the Friday of the 4th week of the quarter preceding the DFW quarter. 

 

DFW Credits

  • Directed Fieldwork (LIS 590) is a CR/NC course and may be taken for 2, 3, or 4 credits, depending on the number of hours the student plans to devote to fieldwork. Two credits require 100 hours of fieldwork, three credits require 150 hours, and four credits require 200 hours of work.

  • Current MLIS students may complete up to two total Directed Fieldworks. Each fieldwork must be in a different quarter and may be between 2-4 credits.  A maximum of 8 total DFW credits may be applied to the MLIS degree.

  • To earn credit for LIS 590, students are responsible for turning in reports and completing the agreed upon number of fieldwork hours.  The student’s Learning Objective Agreement, Midterm Report, Supervisor’s Final Evaluation, student’s final written narrative, and the exit interview with the Faculty Fieldwork Coordinator will serve as a basis for course credit.

 

Fieldwork Experience

  • Each fieldwork must be significantly different, which means in a different host site/under different supervision.

    • The experience must include an on-site supervisor who has a MLIS degree (or equivalent) who agrees to serve as your DFW supervisor.

    • The student’s work/ projects/ tasks must be primarily of a professional or beginning professional nature.

    • The fieldwork must constitute a learning experience for the student.

  • Students should register for Directed Fieldwork during the quarter in which they do their Fieldwork.

  • Fieldwork typically lasts for 10 weeks (one academic quarter).  It should start and end at the same time as the UW academic quarters.  However, under certain circumstances a student may petition an alternative start and end date and/or to extend the DFW out over two quarters.

    • In instances when a student has received permission to pursue Directed Fieldwork over a two-quarter span, the student should register only for the quarter in which they will complete the fieldwork.

  • Directed Fieldwork positions may be paid or unpaid.  Students should not ask for compensation however, if offered by the host site, students are welcome to accept compensation.  The learning aspects of the experience --not whether or not the position is paid -- are the primary concern of the school.

  • The student is responsible for travel arrangements and living expenses while enrolled in fieldwork.