SOS1150 Social work - life course and everyday life Course description

This course focuses on people’s everyday life, living conditions and social challenges that impact their quality of life. The students will learn about social work relating to different phases of and transitions in life. The course sheds light on how the challenges and problems of everyday life can be prevented, remedied and coped with. It also takes on a critical perspective on norms and the concept of normality. Students will learn about how social workers can identify and support individuals’ coping strategies, motivate change and provide help and support in demanding life situations.

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 science theories on how to understand human development from childhood to old age 
• knowledge of how social challenges interact and affect the individual’s quality of life in different phases of and transitions in life 
• knowledge of how social structures and social conditions impact the conditions for upbringing and living conditions in general
• knowledge of protection and risk factors as a basis for implementing preventive measures against marginalisation and exclusion in different arenas 

Skills

The student can

• identify, prevent and remedy social challenges relating to different phases of life
• identify and assess resources in the life situations of different groups of people and help to strengthen people’s coping strategies in demanding life situations

General competence

The student:

• can disseminate knowledge of the link between different everyday social problems in different phases of life 
• has insight into how marginalisation and discrimination affect people’s social life and health

Teaching methods vary between lectures and student-active learning methods. Digital learning methods are included in teaching. Self-study is required between each teaching session in the course.  

No coursework requirements/compulsory activities.

In this course, the students develop an understanding of how the performance of social work is rooted in the profession’s theoretical foundation. The course provides knowledge about different factors that can affect relationships and professional cooperation with other people. 

Through skills training in groups, the students will learn about what it means to practise social work. Together with their group, they will practise developing their professional expertise. This takes place through group work, role play and the use of cases that concern interacting with people in difficult life situations. The students are also trained in handling their own emotions when working with people in difficult life situations.

The course comprises the first of two levels of skills training.

Language of instruction is Norwegian.

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 work and change processes in social work
• has knowledge of communication and interaction with people at the individual level
• has knowledge of power structures that affect their relationships with users 
• has knowledge of how digitalisation of the welfare services affects communication with users and partners 

• is familiar with the importance of understanding oneself and having empathy with others 

Skills

The student

• can use communication and interaction skills in their professional work with individuals 

• can reflect on the importance of language, including the use of interpreters, in meetings with users 
• can reflect on how power affects the relationship with users, their social and material living conditions and the freedom of action for change work 
• can reflect on the importance of group processes through participating in group work
• can receive and give constructive feedback 

General competence

The student

• can be emphatic and attentive when encountering the feelings and experience of others 
• can reflect on their own values and attitudes in their professional practice
• has insight into the exercise of professional judgement 

• has insight into the importance of digital communication in professional practice and interaction 
• can disseminate research-based knowledge of professional interaction both orally and in writing

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

• Coursework 1. Compulsory active participation in skills training

The minimum attendance requirement for skills training in groups is 80%. If a student’s absence exceeds 20% but is lower than 40%, a compensatory coursework requirement will be set. The coursework requirement must be completed and approved by the given deadline. Absence in excess of 40% will result in loss of the right to take the exam.

The reason why active attendance is compulsory is that the student will in this way acquire competence necessary to meet the objectives of the course that they would be unable to acquire from solely reading the syllabus and/or taking the exam. 

Compulsory activities must be completed and approved by the given deadline in order for the student to take the exam.

The exam in the course is an oral exam in groups with a time frame of approximately 50 minutes, where the students must demonstrate their knowledge and skills relating to professional interaction. Each exam group consists of 4–6 students.The groups will be given a case for preparation 48 hours before the first day of the exam. During the examination, students will meet people (actors) with different challenges in a fictitious situation. The time frame includes examination and assessment with an oral explanation.