Bachelor Programme in Social Work Programme description

This is the programme description for the Bachelor’s Programme in Social Work. The programme is offered at the Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Social Work, Child Welfare and Social Policy. The bachelor’s degree is awarded in accordance with the Regulations Relating to Studies and Examinations at OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University.

The Bachelor’s Programme in Social Work is a full-time programme over three years that qualifies students for the professional title of social worker. Students who complete and pass the programme are awarded the degree of Bachelor of Social Work, cf. Section 2-3, 1a. The Norwegian name of the degree is ‘Bachelor i sosialt arbeid’.

The programme description is based on the Regulations on National Guidelines for the education of social workers, which entered into force on 1 July 2019, from and including the 2020–2021 academic year: https://lovdata.no/dokument/SF/forskrift/2019-03-15-409

The social work programme shall, in line with the Regulations, result in learning outcomes in the following competence areas:

Framework for and perspectives on social work

Knowledge about and work on social problems

The programme forms the basis for specialisation at further education level and/or master’s degree level and on to PhD level.

The programme description is approved for one academic year at a time.

The Bachelor’s Programme in Social Work is aimed at those who wish to take a first-degree programme in social work. The programme is a general education that qualifies students to work on different social problems at different levels and in different fields. Social workers focus on individuals’ and groups’ life situation and work to improve these, as well as at the interplay between social factors.

After completing the programme, the student should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The candidate:

• has broad knowledge of the theoretical foundation of social work
• has broad knowledge of evidence-based knowledge and user knowledge
• has knowledge of methods that target individuals, families, groups and society at large
• has broad knowledge of the different life challenges of individuals and groups
• has broad knowledge of how social structures and processes can create and maintain social problems
• has knowledge of how social work contributes to achieving the Global Sustainable Development Goals
• has broad knowledge of inclusion mechanisms and conditions for social participation
• has broad knowledge of the support system, different services and benefits in the field of welfare
• has knowledge of interprofessional cooperation and coordination of services and benefits in the public, private and voluntary sector
• has broad knowledge of communication, relationships and interaction with children, young people, adults and older adults at the individual, group and societal level
• has knowledge of legal method, principles of administrative law and relevant legislation
• has knowledge of human rights and important conventions, minorities and the rights of the Sami people and their special status as an indigenous people

Skills

The candidate:

• can apply knowledge about social problems, life crises and life transitions to promote coping and change in cooperation with individuals, families, groups and collaborative partners
• can exercise judgement in interactions with people in different professional and institutional contexts
• can apply various methodological approaches at the individual, group and societal level in various service areas
• can apply rules of law and exercise judgement in a legal and social work context in interactions with individuals, families and groups
• can apply knowledge to identify resources and give hope in cooperation with people in vulnerable life situations
• can promote social justice in cooperation with people in vulnerable positions
• masters relevant methods for mapping, documentation, analysis and decision-making
• can critically assess and use research, experience-based knowledge and user knowledge in professional practice

General competence

The candidate:

• has insight into the professional ethics of social work
• has insight into power structures and exercise of power that contribute to social inequality
• has insight into and can reflect critically on their own professional role in encounters with institutional and political requirements in their service provision.
• can plan and carry out work tasks in complex situations
• can plan, implement and coordinate interprofessional collaboration between different services and service levels
• can communicate knowledge from a social work perspective and exchange points of view and experience with partners
• can contribute to innovation and development of good practice
• is familiar with the importance of digital communication in professional practice and cooperation
• can reflect on the consequences of digitalisation in a life course perspective
• can reflect on their own role, ethical issues and guidelines, human rights, values and attitudes in cooperation with different user groups in different phases of life
• can acquire research-based knowledge about relevant measures at the individual, group and societal level and reflect on these measures

The Bachelor’s Programme in Social Work at OsloMet is based on the diversity, challenges and opportunities inherent in a big city. The social work programme is an academic and practice-oriented programme whose purpose is to educate professionals who can help individuals, families and groups to prevent, reduce and resolve social and health problems. Social workers work to prevent social inequality and promote inclusion in society. The programme qualifies students for work in welfare services in the public, private and voluntary sector. It gives students the special expertise required to help individuals back into working life in close collaboration with those who need it. Social work with vulnerable children and families and preventing and providing assistance in connection with neglect, violence and abuse are also key parts of the programme.

Marginalisation and outsiderness, exclusion and inclusion are perspectives that permeate the programme. The programme places emphasis on equality and non-discrimination regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion and beliefs, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and age.

Several of the fields of work require further education. On completion of the bachelor’s degree programme, there are good opportunities for taking further studies on the university’s master’s degree programmes and doctoral degree programmes.

Ethical principles and values

Respect for human value and rights, as they are described in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and other relevant international conventions, is the starting point for the establishment of common ethical values across national and cultural borders. The practice of social work is based on humanitarian and democratic values. Social workers’ social mission is to assist people who need help to secure living conditions and a quality of life that are fit for human beings.

Therefore, solidarity with vulnerable groups, combating poverty and advocating social justice and social change are key elements of the professions’ education and professional practice.

Social work builds on a positive view of humanity, with a basic belief in people’s inherent abilities. Social work is intended to help to motivate and mobilise these abilities. A social worker’s tasks include ethical assessments, critical reflection on one’s own practice, and choices and actions based on professional methodology. Social workers focus on and work to counteract social exclusion and unworthy living conditions. This should be reflected in each professional’s attitude and actions towards users of the service and partners.

Everyone who works in counselling and facilitation in the fields of personnel, welfare and the labour market will meet ethical challenges. Being able to reflect on these challenges is an important element for developing the quality of the services, ensuring that the users’ needs are well addressed and improving the services’ reputation. During the course of the programme, the students will therefore be introduced to different levels of ethical issues/questions relating to the topics covered by the programme.

Personal competence

Developing personal competence is very important for future professional practice. This is a lifelong learning process that starts with personal qualification in the programme. Personal qualification is therefore included as an important element throughout the programme in different ways: through personal feedback during practical training periods, seminar teaching, project work, skills training and also through forms of teaching communication and interaction.

Students at OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University have the opportunity to take parts of the programme abroad. The Faculty of Social Sciences has a well-established cooperation with a number of universities, university colleges and institutions in countries both in and outside Europe. A period of study abroad can make an important contribution to academic and personal development; it will provide new challenges in the field, new international contacts, better language skills and insight into other cultures. Students may apply to take their practical training in the fifth semester abroad.

There are specific requirements for taking parts of the programme abroad.

Compulsory assignments and coursework to be read by partner institutions abroad must be written in English.

Exchange students from partner universities can apply to take their practical training in and around Oslo. They must first have completed at least one year of the programme at their institution.

Rules for study progress

Several of the programme’s courses have attendance requirements that apply to parts of the teaching activities. This is largely activities where the students are expected to acquire competence that is both part of the programme’s purpose and which the student is unable to acquire through reading the syllabus and/or cannot be assessed in an exam. Participation in compulsory teaching activities must be approved by a specified deadline. It is the students’ responsibility to register their presence on an attendance list and have it certified by the lecturer responsible for the course and/or fellow students.

The compulsory attendance requirement must be approved before the student can take the exam in a course. Attendance requirements are stipulated under each individual course description. The attendance requirement is normally 80%. All coursework and alternative coursework requirements must be completed by a given deadline and be approved before a student can take the exam in a course, cf. the Regulations relating to Studies and Examinations at OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University. The different coursework requirements are stipulated under each course description.

All exams in an academic year must be passed in order for the student to continue to the next academic year.

Formal requirements for written work

Written work must follow the approved APA citation style (American Psychological Association). All assignments must be written in Calibri 12-point font with 1.5 line spacing.

Assessment and grading shall be in accordance with the provisions on assessment set out in Act No 15 of 1 April 2005 relating to Universities and University Colleges and the Regulations relating to Studies and Examinations at OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University. Students are obliged to familiarise themselves with the applicable rules.

If the attendance requirement is met and the required coursework has been approved, the student is entitled to take the exam, cf. the Regulations relating to Studies and Examinations at OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University.

The exam question papers are based on the courses taught, the literature (compulsory and self-chosen syllabus) and practical training. For oral exams, relevant acts will be available at the exam venue.

Students register for exams by confirming their individual education plan for the current semester. Students must register for resit/rescheduled exams via Studentweb.

Reference is made to general information about the exam.

Forms of assessment

Various forms of assessment are used during the programme. The form of assessment and any permitted aids are described under the individual course descriptions.

Assessment

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

Exam language

Exams are normally written in Norwegian Bokmål or Nynorsk. Students from Sweden and Denmark can write in their first languages. Students who choose to take parts of the programme abroad must write the required coursework and exam paper in English. The exception is students who have studied in Sweden or Denmark.

Examiners

How the examiners are used is described in detail under the individual course descriptions.

Explanation of grades and appeals

Students have the right to explanations of grades and to appeal against grades awarded and/or formal errors in connection with exams in accordance with Sections 5-2, 5-3 and 3-9 of the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges and Sections 7-3 and 7-4 of the Regulations relating to Studies and Examinations at OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University. Students who wish to improve their grades may normally only register for ordinary examinations, cf. the Regulations relating to Studies and Examinations at OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University Section 5-2.

Diploma

After completing the programme, students will be awarded a diploma showing all their final grades in the courses that form the basis for the degree.

Rules for study progress

All coursework requirements/compulsory activities must be completed/passed in order for the student to take the exam in a course. All exams in an academic year must be passed in order for the student to continue to the next academic year. The student must have earned at least 20 credits in the first semester in order to take the practical training in the second semester.

Suitability assessment

The Bachelor’s Programme in Social Work falls under the scope of the Regulations relating to Suitability Assessment in Higher Education, adopted by the Ministry of Education and Research on 30 June 2006:

A suitability assessment is a comprehensive assessment of the student’s academic and personal qualifications for work as a health care or social worker. More information about the suitability assessment can be found on the intranet for OsloMet students.

Student participation

Student representative

Each year group elects two or three students as its representatives. The student representatives of each year group have regular meetings with the lecturer who is coordinator for the programme year (class coordinator) in order to provide a situation report from the year group.

Dialogue seminars and dialogue meetings

Each year, a one-day seminar and a shorter dialogue meeting are held which are attended by the student representatives for all three years of the programme and representatives of the programme. The theme of the dialogue seminar is discussed with the students in advance.

Interprofessional project – INTERACT

Students participate in the INTERACT project in which part of the teaching programme is taken in interprofessional student groups. The teaching content (INTER1100, INTER1200 and INTER1300) in the first, second and third year, respectively, becomes more complex for each year, and is integrated as a compulsory coursework requirement in the existing courses in the programme description. For further information about INTERACT, see https://www.oslomet.no/forskning/forskningsprosjekter/interact.