Degree Programme in Social Work
Degree
Programme in Social Work (In Finnish)
Level of qualification
The degree programme leads to a higher education degree which is a first cycle
Bachelor-level degree in the European Higher Education Area (EHEA). According to
the eight-level classification of the European Qualifications Framework (EQF)
the degree represents level 6.
Specific
admission requirements
Please see
the
Applicant's Guide
or the
website
www.seamk.fi/hakeminen.
Applicant's Guide's
instructions are written in Finnish for degree programmes taught in Finnish and
in English for degree programmes taught in English. On the website, application
and instructions are in Finnish language for the degree programmes taught in
Finnish.
Specific
arrangements for recognition of prior learning
Recognition of prior
learning is based on learning outcomes of the degree programme.
-
Students can apply recognition of prior learning before 30.9. in
the autumn term and before 31.1. in the spring term.
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Student councellor informs students about the principles and
process. Student discusses with the student councellor whether
to start the process.
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In the case that the student decides to apply for recognition,
he/she fills the form for applying, connected with documents
which act as proof of learning. The student sends the documents
to the prior learning team (AHOT) of the degree programme via
the student councellor.
-
The prior learning team decides whether it is possible to give
the prove is possible and leads the student forward to the
teacher of the study course.
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The teacher of the study course receives and evaluates the proof
and makes marks in the students study register. In the case of a
visiting lecturer, the prior learning team acts as the evaluator
and decision maker.
-
Degree regulations of Seinäjoki UAS will be obtained.
It is not possible to apply
for recognition of prior learning in the following study courses: Studying at
Polytechnic, Professional development, Analysis of contemporary practices in
social work and Thesis. Prior learning should be suitable to the social work
area and students have to prove that they have command over the specific
information on the professional field.
Students can prove their
learning in following ways: written or oral exam, portfolio or other proof,
learning journal, assignment, essay, conversation, practice, interview,
description of work experience, certificates, documents.
Qualification requirements and regulations
Please see
the
Degree regulations of Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences.
Pedagogical approach
Teaching in the Degree
Programme in Social Work is based on the constructivist theory of learning
whereby learners take an active role in their education and make a conscious
effort to develop their structures of knowledge. Learners acquire skills to
evaluate their own needs for knowledge and they have the desire to set goals to
achieve that knowledge. During their studies in the profession of social work,
students strive to develop their ability to reflect, i.e. the skills and desire
to examine the motives, manifestations and influences behind one's actions from
many different perspectives.
The degree programme's
choices of pedagogy are based on the following principles:
1. Study modules are based
on knowledge and skills needed in the profession. The foundation of the courses
in the modules lies in professional work. The modules are extensive, but they
comprise shorter courses that complement each other. Additionally, all of the
courses that provide students with general competences, such as languages,
communications and information technology, are taught from the point of view of
social work.
2. Learning becomes deeper
during the studies, because study modules form continuums throughout the degree
programme. Contents, which form a continuum throughout the degree programme,
include:
-
Analysis of the individual and society
-
Study of methods needed in the profession
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Obtaining skills in social research
-
Reflection on professional growth
3. Students learn by
combining theory with practice. Students apply the theory they have learned to
practical situations and examine phenomena they have observed in practical
situations through theory. The study modules and courses nearly always involve
applied tasks, some of which are carried out in practical work. The practical
training periods in the degree programme are supervised.
4. Students develop their
perspectives and expertise with the help of a group. During their studies,
students are members of several different groups. The groups are learning
environments where students learn social skills needed in the working world,
where they learn to give and receive feedback, and to examine phenomena from
many different perspectives and in relation to ethics.
5. The learning methods are
diverse and well considered with regard to learning course contents.
-
Face-to-face teaching and independent study: Many methods of
learning are carried out in study groups, e.g. lectures, reading
circles, group assignments, and demonstrations. To complement
the contact teaching, students generally do an independent
assignment(s), an exam based on written material and a practical
exercise.
-
Investigative and development oriented learning: Study contents
are investigated from many perspectives by using evidence-based
and experience-based knowledge. The aim is that the student will
achieve grounded view of the matter and he/she will go on
developing his/her knowledge and skills. Orientation towards
development is emphasized even from the beginning. Students are
involved in developing the professional field e.g. by acquiring
information direct from people and communities in order to
develop services, experimenting new ways of action in practice
and facing challenges of the world of work in their study
assignments and thesis project.
-
Problem-based learning: Students engage in problem-based
learning so that the real situations from the professional field
form the basis for the studies. Theoretical issues and
information retrieval are examined from the before mentioned
perspective. The degree programme as a whole is however not
grounded on a
-
problem-based idea, rather there are different applications of
it.
-
Entrepreneurial perspective to studies: All of the students in
the Degree Programme in Social Work complete at least one
practical training period in an enterprise or in a non-profit
organization. Students are encouraged to examine alternative
ways to provide social services. Entrepreneurship is studied as
multiprofessional studies. Those who are willing to deepen
their entrepreneurial skills have the possibility to attain the
activities of Yritystalli.
-
Online teaching: Course contents that would most likely be more
beneficial to students in an online environment and which
diversify students' learning opportunities are taught on the
Internet. Additionally, each group of students has its own
Moodle platform to use for basic information and group-specific
assignments.
Profile
of the programme
The heart of the Degree
Programme in Social Work lies in the social aspect of the everyday life of the
individual in the community and society. It means that the students are able to
understand an individual's life with strengths and needs and also the ability to
perceive the life situation of an individual as a part of broader social and
cultural events. The degree programme provides students with skills and
knowledge to promote the welfare, social participation and social security of
people by using methods of psychosocial work, community work, development and
management.
Taking the degree guarantees
broad and high-quality professional social work competence and it enables
working recruitment to the tasks among different sectors. The degree programme
doesn’t include specialisations, but the studies can be emphasized on social
work sectors. Study module: Empowering social work can be studied in English
language.
Occupational profiles
Bachelors of Social Services
work in client service, management, projects and as entrepreneurs. The more
common job titles in different areas of the profession include:
-
Positions
pertaining to education in social work:
Family counsellor, day-care teacher, educator, or youth
counsellor. Bachelors of Social Services work in daycares, child
protection agencies, family counselling, and schools, in
preventive work and in certain special education positions.
-
Positions
pertaining to counselling and rehabilitation:
Social services counsellor, employment counsellor, project
worker, employment consultant, or insurance secretary. Bachelors
of Social Services work in institutions for the disabled,
substance abusers and law offenders. They work with the elderly,
the unemployed, youth, and immigrants. They work in the Social
Insurance Institution of Finland, employment agencies and social
services agencies.
-
Positions
pertaining to management and development:
Outpatient counsellor, activities director, director of an
orphanage, or office director. Bachelors of Social Services work
in positions of management and development in the various
social-service sectors, organisations dealing with social work,
as entrepreneurs, in projects, in the Social Insurance
Institution of Finland, and in the labour administration.
Qualifications for
kindergarten teachers: The Act on Qualification Requirements for Social Welfare
Professionals (272/2005) and government decree (608/2005) state that a person
working as a kindergarten teacher who possesses a degree in social welfare and
health care is required to complete at least 60 credits of coursework in early
childhood development and social pedagogy. Universities of applied sciences that
offer studies in social welfare decided in 2007 that these studies should
include theoretical studies in early childhood development and social pedagogy,
practical pedagogic training and a final thesis.
Some of the students in the
Degree Programme in Social Work at Seinäjoki UAS have the opportunity to
structure their studies so that they acquire the qualifications described above.
There are a limited number of courses available each year for obtaining the
qualifications. Students are notified about the studies in early childhood
development each year.
Access to
further studies
Students who have completed
this programme are eligible to continue on to a master's degree programme in
social work and health care in a university of applied sciences or other
institution of higher education. (University of applied sciences act 351/2003,
in Finnish)
Examination regulations, assessment and grading
Please see
the
Degree regulations of Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences.
Graduation requirements
Please see
the
Degree regulations of Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences.
Mode of
study
Full-time studies
Contact
persons
Head of the degree programme:
Ms Päivi Rinne, tel. +358 20 124 5122, GSM +358 40 830 4190, e-mail: paivi.rinne(at)seamk.fi
ECTS departmental
coordinator / International coordinator: Ms Helena Järvi, tel. +358 20 124 5125,
GSM +358 40 830 4276, e-mail: helena.jarvi(at)seamk.fi
Student
counsellor: Ms Katriina Honkala, tel. +358 20 124
5108, GSM +358 40 830 4186, e-mail: katriina.honkala(at)seamk.fi
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