EPN-V2

BV2400 Child protection in the welfare state - Preventive work Course description

Course name in Norwegian
Barnevern i velferdsstaten – forebyggende arbeid
Study programme
Bachelor Programme in Child Care and Welfare
Weight
10.0 ECTS
Year of study
2025/2026
Course history

Introduction

This course concerns preventive, social pedagogy and health promotion work with children and young people in different local environments. It will provide insight into the importance of children and young people’s environments when growing up to their development and health, and address risk and protection factors. It also focuses in particular on the role of child welfare officers and their responsibility in preventive work in arenas such as kindergartens, schools and leisure activities. The cooperation between the child welfare service and preventive arenas is a main topic of the course. 

The interprofessional teaching programme ‘Communication with Children, Youth and their Families’ INTER1200 will be taught at the start of the course. See INTERACT’s website for a more detailed description of the content of INTER1200; https://www.oslomet.no/en/research/research-projects/interact

Language of instruction is Norwegian.

Required preliminary courses

None

Learning outcomes

After completing the course, the student should have the following overall learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student

  • has insight into decision theory and how bounded rationality influences choices.
  • understand cognitive biases, heuristics, and decision-making traps.
  • has knowledge about social influence, power, emotions, and group dynamics in decision-making.
  • is familiar with decision-making tools and strategies to minimize errors.

Skills

The student

  • can identify decision-making problems and pitfalls in organizations, and assess risks and uncertainties.
  • can apply research-based methods to improve decision-making processes.
  • can apply techniques, including nudges and choice architecture techniques, to improve judgment and decision-making in organizational contexts.

General Competence

The student can

  • critically evaluate behavioral decision-making theories and assess their applicability in organizational contexts.

Teaching and learning methods

Teaching consists of lectures, discussions, case analyses, and group-based simulations. Students will work individually and in groups to apply theory in practice.

Course requirements

The following coursework requirements must have been approved for the student to take the exam:

  • Coursework 1: Written case analysis. Students will work in groups of 3-4 to analyze a real-world decision-making process, including giving and receiving peer feedback to enhance reflection and learning. The submitted work will have a scope of 2000 to 2500 words.
  • Coursework 2: Oral group presentation. Student groups will present and discuss their analyses for the class. The oral presentation will have a scope of 10 minutes.

The aim of the coursework requirements is to equip students with practical skills to apply their knowledge in real-world scenarios while ensuring academic progression in the course.

All required coursework must be completed and approved by the given deadline for the student to take the exam. If one or more coursework requirements have not been approved, the student will be given one opportunity to submit/present an improved version by a given deadline.

Assessment

The exam in the course is a written assignment based on project work in small groups.The assignment is set at the start of the course. The exam group will carry out a limited project assignment based on an issue in their practical training arena. Students are obliged to participate with equal contributions in the project assignment. If, during the work process, a disagreement arises in the group on this point, the matter must be taken up immediately with the supervisor and possibly passed on to the subject manager. If the requirement for equal participation is not met, this can be considered as "Not attended" and the student must wait until the following academic year to take the group exam in the subject.

The exam paper must be 15 pages long, (+/- 10%). Font and font size: Calibri 12-point. Line spacing 1.5. The approved citation style APA for assignments must be complied with.

The exam group who receive a fail grade are given one opportunity to submit an improved version of the projectassignment for assessment.

Permitted exam materials and equipment

All aids are permitted as long as the rules for source referencing are complied with.

Grading scale

Pass/fail.

Examiners

All exam papers are assessed by one internal and one external examiner.