Master's Degree Programme in Social Services: 13YSOSI-1192

Description

POSTGRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAMME IN SOCIAL SERVICES
Master`s social services, 90 cr
Director of education Riitta Hanhijärvi
Social services, principal lecturer Outi Wallin
The extent of the degree programme is 90 credits (cr) and the education lasts for 2 years.
Eligibility: http://www.tamk.fi

COMPETENCES DEVELOPED
Graduates of the Postgraduate Degree Programme in Social Services have extensive Case Management and social work skills, which include theories of Case management and social work. National competences for Postgraduate Degree Programme in Social Services are connected in different courses. Competences are competence for client service, competence for societal service system, competence for research and reflective development and competence for management.
The education adheres to national (NQF) and European (EQF) frameworks.

PROFESSIONAL STATUS
The graduates can work as immediate superiors in social and health care organisations. They are ready and capable of taking responsibility for management of social sector and working as developers and managers of change in work communities also abroad. The education strengthens the investigative and developing work approach of social care professionals and supports the development of new working practices and production of know-how for practical working life.
BASIC VALUES OF EDUCATION
Ethical competence in social services and social work is the core of degree Programme in social services. The work of social sector is guided by United Nations Human Rights and by Finnish laws and regulations of social rights. Human rights are "basic rights and freedoms to which all humans are entitled. This means that all humans are endowed with certain entitlements merely by reason of being human.

STRUCTURE OF DEGREE PROGRAMME AND KEY CONTENTS |
Postgraduate degree programme curriculum, professionalism and expertise are seen as connected, expanding and advancing processes. The basis and centre of the curriculum is formed by the thesis (30 cr) supported by the course contents, methods and tasks.

THE DEGREE PROGRAMME STUDIES CONSIST OF:
Advanced professional studies (55 cr)
Advanced skills of social work and case management
Multiprofessionalism in reforming services
Management in wellbeing services
Internationalism and multiculturalism in social work
Action research for development and innovations
Thesis (30 cr)
Elective studies (5 cr)

TEACHING METHODS
The pedagogical starting points of the degree programme are based on the principles of lifelong learning and the student has the main responsibility for the progress of his/her learning. The bases of learning are future management skills in social and health care, development needs of the field and learning needs of the student. Learning is seen as information formation process in diverse operational environments. Learning is connected to action and experience to which the student gives the meaning. Openness, equality of interaction, support of development of expertise and leadership and support of development of cooperation between different cooperation parties relate to teaching and guidance.
The thesis forms the centre of the studies and it is supported by the course contents and methods. The thesis and learning tasks develop new operational practices for social work and multiprofessional social services and their management. The subjects of the thesis and learning tasks are based on the development needs of working life.

The studies can be completed along with work and they last for approximately two years. The education is implemented as a multi-modal process by utilising web-based pedagogy.

Further information

Postgraduate Degree Programme in Social Services
Master of social services, 90 cr
Director of education Riitta Hanhijärvi
Social services, principal lecturer Sirpa Tietäväinen
.The extent of the degree programme is 90 credits (cr) and the education lasts for 2 years.
Eligibility: http://www.tamk.fi
Competences developed
Graduates of the Postgraduate Degree Programme in Social Services have extensive Case Management and social work skills, which include theories of Case management and social work. National competences for Postgraduate Degree Programme in Social Services are connected in different courses. Competences are competence for client service, competence for societal service system, competence for research and reflective development and competence for management.
Professional status
The graduates can work as immediate superiors in social and health care organisations. They are ready and capable of taking responsibility for management of social sector and working as developers and managers of change in work communities also abroad. The education strengthens the investigative and developing work approach of social care professionals and supports the development of new working practices and production of know-how for practical working life.
Basic Values of education
Ethical competence in social services and social work is the core of degree Programme in social services. The work of social sector is guided by United Nations Human Rights and by Finnish laws and regulations of social rights. Human rights are "basic rights and freedoms to which all humans are entitled. This means that all humans are endowed with certain entitlements merely by reason of being human.
Structure of degree programme and key contents |
Postgraduate degree programme curriculum, professionalism and expertise are seen as connected, expanding and advancing processes. The basis and centre of the curriculum is formed by the thesis (30 cr) supported by the course contents, methods and tasks.

The degree programme studies consist of:
Advanced professional studies (55 cr)
Advanced skills of social work and case management
Multiprofessionalism in reforming services
Management in wellbeing services
Internationalism and multiculturalism in social work
Action research for development and innovations
Thesis (30 cr)
Elective studies (5 cr)

Teaching methods
The pedagogical starting points of the degree programme are based on the principles of lifelong learning and the student has the main responsibility for the progress of his/her learning. The bases of learning are future management skills in social and health care, development needs of the field and learning needs of the student. Learning is seen as information formation process in diverse operational environments. Learning is connected to action and experience to which the student gives the meaning. Openness, equality of interaction, support of development of expertise and leadership and support of development of cooperation between different cooperation parties relate to teaching and guidance.
The thesis forms the centre of the studies and it is supported by the course contents and methods. The thesis and learning tasks develop new operational practices for social work and multiprofessional social services and their management. The subjects of the thesis and learning tasks are based on the development needs of working life.

The studies can be completed along with work and they last for approximately two years. The education is implemented as a multi-modal process by utilising web-based pedagogy.