VERN1310 Introduction to Social Sciences and Law Course description

The course Introduction to Social Sciences and Law aims to give students insight into how social processes, public administration, organisational conditions, legal bases and legal ideals can influence service providers and service recipients.

Sociology and social anthropology provide tools for analysing and understanding social contexts, as well as how individuals and society mutually influence each other. Introduction to state and municipal studies and organisational theory provides an introduction to the political, administrative and organisational framework that social educators work within. The law part of the course introduces the students to due process protection for service recipients through lawful and professional practice that respects the service recipients' integrity.

Passed VERN1210/VERND1210 before starting the course is recommended.

Admission to the programme

After completing the parts introduction to sociology and social anthropology (1), introduction to state and municipal studies and organisational theory (2) and introduction to the legal system, legal method and administrative law (3), the student is expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and competence:

Knowledge

After completing the course, the student is expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and competence:

The student has knowledge of

• basic concepts in sociology and social anthropology (1)
• important perspectives in sociology and social anthropology (1)
• the effects of social relationships on individuals (1)
• how individuals can influence society (1)
• how social and cultural factors can affect the lives of people with disabilities in particular (1)
• how to analyse social inequality (1)
• politics and political processes (2)
• the relationship between the Storting, the government, public administration and citizens (2)
• local democracy, municipal organisation and the relationship between the state, county authorities and municipalities (2)
• different theoretical approaches to understanding organisations (2)
• the framework for social educators’ professional practice and (2) the division of tasks between different professional groups (2)
• the legal methods used in case processing and the exercise of authority in the social educator's service areas (3)
• the principles of due process protection that form the basis for general administrative law and how they are expressed in important legal provisions (3)
• the legal basis for the public health, social, and education and training services (3)

Skills

The student is capable of

• using the basic concepts in sociology and social anthropology to analyse social relationships and societal factors (1)
• explaining different key perspectives in sociology and social anthropology, as well as seeing different analyses of social and social factors in relation to these perspectives (1)
• explaining how stigmatisation can impact people's social relationships and lives (1)
• explaining how social, material and societal barriers can lead to disabilities (1)
• explaining potential effects of cultural differences on the work of social educators (1)
• explaining the basic organisational features of important political and administrative bodies (2)
• applying different theoretical approaches and perspectives in order to understand and analyse how organisations function and the dilemmas they face (2)
• making professional assessments of challenges in the public sector (2)
• explaining the legal status of people with disabilities in Norwegian society (3)

Competence

The student

• understands how social issues can affect individuals' possibilities and self-understanding (1)
• has insight into how society influences individuals, with particular emphasis on people with disabilities and the health and social care professions (1)
• has knowledge of the importance of cultural differences (1)
• has insight into organisational theory and an understanding of the basic complexity of organisations (2)
• has insight into how the public sector works (2)
• is capable of explaining the legal system and the legislative process (3)
• has insight into dilemmas relating to service provision, human rights and the legal status of people with disabilities (3)

The course’s three social science perspectives are presented through lectures, group work and self-study.

The organised teaching activities in the course conclude with a seminar that covers all three discipline areas.

The following required coursework must be approved before a student can receive a final assessment:

• Participating in preparation and implementation of seminar

Individual home exam. Two weeks for full-time students and three weeks for part-time students, maximum length: 3,200 words.

Resit/rescheduled exam: Home exam, two weeks for both full-time and part-time students.

All

A grade scale with grades from A to E for pass and F for fail is used.

Two examiners