Course Objectives

The objectives of major course unit III are drawn from the stated objectives of the national curriculum with regard to the general part of the health and social worker’s educational programmes and the education-specific part of the child welfare educational programme:

When students have completed major course unit III, The Reflective Child Care Worker, they will:

• Be able to examine scientific questions and participate in professional development, implementing new ways of working on the basis of research and other forms of innovation and have an understanding of the importance of their own personal and professional development.
• Be able to justify their actions towards users, other professional workers, and employers from a scientific theoretical and research methodological viewpoint.
• Be able to develop knowledge and understanding of welfare policy priorities and be aware of the consequences of these.
• Develop the capacity for participation and involvement through having knowledge of the main objectives and policy instruments in children and youth policy, and be able to assess these critically and function as a supplier of conditions for decisions made in the support apparatus and in relation to the political authorities.
• Know how to be a team player and also how to cooperate with users and other professional groups.
• Be able to map and analyse the relationship between social conditions and the life-situations of vulnerable children, young people and their families.
• Be able to read research reports and use research results in practising their profession.
• Further develop a critical perspective of, and the ability to reflect on, their own position and role in professional practice.

Course Description

COURSE UNIT 9: CRITICAL REFLECTION

30 ECTS

The aim of course-unit 9 is that the students will:

• Display understanding of current discourses in their own field.
• Be able to reflect critically regarding professional methods.
• Have knowledge of scientific theory and methodology to serve as a basis for specialisation.
• Have an understanding of the subject’s core areas and core concepts.
• Demonstrate the ability to cooperate across professional, organisational and cultural dividing lines.
• Display the ability to manage conflicts.
• Have insight into organisational conditions and political guidelines for service development for the appropriate user groups.
• Develop a critical perspective of their own professional group’s positions and roles.
• Become acquainted with the work regarding practical experience and the Bachelor’s thesis in course unit 10.

The content of the course unit embraces the areas of organisational theory and public administration practices, scientific theory and research methodology, interdisciplinary collaboration, and discourses on key core areas within their own field of study.

Teaching and Learning Methods: Self study, lectures, reflection and discussion assignments, group work, and written and oral presentations.

Assessment methods: The course unit includes two assessment assignments.

Course unit code: 070-073 9-1

Assessment assignment 9-1: Organisation, system and welfare policies.

The assignment focuses on the relationship between organisational framework conditions and carrying out the professional role. Individual response (2000 words). A graded mark which counts for 20% of the course grade (15 ECTS):

Course unit code: 070-073 9-2

Assessment assignment 9-2: Critical reflection

The assignment focuses on critical reflection upon important areas of the course unit. Individual response. Graded mark which counts for 20% of the course grade (15 ECTS).

COURSE UNIT 10: PROFESSIONAL SPECIALISATION- PRACTICE STUDIES AND BACHELOR’S THESIS

30 ECTS

The aim of course-unit 10 is that the students will:

• Have a critical perspective regarding the future practice of their own profession.
• Exhibit the ability to examine professional problems in a systematic and reflective manner.
• Be able to exhibit an independent ability to document, quality control and assess their own work.
• Further develop knowledge and understanding of the importance of science for professional development, by engaging in the work on a Bachelor’s thesis.

The content of course unit 10 is related to the relevant topics for practice studies and the Bachelor’s thesis. The period of practical training will be arranged so that it will be possible to relate it to the Bachelor’s thesis, and it will also be possible to apply to carry out the period of practical training abroad.

The student’s area of specialisation and practical training placement should be professionally challenging and relevant in relation to the core areas of the respective professional groups.

Teaching and learning methods: Practical training, supervision, lectures, self-study, group work and written and oral presentations.

Assessment methods: Course unit 10 includes one documentation assignment and one assessment assignment:

Course unit code 070-073 DO1

Documentation assignment: The student should complete a written assignment in connection with the period of practical training. The assignment should be based on the student’s own experiences and document his/her knowledge and ability to professionally reflect (2000 words).

Course unit code 070-073 101

Assessment assignment 10-1: Bachelor’s thesis and oral examination

The Bachelor’s thesis comprises 14 ECTS. As a rule the Bachelor’s thesis is a written group assignment. The groups may either be composed of students from similar or different programmes.

Written Bachelor’s thesis (10,000 words). Letter grade which counts for 60% of the grade for major course unit III (30 ECTS). The title and grade of the Bachelor’s thesis will be entered on the diploma.

The individual oral examination will be based on the Bachelor’s thesis. In addition, the student may be asked questions from the obligatory or self-chosen syllabus for major course unit III. The Bachelor’s thesis must receive a passing grade prior to taking the oral examination. The grade for the Bachelor’s thesis is given before the oral examination. The oral examination may influence the grade for the assessment assignment 10-1. If the grade is F, the student will be permitted to re-sit by taking a weeklong individual written home-examination, followed by an oral examination along the lines described above.

Course code 070-07P2: Professional specialisation, practical experience studies

The objective for the practical studies is for students to gain experience of childcare, further develop ethical reflection and to reassess their own knowledge, attitudes and skills. The practical studies will contribute to the development of the students’ skills in various areas, and serve as preparation for their future professional roles.

The practical studies constitute 16 ECTS in terms of workload for course unit 10. Students are offered the possibility of completing 12 weeks of practice abroad.

Minor adjustments may occur during the academic year, subject to the decision of the Dean