SOS1110 Introduction to social work Course description

In this course, students will acquire knowledge about the tradition and knowledge base of social work, and gain an understanding of the organisation of social work and its place and mandate in society. Students will be introduced to theories, perspectives and research in social work at the individual, group and societal level. In this first course, the main focus will be on individual social work.  

The course is taught in parallel with SOS1120 Professional interaction in social work.  

Students are recommended to have read the Code of Ethics for social work.  

None. 

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 social work as a profession and an academic discipline  
• is familiar with the tradition of social work as a means to address social problems  
• has knowledge of different types of knowledge such as (theory of) science, skills and values, and the links between them 
• has knowledge of the interaction between individuals, groups and society  
• is familiar with the different positions in theory of science and views of knowledge in social work  

Skills  

The student:  

• can apply basic specialist terminology and theoretical approaches to social work both in writing and orally  
• can recognise and analyse descriptions of social problems at the individual and societal level  
• can reflect on how social problems interact and impact different levels of social work and how they affect people in different life situations 

General competence  

The student:  

• has insight into the connection between societal changes and the development of social work  
• has insight into how values and attitudes affect professional practice  
• has insight into the relationship between professional engagement and analytical distance in social work  
• can exchange experience relating to their own learning process  

Teaching methods vary between lectures, e-lectures, seminars and different student-active learning methods. Digital learning methods will be used in the course.  

The following must have been approved in order for the student to take the exam: 

1. One written coursework requirement of 4 pages in groups. 

The group must present their coursework orally. The coursework requirement and the presentation must be completed and approved by the given deadline in order for the student to take the exam. If the coursework requirement is not approved, the student will be given the opportunity to submit an improved version once by a given deadline.  

An individual five-hour written exam. Candidates who fail or who were absent from the ordinary exam for a valid reason can take a resit/rescheduled exam.  

No aids are permitted. 

Grade scale A-F.  

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

Siri Fjeldheim and Jorunn Vindegg