Masterstudium i sosialfag - studieretning barnevern, deltid Programplan

Masterstudium i sosialfag, studieretning barnevern er et mastertilbud for barnevernspedagoger hvor formålet er å utdanne kandidater som har inngående kunnskap om barn, unge og familier i utsatte livssituasjoner, og om hvilke forhold i samfunnet som særlig har betydning for deres velferd og hverdagsliv. Studentene skal kunne analysere det enkelte barns omsorgssituasjon, og i samarbeid med barn og familier sette i gang endringsarbeid som kan styrke barnets omsorgssituasjon og utviklingsmuligheter. Videre er formålet å videreutvikle studentenes evne til analytisk tenkning og reflektere kritisk og etisk over egen praksis. I studiet belyses forhold mellom problemforståelse og valg av tiltak og metoder som benyttes i barnevernet, samt tiltakenes teoretiske utgangspunkt. Barnevernets mandat, juridiske rammebetingelser og barn og familiers rettigheter er sentrale tema.

Barnevern er en virksomhet hvor praksis baseres på implisitte og eksplisitte teorier fra en rekke fagdisipliner. Virksomheten er normativ, og det er behov for et kritisk grunnlag for å vurdere hva som er gyldig og relevant kunnskap for praksis. Forståelser av barn og barns samfunnsmessige status er viktige premisser for barnevernets virksomhet til enhver tid. I studiet legges det vekt på hvordan barnevernet inngår i et samfunn preget av kulturell kompleksitet, sosial ulikhet og mangfold, og retter seg dermed mot barnevernsarbeid i storby. Utdanningen kombinerer praksisnær og forskningsbasert undervisning.

Programplanen og studiets innhold er basert på forskrift om nasjonal retningslinje for masterutdanning i barnevern.

Studieretningen retter seg mot barnevernspedagoger som ønsker en faglig fordypning innen barnevernsfeltet. Studiet er også relevant for arbeid med barn og unges psykiske helse, kriminalomsorg og for arbeid i barnehage og skole.

Studiet kvalifiserer til

• stillinger i kommunalt og statlig barnevern
• stillinger i andre velferdstjenester og forvaltningsenheter som retter seg mot barn og familier
• stillinger i kompetansemiljøer, forsknings- og utdanningsinstitusjoner
• opptak til ph.d.-studier

Opptakskravet er fullført bachelorgrad eller treårig grunnutdanning i barnevern.

En kandidat med fullført studium skal ha følgende totale læringsutbytte definert i kunnskap, ferdigheter og generell kompetanse:

Kunnskap

Kandidaten har

• avansert kunnskap om samfunnsvitenskapelige teorier og rettsforståelse relevant for barnevernet og andre velferdstjenesters virksomhetsområde
• inngående kunnskap om barn og foreldres rettigheter i møte med barnevernet
• inngående kunnskap om etiske problemstillinger i barnevernet
• vitenskapsteoretisk forståelse, med særlig fokus på profesjonsforståelse og barnevernets heterogene kunnskapsgrunnlag
• inngående kunnskap om analytiske perspektiver på praksis, institusjoner og sosialpolitiske intervensjoner
• spesialisert kunnskap om skjønnsutøvelse i barnevernsfaglige vurderinger og beslutninger

Ferdigheter

Kandidaten kan

• analysere og forholde seg kritisk til ulike kunnskapskilder og anvende disse i vurderinger og beslutninger til barnets beste
• gjennomføre omsorgsvurderinger ved å analysere og vurdere hva som er barnets beste i lys av barnets og familiens situasjon og kontekst
• reflektere over barnevernets komplekse samfunnsmandat og rolle i samfunnet
• analysere og vurdere barnevernets metodiske framgangsmåter
• utøve profesjonelt barnevernsarbeid i en storbykontekst

Generell kompetanse

Kandidaten kan

• anvende relevant forskningsbasert kunnskap i barnevernfeltet
• kritisk vurdere sosialpolitiske tiltak og faglige anbefalinger som berører barn og familier i barnevern og tilgrensende tjenester
• kritisk vurdere muligheter og begrensninger ved ny forskningsbasert kunnskap i barnevernsfeltet
• vurdere etiske problemstillinger knyttet til forskning og fagutvikling i barnevern

The master's programme in International social welfare and health policy (MIS) is unique in its combination of social welfare and health policy studies. The MIS programme provides students with the knowledge and skills in social science theories as well as methods to analyse, develop and manage social and health policies at a high level.

• Why do some countries have a higher share of the global burden of diseases than others?
• How can we explain social inequalities in health within a country?
• How are the changing power relations between international, national and local actors influencing the content and effectiveness of social and health policies?
• Why do some countries have smaller socio-economic inequalities than others?
• Why do some countries have higher employment rates among women than others?
• Why are some welfare systems more successful in helping families at risk of poverty than others?
• Why are there systematic and lasting differences in opportunities for persons with disabilities to exercise choice and autonomy between countries?
• How does access to education and family planning influence the employment opportunities of young women today?
• How does cross-national mobility and immigration influence access to social security and health services?
• How can we investigate if social and health policies have the intended effects?

Answers to such questions are essential to ensure sustainable and inclusive societies. The questions are related to the organisation and content of social welfare and health policies.

Social change requires that professionals in the fields of social work, health and welfare continually develop their knowledge and skills. The Master's Degree Programme applies theoretical perspectives to these fields.

An increasingly globalized world requires the development of innovative social welfare and health policies. The two policy fields are interdependent. Both are also characterized by complex governance structures: Social welfare and health policies are shaped in a multi-actor setting involving different combinations of market actors, family, public agencies and non-profit NGOs. Additionally, the social welfare and health policies take place in a multilevel setting. Increasingly the social welfare and health policy depends on the working relations between supranational organisations, such as the UN and EU, national and local entities.

The MIS programme consists of 6 mandatory courses (60 ECTS), 3 elective courses (30 ECTS) and a master's thesis (30 ECTS). Elective courses allow students to pursue topics of special interest that may be relevant for both the master's thesis, as well as for future career possibilities.

All courses are taught in English, and the diploma will be issued in English for all successful candidates. Candidates will be awarded the title Master of Applied Social Sciences, programme option International Social Welfare and Health Policy.

The programme focuses upon general critical analytical skills with an understanding of the importance of gender, ethnicity, generation, and social class, living standards and living conditions. The programme option qualifies a graduate for:

• positions in social and health services that require the knowledge and ability to undertake systematic documentation and evaluation of social and health service programmes, as well as the knowledge of international and comparative studies within health and social welfare.
• positions in government agencies, non-governmental organisations or voluntary organisations engaged in international health and social welfare programmes and developmental assistance
• research positions at lower levels in educational programmes for social or health workers, and social science positions dealing with social and health policy issues
• PhD programmes in the fields of social welfare and health policy

This programme is aimed at students who have a special interest in international efforts to develop social and health policies.

Admission to this programme option is regulated by Regulations Relating to Admissions to Studies at OsloMet:

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Bachelor degrees particularly relevant for the programme option are social work, child care and welfare, political science, sociology, economics, anthropology (or related social sciences), law, medicine, nursing or similar health-related degrees. Other degrees with a focus on social and health issues are also relevant.

Academic requirements to this programme option are as follows:

In accordance with Regulations Relating to Admissions to Studies at OsloMet

§ 12(4), applicants are divided into two groups:

• Applicants with a bachelor's degree (or the equivalent) taken outside of EU/EEA countries. A) 25 % of the places shall be allocated to applicants competing solely on the basis of grade point average. Applicants within this quota, who do not qualify, compete in the next quota. B) Applicants competing on additional points as well as grade point average.

• Applicants with a bachelor's degree (or the equivalent) from an EU/EEA institution of higher education. A) 25 % of the places shall be allocated to applicants competing solely on the basis of grade point average. Applicants within this quota, who do not qualify, compete in the next quota. B) Applicants competing on additional points as well as grade point average.

Fifty per cent of the places are reserved for applicants in group 1. If there are not enough qualified applicants from group 1 to fill this quota, the unoccupied places will be assigned to applicants in group 2.

If the number of qualified applicants exceeds the number of places, applicants are ranked mutually in accordance with Regulations Relating to Admissions to Studies at OsloMet, § 12.

In accordance with Regulations Relating to Admissions to Studies at OsloMet applicants will be ranked on the basis of grade average from their bachelor's degree. Grade averages are calculated by using a point system (for more information refer to admission regulations § 2(5). The basis for the calculation of minimum academic requirements).

Applicants may also receive extra points for work experience gained after completion of a bachelor's degree, and for extra education (admission regulations § 13. Calculation of additional points from the regulations for information regarding this). Only education and work experience within the fields of health and/or social welfare will be considered relevant.

The master programme aims for a diverse group of students from many countries. Given the limited number of places, normally no more than three students from each country will be assigned, with the exception of students from Norway.

A candidate who has completed his or her qualification has the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

Upon completion of the degree the candidate has

• advanced knowledge of research designs relevant to the investigate a particular research question
• the ability to relate specific research questions to specific research methods
• a high level of understanding of and ability to apply and evaluate basic theoretical and methodological frameworks in order to examine, explain and understand social and health phenomena
• a broad understanding of global social and health problems, including current situations, trends, and challenges
• in-depth knowledge of the fields of social and health care systems: their organisation, delivery, and financing
• insight into cultural differences in social and health concepts and terminology

Skills

Upon completion of the degree the candidate is able to

• analyse explicit and implicit knowledge in the fields of health policy and social welfare
• conduct a systematic and critical analysis of a problem, apply core research principles and give a clear academic presentation of the results
• identify dimensions and challenges in the current global health and welfare situation
• critically assess the advantages and disadvantages of various social and health policy approaches
• evaluate relevant research in terms of methodological quality and appropriateness
• implement a range of data and literary sources for analysis

General competence

Upon completion of the degree the candidate has acquired

• a high degree of intercultural competence, and increased understanding of international trends that affect health and social welfare
• advanced knowledge of perspectives on social and health inequalities at a high academic level. The candidate is able to evaluate the impact of social and health policies, including how policies can contribute to (re)production or change in social inequalities
• a high level of ethical reflection when assessing the development of social and health policies, as well as a broad and in-depth knowledge of ethical dilemmas in research

In addition to the mandatory courses, each student is required to select three courses from the electives available in this programme option (total of 30 ECTS). Students in need of advice regarding these courses can ask the programme coordinator, course lecturers, or the administrator.

As an alternative to the elective courses provided in this programme description, students may select courses from other programme options within the Master's Programme at the Department of Social Work, Child Welfare and Social Policy. In addition, students may choose among courses offered at master's level at Oslo Metropolitan University (OsloMet), or institutions of higher learning in Norway outside of OsloMet, or one of our partner universities outside of Norway. Students can choose up to 30 ECTS from outside OsloMet. Norwegian-speaking students can also choose elective courses offered in Norwegian. All external courses must be approved by the programme coordinator in advance.

The master's thesis is an independent dissertation consisting of 30 study credits. Students ought to begin reflecting upon a research topic and methods for the thesis in the first semester. In the second semester, students will prepare a research proposal for the thesis. Students are encouraged to contact potential supervisors as early as possible. On the basis of the research topics chosen, students will be assigned a supervisor.

This master's degree programme gives students a broad understanding of global social and health problems and in-depth knowledge of the fields of social and health care systems. All the courses are designed from a broad international perspective, reflected in the curriculum. Class discussion, work requirements, group work and examinations will reflect the international orientation of the courses.

Students have the opportunity to travel abroad in the third semester of the programme. Students are encouraged to collect data for their thesis while they are abroad or in their home country.

The faculty has many partner organisations abroad which will be able to assist students with data collection and analysis. Students can also choose three elective topics to be taken in an institution outside of the programme. Courses taken outside of the programme must be approved by the programme coordinator before semester start.

Information regarding studies and data collection abroad will be disseminated during the first two semesters.