Application deadline

Type of course

Admission requirements

The students admitted at the Bachelor in Social Work and the Bachelor in Child Welfare are allowed to take this course. The course is in addition open for the exchange students coming from Higher Education Institutions that have a cooperation agreement with the Department of Child Welfare and Social Work. Exchange students who do not study Social Work or Child Welfare at their home institutions are not allowed to choose this course.

This course, SSO-1031, must be combined together with the course SSO-1052.

Only 5 exchange students will be admitted.

Course content

The course provides an insight into the welfare state¿s framework for social work, including political and administrative structures and processes and statutory rights. The objective of the course is to show how welfare is dependent on social policy ideas, specific practice and services, organisation of the welfare sector and welfare-promoting conditions in people¿s everyday lives. The course will provide knowledge about the administration of the welfare society, services, interest organisations and the professional practice of social work. User involvement, cross-sectoral and cross-professional collaboration with supervision and the administrator role are central. Special attention is given to different types of social and health challenges, e.g. poverty, substance abuse, violence, mental health, elderly, disability, chronic illnesses and work with integration of different groups.

Through the course, the students receive an overview of the welfare society¿s administration and services in social work in relation to changes in economics, demography and internationalisation. The course covers social policy guidelines and frameworks and how these affect the living conditions of different groups and the social work.

Objectives of the course

After successful completion of the course the candidate shall:

Knowledge

• be familiar with relevant welfare policy topics and issues on a national and local level
• have an insight into the schemes and different user groups of the welfare society associated with social and health-related challenges
• have knowledge about the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV) as a system
• have an insight into methodical social work at the individual, group and community level
• be familiar with cross-sectorial and cross-professional collaboration
• have an insight into poverty and process that lead into and out of poverty
• have knowledge of user involvement in social work
• be familiar with the economics, financing and distribution of the welfare state

Skills

The student can

• discuss and interact with users and partners
• identify various welfare-related issues in an overall perspective
• reflect on welfare policy knowledge in administration and planning, such as municipal action plans for different groups
• render visible and account for social problems

General competence

The student

• can plan preventive social work in an overall perspective
• has an understanding or and knowledge of people of all ages who are in a situation where they need welfare services
• understands the connection between social policy understanding and socio-economic guidelines and individuality

Language of instruction and examination

Language of instruction

All instruction will be provided in English. Oral presentation must be performed in English, while written examination may be in English or Norwegian.

Teaching methods

• compulsory skills training
• lectures
• self-studies
• various types of student active learning methods, individually and in groups
• reflection

Assessment

Following  coursework requirements must be approved before the candidate may present themselves for the examination:

• Oral presentation in groups linked to the skills training
• Attendance in compulsory skills training

Examination and assessment:

• Individual written home examination (3 days)

The examination is assessed using the grading scale from A-F, whereby F is regarded as fail.

A re-sit examination is arranged for students who receive grade F/fail so they can follow the normal study progression. 

Recommended reading/syllabus