Programme description for Master’s programme in Social Work and Human Rights 120 higher education credits Advanced level
1. Confirmation
The programme description for the Master’s Programme in Social Work and Human
Rights, 120 higher education credits, was confirmed by the Faculty Board of Social
Science, University of Gothenburg on 28 August 2007 and revised on 29 September 2010
to apply from the autumn term 2011.
2. Objectives
After completing the study programme the students should be able to:
Knowledge and understanding
- demonstrate knowledge and understanding about social work and human rights in
a global perspective, that means an extensive comprehension of the whole area of
knowledge including considerably deeper insight in certain areas of social work
or/and human rights
- demonstrate substantially deeper knowledge and understanding of current
research and developmental work within the area of social work and human rights
- demonstrate substantially deeper knowledge about research methods within the area of social science
Proficiency and ability
- display ability to critically and systematically integrate different aspects of
knowledge in the area of social science and to analyse, assess and handle complex
cross cultural issues and contexts
- display ability to critically, independently and creatively identify and pursue the
research process and thus contribute to the development of transnational
knowledge within the area of social work and human rights.
- demonstrate proficiency to participate in international and national research and
developmental work within the area of social work and human rights, or in other
qualified activities.
- demonstrate ability to independently analyse, discuss, and criticise from different
perspectives of welfare systems such as class, gender, and ethnicity in a global
perspective
Approach and assessment
- demonstrate proficiency making relevant and carefully planned assessments in
social work and human rights practice in a global context and thus
comprehensively consider scientific, social and ethical aspects of the assignment
- display awareness of the possibilities and restrictions of science, its part in society
and the responsibility of how it is used by mankind
- display ability to identify further requirement of knowledge and be responsible for your own proficiency
3. Disposition
The Master programme in Social Work and Human Rights is a two year International
programme, organised on a two-year basis (120 higher education credits) with the
possibility to terminate after one year (60 higher education credits) obtaining a one-year
master degree. The programme, which is on a full time schedule, is accessible for both
foreign and Swedish students. The programme is divided into separate modules with at
least 15 higher education credits in each module.
First year:
The master programme starts with a module in Social Work and Welfare Systems. The
focus of the second module is Human Rights: An Interdisciplinary Approach. The third
module, which starts the second term, deals with Research Theories and Methods. This is
followed by a Degree Report for the students who decide to terminate their master studies
after one year. The students who will continue their studies in the second year will follow
a module about Social Work Practice and Professionalization. The Swedish students will
take an equivalent module abroad in a collaborative partner university.
Second year:
The term starts with a module about Social Work, Service User´s Participation and
0rganisation, followed by Globalisation, Poverty and International Social Work. The
whole fourth term is devoted to scientific work in the form of a degree report. It will be
possible for students who have obtained a one-year master degree in the programme
International Master of Science in Social Work to build a future two-year Master Degree
on the basis of this (see programme structure below).
4. Contents
The full master programme (120 higher education credits) consists of seven modules. The
one-year master (60 higher education credits) consists of four courses. The first two
courses of the programme contain lectures, group work and seminars in Academic Writing.
1:st Year
1. Social Work and Welfare Systems, 15 higher education credits
2. Human Rights: An Interdisciplinary Approach, 15 higher education credits
1,2 (Academic writing)
3. Research Theories and Methods, 15 higher education credits
4. Social Work Practice and Professionalization, 15 higher education credits or Degree Report, 15 higher education credits
2:nd Year
1. Social Work, Service User´s Participation and Organisation, 15 higher education credits
2. Globalisation, Poverty and International Social Work, 15 higher education credits
3. Degree Report 30 higher education credits or Degree Report 15 higher education credits AND an optional coursewithin the area of social sciences, 15 higher education credit
5. Courses
Social Work and Welfare Systems
The focus of the course is to study social work theories and methods in the context of
different welfare systems. The student will get an understanding of contemporary
theoretical perspectives on social problems and social work, and to link this with an
understanding of international social development. The student will also acquire
knowledge about theoretical concepts and measurements concerning welfare systems and
also get a deeper knowledge of the typologies of different welfare regimes. In the course
the student will be able to analyse, discuss and criticise social work in the context of
welfare systems from different perspectives such as class, gender and ethnicity. Another
important issue is the role of global institutions in different welfare systems.
Human Rights: An Interdisciplinary Approach
The course introduces human rights as a broad interdisciplinary and problem-oriented
practice-based field of knowledge. The course also aims at giving the students knowledge
of international, regional and national institutions of human rights, and legal applications
of human rights´ conventions. The student will develop an understanding of the
international Human Rights´ system and its constraints, possibilities and applications and
link this to different uses of Human Rights´ discourses. In the course, the student will
critically examine statements and actions, which are made with reference to human rights
and present this verbally and in writing. Furthermore, the student will learn how to access
competently and effectively selected sources of information on human rights and reflect
upon ways in which the student can contribute to the implementation of human rights based approaches.
Research Theories and Methods
The aim of this course is to give the students a broad perspective of different methods,
qualitative as well as quantitative, used in social science research. In this course the
student will achieve knowledge about scientific perspectives and paradigm as well as
conducting a research project. The student will also critically and independently be able
to compare and analyse theoretical and methodological issues in academic social work research.
Social Work Practice and Professionalization
The over-all purpose of this course is to give the student an opportunity to experience
social work in a foreign country with the focus on ethics, values and interventions in social work. This course also aims at giving the student good knowledge about the integration of theory and practice in social work. A special theme is the development of professional social work and professionalization in a global perspective. Swedish students follow a social work practice course abroad.
Social Work, Service Users Participation and Organisation
The course aims to discuss and analyse social problems and interventions. Social
development, organisation and inclusion of the service user and how these aspects affect
current Swedish and international social work are important themes in the course. The
students will also have the opportunity to get an enhanced understanding of the
complexity in one special area of social work such as family issues, drug abuse, health
issues etc. The organisational aspects of social work and how that influences the service
user as well as the professional social worker is an important topic in this course.
Globalisation, Poverty and International Social Work
The focus of the course is development of global society, social structures, economic
patterns and international migration. Furthermore, it highlights conflicts and tensions
related to increasing global interactions and intertwinings. The development of poverty
and other indicators of social dysfunction in different parts of the world are discussed and
analysed. Various strategies for fighting poverty and handling social problems are
examined. Different levels of society concerning various types of social actions are
considered. Effects of migration will be analyzed. The course also handles problems
concerning how increased global interaction leads to new global patterns of social problems.
Degree Report
The over-all purpose of this course is, in a transnational context, independently and
critically plan, carry out and defend an advanced research work within the area of social
work and human rights. In this course the student will choose, discuss and analyse
relevant methods and theories related to a research subject as well as formulate research
questions. The student will also document and discuss the research process, analyse
empirical data and present the results in a written report. The student will defend his/her
own research report and also oppose on another research report in a final seminar.
6. Prerequisites
To be admitted to the programme the following is required:
• A Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, or a Bachelor´s Degree in related topics.
• Proficiency in English
1. English B from Swedish Upper Secondary School, with a minimum of Passed
mark
2. alternatively a valid test of English as second language, e. d. IELTS or TOEFL
tests or the equivalent, with indicated accepted level. For information about current
accepted levels, see
www.studera.nu.
3. alternatively a Bachelor’s Degree from an English speaking education.
For admittance to the courses Degree Report 30 (or 15) higher education credits the
course Research Theories and Methods has to be completed with a minimum of Passed mark.
7. Degree
After the programme is completed (120 higher education credits and including a master
thesis, 30 higher education credits) the students can apply for a diploma with the
denomination Master of Science (120 credits) with a major in Social Work and Human
Rights.
After completing the one-year master programme (60 higher education credits and
including a Master thesis, 15 higher education credits) the students can apply for a
diploma with the denomination Master of Science (60 credits) with a major in Social
Work and Human Rights
8. Additional information
The achievements of the students are continuously evaluated through oral and/or written
assessments. Students who fail in their examination will be offered an extra examination.
Students who fail in their second examination have the right to ask for another examiner.
Rules of Transition
It will be possible for students who have completed the one-year Master of Science
Degree in Social Work with Specialization in Human Rights to build a future two-year
degree on the basis of this (see programme structure above).
Rules of Transition for IMSSW graduates
Students who have completed the former International Master of Science in Social Work
(IMSSW) Programme at University of Gothenburg can be admitted to the Master’s
Programme in Social Work and Human Rights and be given credit for the courses
attended in the IMSSW Programme. In order to obtain a two-year master degree in Social
Work with specialization in Human Rights, the following courses must be added to the
former degree:
• Human Rights: an Interdisciplinary Approach, 15 higher education credits
• Research theories and Methods, 15 higher education credits
• Degree Report, 15 higher education credits
• Globalization Poverty and International Social Work, 15 higher education credits
credit:
http://www.socwork.gu.se/english/international/internationalmsc/