Programme description for Bachelor's Programme in Social Work (2024–2027)

Upon completion of the programme, students are expected to have acquired the following knowledge and skills as well as general competence:

Knowledge

The candidate:

· has broad knowledge of social work theory, history, traditions, distinctive character and position in society,and how social work can contribute to prevent, reduce and resolve social problems.

· has broad knowledge of social problems at individual-, family-, and community levels, and how social structures and welfare policy objectives and instruments influence living conditions, participation and social inequality.

· has broad knowledge of communication, relations to and interaction with children, adolescents, adults and the elderly at individual-, group-, and community levels.

· has broad knowledge of care competence and various forms of neglect of care, aswell as conditions for humans development, mastering, resources and active participation in different stages of life.

· has knowledge of relevant legal methods, welfare administration principals, central laws and legislations, human rights and indigenous peoples rights and status.

· has knowledge of social science research methods, philosophy of science positions, and scientific work quality standards.

Skills

After graduation, the candidates should be able to:

· can apply professional knowledge and methodological approaches in assessment, analyses and documentation of professional work with children, adolescents and adults at the individual-, group-, and community levels.

· can apply professional knowledge of relations and communication in assisting systemtic change work, and can provide guidance to users, patients and next of kin in learning-, coping-, and change processes.

· can find (locate), evaluate and provide sources to information, academic and professional knowledge, and present this both orally and in writing. · can apply legal rules, provide information on rights and obligations, and exercise legal and professional discretion in interaction with individuals, families and groups.

· can reflect critically on own and others professional practice in interaction with people in vulnerable life situations, and adjust practice through guidance.

· masters knowledge-based practice and can undertake professional assessments and decisions in cooperation with individuals, families, groups and partners.

General competence

After graduation, the candidates should be able to:

· has insight into views of humanity, values, and ethical theories in social work, and masters ethical dilemmas in professional social work.

· has insight into political and administrative decision-making processes, and can reflect on own professional role in interaction with institutional and political requirements.

· has insight into power structures and the exercise of power in society, and can promote practices that contributes to inclusion in society.

· can plan, implement, lead, and coordinate inter-professional cooperation in social work.

· is familiar with and can contribute to new thinking, change- and innovation processes in social work.

· has insight into the importance of digital communication in professional practice and interaction.

The purpose of the social worker training is to qualify practice-oriented and reflected professional practitioners who can assist individuals, families or groups in preventing, reducing and mastering social problems. The social worker programme is a practice-oriented and academic education in social work, with profession-specific working methods based on research, experience and user knowledge, and own professional ethical standards. The work as a social worker is based on an understanding of the connection between individual problems and the societal context in which such problems arise.

Social work stems from an understanding that people can actively and relationally relate to their fellow human beings and the structures under which they live. The subject is aimed at working with people of all ages, and social workers work in the public, private and voluntary sectors.

Throughout the course, students will collaborate with various actors. This applies to users and user organizations, practitioners in various welfare services and voluntary organizations. Students can join the 'Nattergalen', an offer of mentors to schoolchildren aged 8-12 with a minority background: https://www.uia.no/om-uia/fakultet/fakultet-for-samfunnsvitenskap/nattergalen. UiA has a formalized and extensive collaboration with the field of practice through Praxis-Sør: https://www.uia.no/senter-og-nettverk/praxis-soer. Students receive guidance of former users of the assistive device, so-called experience consultants, during the study and when they are in practice.

The Bachelor's programme in social work is a 3-year integrated bachelor's programme. The curriculum is based on regulations on a common framework plan for health and social science education (https://lovdata.no/document/SF/forskrift/2017-09-06-1353) as well as regulations on national guidelines for social education (https://lovdata.no / document / SF / regulation / 2019-03-15-409).

The work methods vary between lectures, group work, skills training (we practice communication and interaction) and practice studies. Guidance is given individually or in groups. The first year of study includes 6 weeks of practice and the third year of study includes a one-semester duration. Attendance at the lectures is not normally mandatory, but attendance is required in parts of the courses, such as for example skills training, practice and teaching in collaboration with the field of practice.

The study program uses international curriculum literature, and it draws on global perspectives that are central to several subjects it is taught. In the mentor program Nattergalen, you can gain experience working with children from minority backgrounds.

The language of instruction is mainly Norwegian, but some courses will be given in English.

We recommend all our students to take the opportunity to go exchange. Exchange with one of our partners will provide unique experience and the opportunity to gain international perspectives that are useful for study and later professional pursuits. In the third semester, it is possible to apply for exchange to all educational institutions with which the study program cooperates. In the 5th semester, students can apply to practice abroad at various institutions. Exchange of practice should be to places with which we have a cooperation agreement, and these should primarily be linked to a university.

There are several good agreements on exchanges, including Erasmus +. For more information about which places students can go to exchange, see UiA's student exchange website: https://www.uia.no/student/exchange.

Upon completion of the programme, the social worker will be able to work with social and interpersonal problems at the individual, family, group and community levels, and create the basis for dialogue, participation and collaboration. The social worker will be able to work to promote social inclusion and dignified living and growing conditions in collaboration with people and by making visible and influencing framework conditions. This includes interprofessional cooperation, where the social worker often has a coordinating role.

The social work programme provides the basis for appointments including NAV, social and child welfare services, specialist health services, municipal drug-, health- and care-services, PP service, family office, work with refugees and migrants, criminal care, school, non-profit organizations, etc.

The program qualifies to apply for admission to, among other things, the master's program in sociology and social work at the University of Agder, as well as several other further education and master's studies.

• This study requires police certification. Information on police certificates can be found on the UiA website or here: http://www.uia.no/politiattest.
• Declaration of confidentiality is electronically signed in connection with semester registration on Studentweb.
• Requirements for continuous fitness assessment have been introduced for all students. You can read more about it on UiA's website, http://www.uia.no/soeknadsfrist-og-opptak/skikkethetsvurdering
• Some of the courses are taught together with students from other study programs.