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, aptitudes and accomplishments 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, questions 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 specialist methodological knowledge within the programme’s main field of study.

Local outcomes:

• develop specialist knowledge within the area where health research and welfare research converge,
• critically review and argue the case for how the health and social welfare of individuals and groups can be promoted by multidisciplinary cooperation and the development of interdisciplinary knowledge, and
• develop specialist 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, questions 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, and thereby contribute 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 social 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,
• demonstrate the ability to identify his/her need of further knowledge and to take responsibility for this knowledge development.

Local outcomes:

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

Language of instruction

The language of instruction is English.

Contents

During the first year of the two-year programme a number of courses of 7.5 HE credits each are read. One of these courses has the aim that the student shall acquire specialist knowledge of management, organisation and leadership for developing and changing activities in the field of health and social welfare, and another course focuses on specialist knowledge of evidence in health and social welfare. There is also a scientific methodology course in qualitative methods and a course within the subject specialisation of Social Work. One subject course focuses on children’s rights and how children’s participation, protection and resources can be promoted and secured in social work. Within the subject area of social work a further course is read during the first year, in which the students shall acquire specialist knowledge of the multicultural society, intercultural meetings and the integration process. In addition, the first year also includes a further methodology course with specialisation in quantitative methodology. The first year concludes with a degree project of 15 HE credits. The student also has the opportunity, on successful completion of the courses and of a degree project of 15 HE 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 degree project 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 and who fulfil the specific entry requirements regarding knowledge of methodology, 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 other120-credit Master’s programmes in Health and Social 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 Social 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. The courses that could be relevant for joint studies are Theoretical Perspectives and Focus on Participation in the field of Health and Social Welfare (two 7.5 credit courses). Joint studies may also be considered regarding the two 7.5 credit courses in Methodology which build on the previously mentioned courses in Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methodology.
 
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 course. The subject specialisation for Social Work has the aim partly of specialist knowledge of theories and models in social and psychosocial change management and partly of specialist knowledge concerning social care as an integrated part of social work.
 
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 social 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 social welfare. The joint courses during the second academic year aim to give a deeper understanding of the research domain. The progression lies in the fact that the students acquire specialist knowledge and understanding of how different disciplines can interact within the research domain to give answers to questions in a wider perspective than from just one single discipline. The courses during the second academic year of the 120-credit Master’s programme may, after assessment, be credit transferred in the first year’s third-cycle studies in Health and Social Welfare.
 
Year 1
Management, Teams and Organisations in Health and Social Welfare, 7.5 credits 
Evidence-based Practice and Evaluation, 7.5 credits
Qualitative Research Methods I, 7.5 credits
Quantitative Research Methods I, 7.5 credits
 
Subject specialisation in Social Work:
Children and Social Work, 7.5 credits
Multicultural Social Work, 7.5 credits
Degree project, 15 credits, alternatively 30 credits

 
Year 2
Qualitative Research Methods II, 7.5 credits
Quantitative Research Methods II, 7.5 credits
Health and Social Welfare – Theoretical Perspectives, 7.5 credits
Health and Social Welfare – Focus on Participation, 7.5 credits
 
The above courses may be read jointly with third-cycle studies in Health and Social Welfare

Subject specialisation in Social Work:
 
Social Change Management in Social Work, 7.5 credits
Social Support and Care in Everyday Life, 7.5 credits
Degree project, 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 120-credit Master’s degree, successful completion of courses within the main field of study at second-cycle level comprising at least 60 HE 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 HE 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 credit transferred in the third-cycle programme. Courses within the Social Worker programme, semester 7, may possibly, after assessment, be credit transferred.