Social Services

As a Bachelor of Social Services you are qualified to work with various client groups in the field of social pedagogy. Your work can consist of supervision, councelling, co-ordination of services and managerial work in communities or in a residential setting. Multicultural working skills will be emphasised. The degree of the Bachelor of Social Services is comparable with international and especially European polytechnic education.

As a Bachelor of Social Services you are qualified to work with various client groups in the field of social pedagogy. Your work can consist of supervision, counselling, co-ordination of services and managerial work in communities or in a residential setting. Multicultural working skills will be emphasised.

You can work with families and people of all ages. You can work in prevention of substance abuse or promotion of mental health. Social pedagogical work can also result in a new type of labour market in the sectors of public, private and voluntary work.

The framework of the curriculum is social pedagogical: the approach aims at preventing exclusion and promoting inclusion and social pluralism. It focuses on the empowerment of citizens' activeness, initiative, self-help as well as on social influence.

This kind of work requires multi-disciplinary education, co-operation skills and an ability to examine and develop oneself as well as one's field. Learning processes passing through the degree programme are: growing into social pedagogy, cooperation with working life and investigative development of social services. Learning methods: individual learning, group work, project learning. Students can participate in international activities in various ways at different stages of their studies.

Learning Environment

Most of the faculty members of the degree programme are qualified Finnish teachers with certificates of teaching in English. The teacher team has more than ten years' of experience of development and teaching in English. The degree programme invites annually guest lecturers to enrich the programme.

You will be part of a multicultural student group. Even if the majority of students are Finnish, there are some 15 other nationalities represented in the student group of the degree programme.

Our teaching methods include lectures, discussions, group work, learning assignments, projects, workshops and independent studies.

Curriculum

Instruction is offered mainly in English. However, you should have basic knowledge of the Finnish language. The curriculum consists of core, professional and optional studies, work placements and a final project.

Work placements consist of three periods: 5 weeks during the first year, 8 weeks during the second year and 17 weeks during the third year.

Placements are offered in various working environments.

International Activities

As a student of the degree programme you have many opportunities to join in international activities.

The degree programme is in partnership with a number of universities and institutions of higher education in many European countries, in Africa, Asia and the USA. Activities include student and staff exchanges, international projects and intensive week programmes.

The majority of the degree programme students participate in some exchange programme and complete either the second or third placement in another country.


Application instructions will be published by October 2010.