Syllabus - Master's Programme in Social Work within Health and Social Welfare

Outcomes

The objectives for a Master’s degree in accordance with the Higher Education Ordinance (SFS 1993.100 with amendment according to SFS 2006:1053 Appendix):

Second-cycle studies shall be based fundamentally on the knowledge acquired by students during first-cycle courses and study programmes, or its equivalent. Second-cycle courses and study programmes shall involve the acquisition of specialist knowledge, competence and skills in relation to first-cycle courses and study programmes, and in addition to the requirements for first-cycle courses and study programmes shall:

• further develop the ability of students to integrate and make autonomous use of their knowledge,
• develop the students' ability to deal with complex phenomena, issues and situations, and
• develop the students' potential for professional activities that demand considerable autonomy, or for research and development work. Ordinance (2006:173).

Knowledge and Understanding

On completion of the degree programme the student shall:

• demonstrate knowledge and understanding within each main field of study, including a broad knowledge within the area as well as substantially deeper knowledge within certain parts of the area in addition to a deeper insight into current research and development work, and
• demonstrate in-depth methodological knowledge within the programme’s main field of study.

Local outcomes:

• develop in-depth knowledge within the area where health research and welfare research converge,
• critically review and argue the case for how the health and welfare of individuals and groups can be promoted by multidisciplinary cooperation and the development of interdisciplinary knowledge, and
• develop in-depth knowledge of persons in vulnerable situations.

Aptitudes and Accomplishments

On completion of the degree programme the student shall:

• demonstrate the ability, critically and systematically, to integrate knowledge and to analyse, assess and deal with complex phenomena, issues and situations even with limited information,
• demonstrate the ability, critically, independently and creatively, to identify and formulate problems, to plan and carry out, using adequate methods, advanced assignments within given timeframes, thereby contributing to the development of knowledge and also to evaluate this work,
• demonstrate the ability, in national as well as international contexts, to clearly account for and discuss, orally and in writing, the conclusions arrived at and the knowledge and arguments that form the basis of these in dialogue with different groups, and
• demonstrate such skills as are required to participate in research and development work or to work independently in some other advanced activity.

Local outcomes:

• be able to plan and carry out scientific studies within the field of health and welfare, with particular relevance to social work.

Ability to Evaluate and Assess

On completion of the degree programme the student shall:

• demonstrate the ability within each main field of study to make assessments with regard to relevant scientific, societal and ethical aspects, and also demonstrate awareness of ethical aspects of research and development work,
• demonstrate insight into the possibilities and limitations of science, its role in society and the responsibility of human beings for how this is used, and also
• demonstrate the ability to identify his/her need of further knowledge and to take responsibility for his/her own knowledge development.

Local outcomes:

• be able to critically review health and welfare systems from a participation and gender perspective.

Language of instruction

The language of instruction is English.

Contents

During the first semester of the two-year programme four courses of 7.5 credits each are read. The first course has the main theme of “Management, Teams and Organisations in Health and Welfare” and the second one focuses on “Evidence-based Practice and Evaluation”. These are followed by a scientific methodology course and a course, within the subject specialisation of Social Work, named “Children and Social Work”.

The second semester of the programme contains a further 7.5 credit subject specialisation course, “Intercultural Social Work”. Semester 2 contains a further methodology course with specialisation in both qualitative and quantitative methodology. After this semester 2 concludes with a degree project of 15 credits. The student also has the opportunity, on successful completion of the courses and approved degree project of 15 credits, to apply for a 60-credit Master’s degree within the specialisation for the main field of study.

Students who choose the 2-year Master’s programme and to write a 30-credit dissertation begin the first part in the time allotted for the independent project (15 credits). For students who already have a 60-credit Master’s degree within the main field of study there is an opportunity to embark straight away on the second year of the 2-year programme.

During the entire programme joint studies take place with other 120-credit Master’s programmes in Health and Welfare for all courses that are not subject specialisations in Social Work. In addition to this joint studies are also planned, as far as is possible, with the School’s third-cycle studies in Health and Welfare during semesters 3 and 4 of the 120-credit Master’s programme. The main part of these joint studies with the third-cycle programme is carried out with the courses that are included in the first year of the third-cycle programme.

During semester 3 joint studies comprise the course “Design and Research Methods", 7.5 credits which is given in semester 1 of third-cycle studies, along with the course “Health and Welfare I", 7.5 credits. During semester 4 of the 120-credit Master’s programme joint studies take place for the courses “Health and Welfare II – Focusing on Participation", 7.5 credits and “Data Collection Methods", 7.5 credits. When no opportunity for joint studies is given, semesters 3 and 4 provide time for the 15-credit degree project and the 15-credit subject specialisation. This subject specialisation constitutes an alternative to the 15-credit degree project. The subject specialisation for Social Work is at least two of the courses "Ethics in Health and Welfare Work", 7.5 credits, "Social Problems and Social Change Management at Different Levels", 7.5 credits, "Social Support and Care in Everyday Life", 7.5 credits.

The progression during the first academic year builds on knowledge and skills that have been acquired in study programmes leading to a Bachelor’s degree within the main field of study. The focus of the 120-credit Master’s programme during the first academic year is placed on the student’s acquiring specialist knowledge of management, organisation and teamwork. Further the student shall acquire specialist knowledge of searching for, evaluating and making use of scientific knowledge, and also to evaluate this within the field of health and welfare.

The second year of the 120-credit Master’s programme has the focus on research as an activity within the field of health and welfare. The joint courses during the second academic year aim to give a deeper understanding of the area of research. The progression lies in the fact that the students acquire in-depth knowledge and understanding of how different disciplines can interact within the research area to give answers to issues in a wider perspective than from just one single discipline. The methodology courses given during this year also aim at in-depth knowledge in interdisciplinary research work. The courses during the second academic year of the 120-credit Master’s programme can be given credit for in the first year’s third-cycle studies in Health and Welfare.

Year 1
Management, Teams and Organisations in Health and Welfare, 7.5 credits
Evidence-based Practice and Evaluation, 7.5 credits
Scientific Methods I, 7.5 credits
Scientific Methods II, 7.5 credits

Subject specialisation in Social Work:
Children and Social Work, 7.5 credits
Intercultural Social Work, 7.5 credits
Thesis, 15 credits alternatively 30 credits

Year 2
Design and Research Methods in Health and Welfare, 7.5 credits
Data Collection and Analysis  in Health and Welfare, 7.5 credits
Health and Welfare I, 7.5 credits
Health and Welfare II  – Focusing on Participation, 7.5 credits

The above courses are read jointly with third-cycle studies in Health and Welfare.

Subject specialisation in Social Work:
Ethics in Health and Social Welfare Work, 7.5 credits
Social Problems and Social Change Management at Different Levels, 7.5 credits
Social Support and Care in Everyday Life, 7.5 credits
Thesis, 15 credits alternatively 30 credits

Choices within the program

The student chooses courses for subject specialisation within the main field of study in conjunction with the start of the course. These subject specialisation courses are given on condition that a sufficient number of applicants are available.

University degree

The degree programme is so designed that the studies will lead towards fulfilment of the requirements for the following degree:

• Degree of Master of Science (120 credits) in Social Work

The independent project may comprise less than 30 credits if the student has previously completed a project at second-cycle level of at least 15 credits within the main field of study, or the equivalent from a degree programme abroad. The total number of credits for the independent projects must always, however, comprise at least 30 credits.

To attain the set goals for the Master’s degree, approved courses within the main field of study at second-cycle level comprising at least 60 higher education credits, of which at least 30 HE credits for an independent project, are required, according to the above. A 120-credit Master’s degree may contain no more than 30 HE credits at first-cycle level. The same courses included in an access programme at first-cycle level may not be included in a degree at second-cycle level. Courses of at least 15 credits in Scientific Methods are required for admission to the degree project course, which shall be placed at the end of the programme.

Remarks

The consequences of joint studies with opportunities of credit transfer are determined and assessed by the subject representatives at each programme level. Individual courses from year two may, after assessment, be given credit for in the third-cycle programme. Courses within the Social Worker programme, semester 7, may possibly, after assessment, be given credit for.