SFB4000 Theoretical Approaches to Family: The Knowledge Base for Therapautic Work Course description

In this course, the students will acquire sound knowledge and an in-depth subject understanding of the interaction between society, family and the individual based on different theoretical perspectives. We deal with  understanding the family as a social system, as an institution, as a collection of individuals with individual rights, as functions, practice and display. The concept of family will be analysed as situated in time and space, i.e. normative knowledge about families will be viewed in a historical and cultural context, where the Norwegian Welfare state is the most central context.

Some lectures may be given in English. 

For those who take this course as an elective, it is recommended that students have SSA4000 Perspectives in Social Studies from Department of Social Work, Child Welfare and Social Policy, or similar course from somewhere else, which provides a basis for applying different theories and perspectives in the analysis of social issues.

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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

• knowledge of the historical changes in the western family
• in-depth knowledge of the welfare state and the family
• in-depth knowledge of parenting and childhood, and how gender, class and ethnicity influence the understanding of children, parents and family
• knowledge of how living conditions influence the everyday life of children and families

Skills

The student is capable of

• reflecting on normative aspects of the family therapy field
• analysing families from different perspectives
• analysing children and parents from different perspectives
• apply different theoretical approaches to illuminate the complexity of the family therapy field
• linking theoretical knowledge to different clinical training situations

Competence

The student is capable of

• analysing family-related phenomena from different perspectives
• considering ethics when research is disseminated and applied in clinical therapy 

The course is divided into sections with a selections of corresponding themes in each section. Information about the themes and corresponding syllabus, will be posted on Canvas in due time before the course begins. We encourage students to form study groups to prepare for their active participation in classroom discussions. These discussions will serve as a practice in applying theory on empirical examples. 

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The exam in the course is an individual home exam over a period of seven days. The exam paper must have a scope of 9 pages (+/- 10 per cent). Font and font size: Calibri 12 points. Line spacing: 1.5.

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

Grade scale A-F. 

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

At least 25% of the exam papers will be assessed by two examiners. The grades awarded for the papers assessed by two examiners form the basis for determining the level for all the exam papers.

Randi Wærdahl and Wenche Bekken